Mucus in Feces

The intestines produce a jelly like substance in order to keep the lining of the colon moist and lubricated. This substance is nothing but the mucus which at times seems to occur in stools. This mucus has a two-fold purpose. It helps food to move through the colon with ease and serve as a protective barrier for the lining of the stomach and intestines against the digestive acid. The mucus can appear white, green or yellow. So as I was saying, occurrence of mucus in feces is a normal condition that is nothing to be worried about, although it may seem to be worrisome. However the concern begins if the amount seems to be increasing with time and the occurrence is becoming too frequent. In such cases, generally, it might indicate that something is severely amiss in the body, or in other words, it is an indication of some underlying medical condition.

What is the Meaning of Mucus in Stool?

There are three medical conditions that may be commonly associated with the condition of green, yellow or white mucus in stool. These include ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The first condition is associated with a chronic inflammation of the digestive system. It is also known to cause ulcers. The ulcers may bleed and give rise to the formation of pus or mucus, which may show up in stool. Other symptoms which might accompany this disease include abdominal cramps, weight loss and dehydration. Rectal bleeding may also occur and due to this, blood and mucus in stool may be noticed.

Then comes Crohn's disease. This is about the inflammation of the digestive tract. This condition is generally diagnosed when the symptom of blood and mucus in feces occur in the affected person. Other symptoms are cramps and pain in the abdominal area, diarrhea and formation of ulcers.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects the large intestine with symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, pain in the abdominal area and bloating.

Apart from being caused by these factors, mucus in feces during pregnancy could also be a common symptom in expecting mothers. Due to the constant changes in hormones in the body, most mothers suffer from constipation, which in turn may cause strain during bowel movements. Excessive straining may cause a part of the intestinal lining to emerge out of the anal opening. In some cases, doctors find the causes to be some intestinal bacterial infections, as well.

Treatment is mainly about identifying the underlying cause and treating it. If the patient gets diagnosed with a bacterial infection to have been causing the condition, then antibiotics would be the first line of treatment for the sufferer. And the same strategy goes for other causes such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Occasional occurrence of mucus during bowel movements, as mentioned, is a normal process of the body. But if it gets frequent and more than normal, then it is better to get medical aid. Patients, apart from being recommended for medication, may also be advised to make some changes in their diet and bring about lifestyle changes too.