Several scenarios can result in mucus in the stool. Firstly, a certain amount of mucus in the stool is normal. The normal mucus comes from the mucous membranes in the digestive system.
If there is a large amount of mucus in your stool, particularly if accompanied by other symptoms like pain and bloating, further investigation is needed. Sometimes the mucus is also accompanied by blood in the stool. All of these symptoms are a reason to get checked out by your medical doctor. Weight loss and fever accompanying the mucus are other reasons for seeing your healthcare provider.
Tests for blood in the mucus might include blood tests, a CT scan, a colonoscopy, or other specialized tests. A stool test is also helpful. Inflammatory markers like calprotectin and lysozyme will indicate if there is significant inflammation.
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Possible causes of mucus in the stool include proctitis (inflammation of the lower part of the bowel), a bowel obstruction, a parasitic or bacterial infection, or inflammatory bowel diseases. In Crohn’s disease is it quite common to have excess mucus production. I don’t tend to see a lot of mucus with Candida overgrowth. Polyps are another cause of mucus in the stool. Certain types of gastrointestinal cancer can present with increased mucus in the stool.
Mucus in your stool means that you have a level of inflammation or irritation that is causing the mucous membranes to secrete more fluids. Mucus in your stool doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got cancer. In fact, usually, the problem passes, but it is still worth having it checked out by your doctor.
Sources:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/310101.php
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/mucus-in-stool/expert-answers/faq-20058262
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30792861
