Causes Of Mucus In Stool And When It May Be A Sign Of A Problem

You may think of mucus as the slimy stuff you cough up when you’re sick. But it can also show up at the other end: in your poop…..CONTINUE READING…CONTINUE READING

Many parts of your body make mucus, including your intestines. It lines your digestive tract, creating a protective layer against bacteria. It also helps waste pass smoothly through your colon. Some of it can stick to poop as it leaves your body.

Causes of Mucus in Stool

According to Webmd, different digestive problems can make more mucus show up in your stool. Some are serious and long-lasting. Others can clear up quickly. Problems that can cause mucus include:

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The main symptoms may be constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), or alternating diarrhea and constipation (IBS-M). It’s typical to see mucus in your poop if you have this condition.

2. Ulcerative colitis. This type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes sores in the intestines. They can bleed and make pus and mucus, which you might see when you go to the bathroom. It also often causes diarrhea, belly pain, and cramping.

3. Proctitis. This is inflammation of the lower part of your large intestine, called the rectum. Sexually transmitted infections, foodborne illnesses, and IBD can cause it.

C. difficile (c. diff ). Infection with this type of bacteria can cause severe, even life-threatening diarrhea. It smells very bad and often has mucus.

4. Food poisoning. If you get flu-like symptoms and your poop has blood or mucus in it, you may have food poisoning. It usually clears up within days.

5. Other infections. An infection with other bacteria or parasites can also cause the problem. Dysentery is one example.

6. Rectal cancer. One of the main signs of rectal cancer is bleeding, but you may also have mucus.

7. Anal fistulas or rectal ulcers. Anal fistuals are infected tunnels between the skin and the anus. They can form after an abscess. They can sometimes cause bad-smelling mucus to drain from the anal area. Rectal ulcers are open sores inside your rectum that can also cause mucus.

8. Allergic colitis. This reaction babies can have to cow’s milk can cause mucus in their poop.

Mucus in Stool Signs and Symptoms

If you feel fine and there’s only a little mucus, you probably don’t need to worry. But it may be a sign of a problem when:

1. There’s a lot of mucus.

2. You notice it often.

3. You also see blood.

4. You have diarrhea.

5. You have belly pain.

If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor…..CONTINUE READING