melaena
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A medical condition: The passage of black, tarry, and foul-smelling feces, caused by the presence of digested blood, typically indicating bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract (e.g., stomach or small intestine).
Usage
- Melaena is a clinical sign, not a disease itself. It is used specifically in medical contexts to describe a symptom.
- It is often reported by patients or observed by healthcare professionals.
- The word is typically used as an uncountable noun (e.g., ).
Examples
- The doctor was concerned because the patient reported a history of melaena.
- Melaena is a serious symptom that requires immediate medical investigation to find the source of bleeding.
- The presence of melaena suggests the bleeding is occurring high in the digestive system.
Advanced Usage
- Differential Diagnosis: In medical practice, melaena is distinguished from (the passage of fresh, bright red blood in the stool, usually from lower GI bleeding).
- Causes: Common causes mentioned alongside melaena include peptic ulcers, gastritis, esophageal varices, or certain medications.
Variants and Related Words
- Melena: An alternative, equally common spelling.
- Haematemesis (noun): The vomiting of blood, which often occurs together with melaena in cases of upper GI bleeding.
- Haematochezia (noun): The passage of fresh blood in the stool, contrasting with melaena.
Synonyms
- Black tarry stools (descriptive phrase)
- Tarry feces (descriptive phrase)
Antonyms
- Haematochezia (specifically for the type of blood present, not the condition of bleeding itself)
Related Phrases / Medical Terminology
- "To present with melaena": A common phrase meaning a patient is showing this symptom upon examination.
- "Melaena stool": A phrase used to describe the specific appearance of the feces.
- "Cause of melaena": A standard phrase in medical diagnostics to identify the underlying problem.
Noun
- abnormally dark tarry feces containing blood (usually from gastrointestinal bleeding)