Mucus in the stool may indicate various ailments in the digestive system. This is the first sign that something disturbing is happening in the body. What does mucus in the stool show?

Fecal mucuscan appear for a variety of reasons - sometimes it occurs naturally. Mucus in the stool can appear in both men, women and children. However, there are times when his speech should be alarming.

Fecal mucus - do we need it?

Answering the question - yes, we need mucus in the digestive tract - it occurs naturally there. It is secreted by cells in the mucosa that line the digestive tract. Mucus is made of water, s alt compounds and mucin, the proteins that make it sticky. The mucus in the large intestine has an important role to play - it helps the stool to move around. Its presence in the entire digestive tract is justified - for example, mucus in the stomach prevents acids and enzymes from destroying the stomach walls.

Fecal mucus - how much should you be concerned about?

There is so little mucus in a normal stool that it isinvisible . If we observe mucus visible to the naked eye in the stool - both inside and outside, we should start to closely observe our body, as these may be the first signs of the disease.

Theoretically, small amounts of mucus should not bother us. However, if there are other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, pus in the stool, blood in the stool, vomiting - we should see a doctor as soon as possible. The appearance of mucus may indicate developing diseases.

Fecal mucus - diseases

  1. Inflammation of the intestines.A large amount of mucus in the stool often appears in inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
  2. Infections.Mucus in the stool may indicate bacterial, viral or parasitic intestinal infections. Patients with chronic diarrhea or constipation experience its excessive amount very often.
  3. Obstruction.Fecal mucus may also be a symptom of gastrointestinal obstruction - a hernia, developing cancer, and the presence of a foreign body in the body.
  4. Diseases around the anus.A large amount of mucus in the stool is observed inpatients with anal diseases, i.e. anal fissure, hemorrhoids and anal fistula.

Mucus in the stool - when to see the doctor?

If you are concerned about a large amount of mucus, and other symptoms appear - e.g. blood or pus in the stool, abdominal pain, flatulence, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, vaginal discharge, consult a doctor.

We recommend: Black stool - after alcohol, during pregnancy. What does the black color of the stool mean?

What is the diagnosis? First, your family doctor will refer you to a stool test for occult blood in the stool. We will also receive a referral to a gastrologist, who may decide to perform other tests - e.g. colonoscopy, rectoscopy or gastroscopy to assess the condition of the digestive system (endoscopic examination detects all abnormalities, they are visible to the doctor).

When going to the doctor's office, remember to make an accurate list of what you have eaten in the last 48 hours before the appearance of mucus in your stools. This can aid in making a diagnosis.

Fecal mucus in the child

Parents closely observe their children's poop and can easily see that something is not right … When changing a nappy or even in children already sitting on the potty, the parent has full insight into what the child is expelling. And he will spot the mucus with ease.

The appearance of mucus in the stool may alert the parent. And rightly so - in a child, mucus in the stool may be the first symptom of rotavirus infection, it may also be the result of indigestion and may indicate a food allergy. Very often, mucus in the stool appears together with diarrhea or a thin, semi-liquid stool.

Food allergy in a toddler is often caused by dairy products, cereals, eggs - the pediatrician usually recommends observation of the child and an elimination diet. However, the mucus in the stool of a child should always be consulted with the pediatrician.

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