Clear Mucus in Stool

Under normal conditions, observing a little amount of mucus in stools is not considered to be anything serious. Mucus is a jelly-like substance found in the intestines. This substance helps to keep the lining of the colon moist and lubricated. It helps to easily pass stools down your bowel. However, if you are observing increased presence of mucus in stools along with pain in the abdomen, it may indicate the presence of some pathological condition. Let us go into the details of clear mucus in stool causes and know more about this condition.

Causes of Mucus in Stools

When one finds presence of clear mucus in the stool, it tends to worry a lot of people. They should be, as it may indicate some worrisome health disorders. The following causes of mucus in stools will help you learn all about the possible issues you need to address as soon as possible.

Ulcerative Colitis
This is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the large intestine. It leads to ulcers in the colon and leads to presence of blood and mucus in the stool. The bleeding ulcers in the intestine leads to secretion of pus and mucus. It is very important to treat this condition as soon as possible, as it can spread and lead to many digestive problems.

Crohn's Disease
The inflammatory disease of the intestine may cause the presence of mucus. If you suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea with or without blood, vomiting and excessive weight loss, it may indicate Crohn's disease.

Hemorrhoids
Presence of hemorrhoids may lead to mucus in stools. If one suffers from anal itching, blood and mucus, constipation, etc. it may indicate hemorrhoids.

Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites cause secretion of excessive mucus. Intestinal worms (giardia) cause chronic diarrhea and bloating. Watch out for presence of these worms in stools along with mucus and get rid of them from your system as soon as possible.

Food Poisoning
When one eats or drinks something that is contaminated by bacterial toxins or parasitic worms, it leads to food poisoning. If one suffers from bloating, abdominal cramps, fever and mucus, it may also indicate food poisoning as the cause.

Diverticulitis
Inflammation of the pouches, present outside the colon, due to chronic constipation is called diverticulitis. Patients suffering from this condition often complain of fever, leukocytosis, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. In this condition, one may observe the presence of mucus in their stools.

Bacterial Infections
Infection of the gastrointestinal tract by bacterial agents such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Shigella, E.Coli, etc. may lead to digestive tract problems. Symptoms of bacterial infection include abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, etc. One suffers from excessive gas and bloating as well.

Bowel Obstruction
Obstruction of the bowels due to imbalance in the number of bacteria in the intestines, low water consumption, yeast formation, can also lead to constipation. In order to help in passage of the stools, the secretion of the mucus increases. Thus, leading to increase in the amount of mucus in the stools.

Food Intolerance
It has been found many people are unable to digest a number of foods. This includes fructose malabsorption, food allergy, Celiac disease and mostly lactose intolerance. This food intolerance leads to presence of mucus in stools after eating certain types of food, which the digestive system does not approve of.

These are some of the clear mucus in stools causes. In most cases, the condition resolves on its own. However, if one suffers from the above mentioned conditions, it is advisable to seek medical help. Curbing these conditions in the initial stages will help avoid major complications later. Hope you have been able to spot the possible causes of clear mucus in the stool from the above paragraphs.