The mucus can be found within the digestive tract. It plays a crucial role when it comes to defending against bacteria. Having a small amount of mucus in stool is normal. But if you find large amounts of mucus in your stool, it might be a sign of a medical condition.
Experts say that the mucus barriers and mucus present in the gut are vital for maintaining the health of the gut. It will also defend against acids, digestive enzymes, and other toxins to maintain a stable and healthy environment within the gut.
It also plays the role of a natural lubricant to help the stool pass. But issues occurring within the mucus barrier will lead to intestinal inflammation. It will also contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome.
Mucus in the Stool: What are the Causes?
Under this section, you will learn about the causes of mucus in stool, so let’s find out what they are.
- Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease is a long-term health condition that causes inflammation within the digestive tract. The digestive tract runs from the mouth to the anus, and it’s a type of IBD. For people who suffer from this condition, the layer of mucus present in the digestive tract is pretty thick.
That’s why the body secretes excess mucus within the stool. But during severe flare-ups, the body will produce a low level of mucus. This means there will be less mucus in the stool.
Crohn’s Disease has several other symptoms, which are:
- A feeling of Incomplete Bowel Evacuation
- Persistent Diarrhea
- Urgent Need to Have a Bowel Movement
- Constipation
- Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal Cramps
- Rectal Bleeding
- Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance will not just cause mucus in stool but also lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating. This condition takes place when people cannot digest lactose, which is the primary carbohydrate within dairy products.
Individuals who suffer from Lactose Intolerance don’t make much enzyme lactase, which is required to digest the lactose. The symptoms of this condition will take place after you consume dairy products within 8 hours.
Lactose Intolerance occurs due to intestinal infections, older age, or genetics. To treat this condition, you need to consume lactase supplements when eating lactose food products or completely avoid lactose-based food items.
- GI [Gastrointestinal] Infections
Infections in the Gastrointestinal or GI tract occur because of parasites, bacteria, or viruses.
It will not just cause mucus in stool but also lead to abdominal pain, bleeding, and diarrhea. You can get it when you drink contaminated water or consume contaminated food.
To treat this condition, you must keep yourself hydrated and enable your bowel to rest by consuming bland food products. If you have a parasite or bacterial infection, you must take anti-parasitic or antibiotic medication.
- Anal Fissures
Anal fissures are known as tears, which occur within the lining of the anus. It can cause pain when passing the bowel movement, mucus in the stool, and bleeding.
Some of the fissures heal by themselves, but there are medications that will accelerate the healing process and also lessen the pain.
Soft bowel movement is extremely vital as it will treat and prevent anal fissures. You can do so by drinking water, using stool softeners, and having a balanced diet.
- IBS [Irritable Bowel Syndrome]
Individuals who have IBS will find whitish mucus in their stool. Other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.
People who have diarrhea-predominant IBS have a high chance of having mucus in their stool when compared with people who have constipation-predominant IBS.
There are other symptoms of IBS, which are a feeling that a person didn’t finish their bowel movement and bloating.
- Proctitis
This is an inflammation that occurs in the lining of the rectum, which can be long-lasting or short-term. The common system of Proctitis is having an urgent and frequent need for a bowel movement.
Another symptom of this condition is discharging pus or mucus through the rectum, which you should report to the physician. Several other symptoms of Proctitis are:
- Diarrhea
- Rectal Bleeding
- Rectal Pain
- Feeling of Fullness in the Rectum
- Rectal Pain
- Abdominal Cramping
- Experiencing Pain During Bowel Movement
- Constipation
- Swollen Lymph Nodes within the Groin
- Volvulus
Volvulus is an intestinal obstruction that occurs due to the twisting of the intestine. It can cause severe pain and symptoms, such as vomiting or nausea, fevers, and changes in the stool.
The condition can also cause mucousy tool and has some risk factors, such as congenital disabilities, scar tissues from previous surgeries, and increasing age. Volvulus can be treated with surgery to “untwist” the intestine or through a colonoscopy.
Parting Thoughts
People will witness mucus in their stool and also experience abdominal pain for countless reasons. You will find some of the most common causes mentioned in this post. Make sure to go through all of them to have a good understanding.
