Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

List of symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Hemorrhoids includes the 10 symptoms listed below:

• Blood in stool
• Rectal bleeding
• Blood on toilet paper
• Anal itching
• Anal swelling
• Anal lump
• Anal mucus discharge - less common
• Feeling of rectal fullness
• Feeling of unfinished defecation
• Severe rectal pain - if a vein becomes strangulated

Note that Hemorrhoids symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Hemorrhoids signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Hemorrhoids

Do I have Hemorrhoids?

• Hemorrhoids: Introduction
• Hemorrhoids: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Hemorrhoids
• Hidden Causes of Hemorrhoids
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Hemorrhoids
• More about Hemorrhoids

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Hemorrhoids:

• Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Tests
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Tests

Wrongly Diagnosed with Hemorrhoids?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Hemorrhoids includes:

• Anorectal fissures
• Anorectal fistulae
• Anorectal abscesses
• Anorectal irritation
• Anorectal itching (pruritus ani)

See the full list of 21 alternative diagnoses for Hemorrhoids

More about symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

More information about symptoms of Hemorrhoids and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Hemorrhoids
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Hemorrhoids
• Underlying causes of Hemorrhoids
• Risk factors for Hemorrhoids

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Anal itching - see all causes of Anal itching
• Anal lump - see all causes of Anal lump
• Anal mucus discharge - see all causes of Mucus stool
• Anal swelling - see all causes of Anal swelling
• Blood in stool - see all causes of Bloody stool
• Blood on toilet paper - see all causes of Rectal bleeding
• Feeling of rectal fullness - see all causes of Rectal lump
• Feeling of unfinished defecation - see all causes of Bowel movements
• Rectal bleeding - see all causes of Rectal bleeding
• Severe rectal pain - see all causes of Anorectal pain

Medical Books Online about Hemorrhoids

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Hemorrhoids are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Hemorrhoids.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Hemorrhoids: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Although hemorrhoids may be asymptomatic, they characteristically cause painless, intermittent bleeding, which occurs on defecation. Bright red blood appears on stool or on toilet paper due to injury of the fragile mucosa covering the hemorrhoid. These first-degree hemorrhoids may itch because of poor anal hygiene. When second-degree hemorrhoids prolapse, they’re usually painless and spontaneously return to the anal canal following defecation. Third-degree hemorrhoids cause constant discomfort and prolapse in response to any increase in intra-abdominal pressure. They must be manually reduced. Thrombosis of external hemorrhoids produces sudden rectal pain and a subcutaneous, large, firm lump that the patient can feel. If hemorrhoids cause severe or recurrent bleeding, they may lead to secondary anemia with significant pallor, fatigue, and weakness; however, such systemic complications are rare.

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Hemorrhoids: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

❑ Internal hemorrhoids may produce no symptoms. They characteristically cause painless, intermittent bleeding during defecation. Bright red blood appears in stools or on toilet paper because of injury to the fragile mucosa covering the hemorrhoid.

❑ When hemorrhoids prolapse, they’re usually painless and spontaneously return to the anal canal after defecation.

❑ External hemorrhoids cause constant discomfort and prolapse in response to any increase in intra-abdominal pressure. They can be manually reduced. Thrombosis of external hemorrhoids produces sudden rectal pain and a large, firm, subcutaneous lump that the patient can feel.

Hemorrhoids seldom cause severe bleeding leading to anemia.

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Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

Although many people have hemorrhoids, not all experience symptoms. The most common symptom of internal hemorrhoids is bright red blood covering the stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. However, an internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus outside the body, becoming irritated and painful. This is known as a protruding hemorrhoid.

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

In addition, excessive straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the anus may cause irritation with bleeding and/or itching, which may produce a vicious cycle of symptoms. Draining mucus may also cause itching. (Source: excerpt from Hemorrhoids: NIDDK)

Hemorrhoids as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Hemorrhoids, it is also important to consider Hemorrhoids as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Hemorrhoids may cause:

• Constipation
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Tenesmus

Hemorrhoids as a symptom:

For a more detailed analysis of Hemorrhoids as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Hemorrhoids.

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Hemorrhoids
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Hemorrhoids
• How serious is Hemorrhoids?
• More about Hemorrhoids
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Hemorrhoids. This signs and symptoms information for Hemorrhoids has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Hemorrhoids signs or Hemorrhoids symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Hemorrhoids may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Hemorrhoids symptoms.