The appearance of your poop says something about your health. The color, size, shape, and some other fecal features may tell you about your overall health, and how the gastrointestinal tract is working. A slimy poop is that which contains excess mucus, a smooth and thick substance that is released in various parts of the body such as the lining of digestive tract. The presence of small amounts of mucus in stool may not be a cause of concern but when it is excess, it could imply some health problem within the GI.
Mucus helps in lubricating surfaces and allows substances and materials like poop to pass smoothly. If you have slimy bowel movement, you need to consult a doctor. While some amount of mucus present in poop may be normal, on the other hand, significant amounts could indicate an infection or inflammation. If the mucus is accompanied by pain, diarrhea, and blood, it could signify intestinal problem.
Causes of slimy poop
If one suffers from ulcerative colitis, there is inflammation of the colon or large intestine and small sores develop on the lining called ulcers. There may occur bleeding of the ulcers, which could produce pus as well as mucus. If the mucus is too voluminous, it is likely to be visible as it passes with the stool.
Another condition, which could be indicated by the presence of excess mucus in stool, is irritable bowel disease. IBS affects the bowel movement and there could be increased mucus in the lining of intestine. The mucus is passed together with poop and it could be visible. Although it is less frequent to have mucus in stool in people with Cohn’s disease, at times, this could occur.
If mucus is seen in poop among people with Cohn’s disease, then it might be associated with development of anal fissure. Another thing that may cause mucus to pass excessively in stool is bacterial infection. Infection caused by bacterial such as Yersinia, Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter may lead to mucus passing in stool.
Bacterial infection can cause other symptoms including fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. While some of the bacterial infections could resolve without medication, others could be so serious that they need treatment with antibiotics. Bowel obstruction occurs when there is blockage of the fecal matter from passing smoothly. It is a condition that is associated with severe cramps, constipation, vomiting, abdominal distention, and mucus in stool.
A bowel obstruction might be caused by many conditions some of which include scar tissue or adhesions, impacted stool, tumor, a hernia, gallstones, and swallowing of nonfood substances and items. In treating such bowel obstructions, surgery may be done to get rid of the material that is causing the blockage.
The passing of mucus in poop in the case of ulcerative colitis and IBS conditions may not be a cause for alarm since it is a sign of these conditions. Nonetheless, when the passing of mucus occurs as a new symptom after you have had other symptoms; it is important that you see a doctor or mention the same in your next appointment with the doctor. If mucus occurs without any underlying cause such as the ones mentioned above or the preexisting conditions, it implies a change in bowel habits something that needs to be reported to the physician immediately.
Conditions of rectum and anus such as anal fistulas or holes and tubes between tissues and organs, fissure or tears, and rectal ulcers might also cause the passing of mucus in stool. In these cases, you may have stool that looks normal or even bloody. Pain may also arise when you are passing stool making you avoid bowel movement. This could lead to possible fecal impaction and constipation.
Serious symptoms that may accompany mucus in stool
There are incidents where the passing of mucus could be accompanied by other serious symptoms that indicate life-threatening conditions. If you have bloody stool with mucus and the blood is black, tarry, or red, it could mean you have a serious condition that needs to be tackled immediately.
Changes in alertness and consciousness including passing out or fainting may be a serious problem. High fever and change in mental state and sudden change in behavior are other symptoms that signify fatal problem. Rapid heart rate, rigidity of abdomen, pus in stool, and vomiting of blood, as well as rectal bleeding are other symptoms that need to be evaluated urgently when you are passing mucus in poop.
It is important to observe the kind of stool you release because the characteristics of poop could tell you more about your health and the digestive tract. It is not only the color, shape, consistency, and odor but also the sounds the poop makes when it hits water in the toilet bowl. Be it a sinker or a floater, these characteristics are relevant to your health.