Mucus in the stool: possible causes

First of all, a little mucus in the stool is normal. Various mucous glands in the intestine are involved in the digestion of food. However, this is usually not visible to the naked eye. However, if the mucus is visible in the stool, there may be various causes behind it:

• Changes in diet sometimes ensure that more mucus is visible. This usually disappears again after a few days.
• Food intolerances, such as gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance, are also possible causes
• High-fat meals can also lead to mucousy stools.
• Certain diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease, a salmonella infection or bowel cancer, can be responsible for visible mucus in the stool.

Slimy stools: what are the differences?

If there is inflammation, the mucous glands produce more watery mucus. The color of the mucus in particular can provide information about possible causes:
- Light-colored m ucus: This is usually a completely normal reaction of the body, for example in the case of an intolerance or change in diet.
- White m ucus: This can be caused by a food intolerance or, in rare cases, an inflammatory bowel disease.
- Yellow m ucus: This can occur as a result of an infection.
- Red m ucus: There may be blood in the mucus, which can be a sign of bowel disease or bowel cancer. In rare cases, red mucus can also occur with infections.

Note: Some foods, such as beet, can discolor faeces and mucus. So if the discoloration only occurs for a short time, there is usually no cause for concern.

>> What to do with soft stools?

Mucus in the stool: When is it better to see a doctor?

As there may be serious illnesses behind the mucus in your stool, you should definitely see a doctor if this occurs for more than a few days to find out what is behind it.

How are slimy stools treated?

The first step is to find out why there is mucus in the stool. Only then can the appropriate treatment be started. Often there are harmless reasons behind it, such as a change in diet. The stool usually returns to normal on its own after a while. In the case of a gastrointestinal illness or other temporary infectious diseases, the stool usually normalizes quickly. The situation is different with bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel diseases. These are more difficult to treat, but the symptoms can also be alleviated with the help of a doctor.

Other interesting topics relating to our bowel movements:

Sticky stools: why you should get to the bottom of it
Hard stools: the best home remedies
Fatty stools: these are the causes