When to see a doctor

This site is for the everyday stuff. Some things aren't everyday. See a doctor, not a website, for any of these. Call 911 in an emergency.

Right away

• Black, tarry stool, especially with a foul smell
• Red blood in your stool, or maroon-colored stool
• You vomit blood, or feel dizzy or lightheaded
• Pale or clay-colored stool for several days, or with yellow skin or dark urine
• Bloody stools with weight loss, dizziness or fever

Iron pills and bismuth stomach medicine turn poop black, and that's normal for them. Black poop that's also tarry and foul-smelling still needs checking, even if you take them.

With constipation

See a doctor right away if you're constipated and you also have:

• Bleeding from your bottom, or blood in your poop
• Constant pain in your belly
• You can't pass gas
• Vomiting or a fever
• Lower back pain
• Weight loss you weren't trying for

Book a visit if it doesn't get better with the usual fixes (more fiber, more fluids, moving more), or if colon or rectal cancer runs in your family. If a laxative gives you no bowel movement or makes you bleed, stop taking it and call a doctor.

With diarrhea

Adults should see a doctor right away for diarrhea with any of these:

• It's lasted more than 2 days
• A fever of 102°F or higher, or vomiting a lot
• Six or more loose stools in 24 hours
• Severe pain in your belly or bottom
• Poop that's black and tarry, or has blood or pus in it
• Signs of dehydration: very thirsty, peeing less, very dark pee, dizziness

Older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system should see a doctor sooner.

Babies and children

Kids get dehydrated much faster than adults. For a baby or child with diarrhea, fever, blood in their poop or poop that's pale, white or clay-colored, call their doctor rather than going by this site.

Sources: NIDDK, Symptoms & causes of constipation; NIDDK, Symptoms & causes of diarrhea; MedlinePlus, Black or tarry stools; MedlinePlus, Pale or clay-colored stools; laxative Drug Facts labels.