
Passing mucus in stool can be a cause of worry for many people as it is a symptom of many severe disorders. This article tells you about what does mucus in the stool mean.
The presence of a small amount of mucus in the stool is not really a cause of serious concern. Mucus is a viscous secretion of the mucous membranes. The secretion of mucus in the digestive tract helps keep the inner lining of the small bowel and the colon moist and well-lubricated. It facilitates smooth passage of the food in the gastrointestinal tract. It is normal to pass a small amount of mucus in the stool, but if you are passing large amounts of mucus on a daily basis, and it is accompanied with bleeding, then you must seek medical help as soon as possible.
What Causes Mucus In Stools?
Hemorrhoid
It is characterized by blood loss by any organ, tissue, or cell of the body. Mucus and blood in stool is one of the prominent symptoms of hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids make the blood pass with mucus; however, external hemorrhoids can be passed with mucus along with lot of pain, swelling, irritation, itchiness, bleeding, and discomfort.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS caused by diarrhea and dysentery make the intestine empty and very dry due to which it produces larger amounts of mucus to keep the colon well lubricated. This mucus is then passed through stools, which is generally not a cause of worry as once the primary disease is treated, the excessive mucus productions stops.
Ulcerative Colitis
In this disorder, the mucous membrane of the intestine is infected which leads to inflammation. Slowly as the inflammation intensifies the mucous membrane starts developing ulcers, which produces mucus and pus. The intestinal ulcers also cause bleeding due to which a person passes stools with mucus, pus, and blood.
Crohn’s Disease
Mucus in stool is also one of the prominent symptom of Crohn’s disease, which is essentially a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Apart from mucus in stool, there are many other symptoms, such as, chronic fatigue, sudden weight loss, blood in stools, diarrhea, and fever, etc., that too characterize this disease.
Bacterial Infections and Bowel Obstruction
There are various types of bacterial infection such as salmonella, shigella, and yersinia, etc., that can infect the mucous membrane of intestine. Such infection can cause excessive mucus to pass with stool. Bowel obstruction problems such as constipation can lead to the presence of mucus in stools. They are also accompanied by severe abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting.
These were some of the health conditions that can make you release mucus with stools. So, the next time you pass mucus in stool, you should certainly visit a doctor as soon as possible and get yourself treated. Share this information with your friends and loved ones so that they too are aware of this issue which many people do not like to discuss openly.
Disclaimer: This WellnessKeen article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.