Bristol stool scale. What does the type and shape of human feces indicate? Causes and treatment of sheep feces in adults

Stool with a mushy consistency - what is it, what are the symptoms and signs of what, what problem or disease? The physical characteristics of stool are affected by the amount of water it contains. The feces of a healthy person have a uniform consistency, medium density and a cylindrical shape. If a person suffers from constipation, water is absorbed by the intestines more intensively, and feces are formed into small dense balls. In the case of increased peristalsis due to insufficient digestion in the small intestine or nonspecific ulcerative colitis, the opposite situation occurs: water does not have time to be absorbed in the required amount, remaining in excess in the intestine. Under such circumstances, the stool may contain up to 90% liquid.

Unformed stool often has a pasty consistency due to high fat content, improper pancreatic secretion or bile secretion.

Causes of mushy stool, why did diarrhea appear?

Probably every person at least once faced the problem of sudden diarrhea and looked for ways to urgently get rid of it. To know how to overcome this unpleasant condition, it is important to understand for what reasons it can arise.

The patient’s task at the initial stage is complicated by the fact that loose stools can provoke many diseases. Through bowel movements, the body gives a signal of danger and tries to cleanse itself of harmful substances. Activated carbon can be taken as a first aid measure. If this does not give the expected result, you should seek help from a medical institution.

The most common causes of mushy stool: intestinal infections, dysbacteriosis, poisoning, unbalanced diet, impaired digestion of food, advanced forms of diseases of the digestive system, hypovitaminosis, increased intestinal motility, allergic reactions, stress, tuberculosis, kidney and thyroid diseases, malabsorption syndrome, cancer processes in the rectum.

The full list of likely sources of diarrhea is much broader. To avoid dangerous health consequences, if sorbents do not work when you feel unwell, you must seek help from a doctor.

Pasty diarrhea in adults, causes of diarrhea in adults

When a person is sick, his discharge can change in frequency and character. A symptom of some diseases is loose stools, accompanied by abdominal pain, burning during defecation, and blood in the stool.

Stools are considered frequent if they are repeated more than three times during the day. In adults, the weight and volume of feces increases, and their color and consistency acquire atypical characteristics. Often in such cases, feces in adults become like mush. In case of diarrhea, first of all, intestinal dysfunction is suspected. This refers to improper absorption of fluid in its thick section, as a result of which dehydration develops. To cleanse the intestines, the body removes its contents as much as possible. A person needs to monitor the maintenance of the state of microflora and water-salt balance during this period. If diarrhea continues for more than three days, and independent attempts to eliminate it do not work, you must definitely go to the hospital.

What diseases can be symptomatic if an adult has mushy stool?

If the stool is in the form of porridge, an adult may have the following diseases. If an adult has an inflammatory process in the area of ​​the duodenum, if inflammation develops in the area of ​​the pylorus, then such symptoms indicate gastroduodenitis. In an adult, porridge-shaped feces may also appear with pancreatitis. What is pancreatitis? This disease is characterized by inflammation in the pancreas, and inflammation occurs due to a disruption in the natural process of producing enzymes that are aimed at improving and normalizing digestive processes.

Also, stool in the form of a mushy consistency can be due to cholecystitis, that is, due to inflammation of the gallbladder. Due to the inflammatory process, stagnation processes begin in the gallbladder, which leads to this form of feces. Intestinal dysbiosis, when the normal balance of microbes in the intestines is disrupted, stool can change its consistency, and diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, gas formation and other intestinal problems may even appear.

Pasty stools appear quite often in intestinal diseases. Just as in the case of intestinal dysbiosis, with pathologies in the intestines, the microflora of this organ is disrupted, which ultimately affects the color and shape of feces. What else can change the shape and color of stool in an adult, why does the stool become crumbly, in the form of porridge? In addition to all the known diseases that can affect the shape and consistency of stool, it should also be noted that the cause of soft stool can also be physiological reasons, taking medications, especially for a long time. Even a sudden change in diet can cause stool to change from its usual and normal appearance for humans to another, and the color of stool may even change.

What diseases can cause porridge-like stool, if these are not pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract? An adult can have mushy bowel movements when there are disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland, frequent and acute forms of allergies, vitamin deficiency can affect the shape and color of the stool. Malabsorption syndrome, some forms of tuberculosis, frequent or severe stress, all of this can indirectly affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which means stool can change.

Pasty stools in children

A child’s digestive system is much more vulnerable to the effects of pathogenic bacteria and other irritants that cause disruptions in the process of assimilation of food than that of an adult. Therefore, children are more likely to experience problems with their intestines, resulting in diarrhea. Due to rapid dehydration, severe diarrhea for a small child can become a threat to health and even life. You should know that harmful bacteria, which the body of an adult can easily cope with, can be a serious danger to a newborn.

In children, mushy stool occurs primarily due to poor nutrition. According to official data recorded by the Ministry of Health, among children who are bottle-fed, digestive disorders are six times more common than among babies who are fed breast milk. This situation arises due to the incompatibility of the composition of the mixtures with the infant’s intestinal microflora.

Pasty yellow stool

The primary factor influencing the appearance of yellow loose stools is infection. Through diarrhea, the body is cleansed of pathogenic bacteria that have entered it. Sometimes such a disorder occurs due to an inflammatory process in the intestinal mucosa. The cause of mushy stool is also stomach diseases, in which food is poorly digested.

One of the main causes of yellow diarrhea is rotavirus infection. Its symptoms: sudden onset of diarrhea, which turns gray on the second day, and high body temperature. The effect of infection affects not only the functioning of the intestines. In almost all cases, patients experience a runny nose, redness of the throat and pain when swallowing, lack of appetite, and apathy. Due to the fact that the disease becomes more active during influenza epidemics, it is called “intestinal flu”.

Pasty stools with mucous patches

Diarrhea with mucus indicates dangerous disorders of the digestive system, regardless of the person’s age. At the same time, such a symptom can appear even for the most banal reasons: during a cold, or after eating dairy products and slimy cereals, berries and fruits. With a severe runny nose, mucous drips from the nasopharynx enter the esophagus and then into the intestines. A similar phenomenon is also possible with some bacterial intestinal infections. An acute form of mucus occurs in dysentery.

Pasty stool in the morning

Morning diarrhea indicates increased bowel movements. Based on the nature of the course, it is considered both acute and chronic. The chronic appearance of pasty diarrhea in the morning indicates serious problems in the functioning of the intestines, which can only be eliminated with the help of qualified diagnosis and treatment. You can try to determine the cause of diarrhea in the morning in isolated cases on your own. When taking medications, you should carefully study the instructions, paying attention to the presence of a laxative effect. If the intestines do not absorb the active substances included in the medicine, the patient who takes it will suffer from diarrhea.

If pasty stool or stool often appears, what could be the symptoms?

Diarrhea as such is already a sign of dysfunction of the digestive system. However, diarrhea can also be an independent disease. If mushy stool is frequent and passes periodically, the interval between adjacent periods can be up to one month. Like most diseases, diarrhea occurs in acute or chronic forms. Acute diarrhea most often appears under the influence of infectious intestinal infections. It is always necessary to carefully monitor the thoroughness of washing vegetables and fruits to prevent pathogenic bacteria located on their surface from entering the stomach.

A significant increase in stool (up to ten or more times a day), which contains blood or pus, accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, indicates salmonellosis. In patients with cholera, the stool contains a lot of liquid, it is excessively watery, which entails the risk of rapid dehydration. If a person experiences frequent, watery stools accompanied by bleeding and painful symptoms, he or she must be rushed to the hospital for examination. Treatment of diarrhea should begin only after receiving diagnostic results and doctor’s recommendations. Among other indications, the patient should follow a diet that excludes foods that have a laxative effect.

What pills to buy and drink if the stool is porridge-like, treatment for mushy stool

Of course, the treatment of the stool itself in the form of almost diarrhea, when the stool is mushy in shape, involves not only eliminating the symptom itself, but treating the problem that causes this type of stool. It is possible to prescribe effective treatment only by making a correct diagnosis, and without the results of examinations and the experience of a doctor, this is very difficult to do. But you can deal with the symptoms on your own, but you should not forget about treating the cause of these symptoms.

What pills to choose if the stool has become crumbly and the stool is almost like diarrhea or diarrhea? If the causes of bowel dysfunction are food poisoning or intoxication, then drugs from the group of enterosorbents can help. Namely: Activated carbon, White carbon, Smecta, Polysorb, Filtrum. If problems with stool are due to dysbiosis in the intestines, then in this case you can get rid of diarrhea with the help of drugs such as: Lizobact, HilakForte, Laktorakterin, Bifiform, Riolaflora Balance, which belong to the group of probiotics.

If there are stool disorders and spasms in the abdomen, stomach, intestines, then the doctor may prescribe antispasmodics. Such drugs for diarrhea from the group of antispasmodics will help relieve pain in the abdomen and intestines. Drugs that relieve spasms include: No-shpa, Bral, Bruskopan, Papaverine, Halidor, Drotaverine, Spazgan. If, after treatment, the doctor intends to normalize the patient’s digestion more quickly, then he can prescribe some drugs from the group of dietary supplements after treating the acute phase of diarrhea. Such drugs for normalizing digestive processes after treatment of the underlying disease include the following drugs: Nutrikon, Loklo, Gastrofilan, Litovit, Bifidophilus.

If the causes of diarrhea or frequent and loose stools are stress, nervous strain and overload, then the doctor may prescribe medications from the group of antidepressants. These include the following drugs: Imipramine, Fevarin, Amitriptyline, Sertalitin, Fevarin. Also, if you have diarrhea or diarrhea, your doctor may prescribe medications to normalize intestinal motility. To treat problems with the intestines and certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, doctors prescribe the following drugs: Furazolidone, Imodium, Fthalazol, Enterol, Sulgin, Nitrofungin, Intetrix, Enterofuril, and Trimedat.

Diarrhea can be a sign of almost any disease and disorder that appears in the human body. This is how the human body sends a signal about emerging danger. If, after taking several tablets of activated carbon, no effect is observed, then you should immediately visit the doctor by going to the clinic at your place of residence.

Mushy morning stool is a consequence of the following reasons:

1. tuberculosis of various forms
2. intestinal infections
3. thyroid disorders
4. dysbacteriosis
5. various forms of tuberculosis
6. malabsorption syndrome
7. diseases of the digestive organs in severe forms
8. rectal cancer
9. excessive bowel motility
10. poor nutrition
11. kidney disease
12. insufficient digestibility of food
13. constant stress
14. allergic reactions
15. avitaminosis.

Of course, there could be many more reasons. But in any case, you should not leave the situation to chance when there is no effect from activated carbon. It is important to contact a specialist immediately.

Pasty stool in an adult

Many diseases change the frequency and nature of stool. When defecating, there may be pain and a burning sensation. There is often a feeling of incomplete emptying and blood in the stool.

We can talk about frequent bowel movements if bowel movements continue more than 3 times a day. At this time, in an adult, the mass and volume of feces increases, their consistency and color begin to change.

If all this happens, then soon an adult will have mushy stool. The appearance of diarrhea eloquently indicates serious disruptions in the functioning of the intestines.

In other words, this means that there is difficulty in absorbing fluid in the large intestine, so dehydration of the blood stream may occur.

To avoid possible troubles, the body begins to have frequent bowel movements. In an adult, restoration of water balance and intestinal microflora occurs easier and faster than in a child. If you have diarrhea that lasts more than three days, you should consult a doctor.

Pasty stool in a child

The child’s digestive organs are much more sensitive to unfavorable factors that disrupt the functionality of the system and create disorders, in particular diarrhea.

In children, diarrhea can even be life-threatening because it causes severe dehydration. A newborn child may have pathogenic bacteria that pose no threat to an adult, but pose a great threat to the child’s health.

The main cause of mushy stool in a small child is an incorrect and unbalanced diet.

Medical statistics show that bottle-fed children are 6 times more likely to have digestive disorders than others. Doctors explain this by saying that formulas containing artificial ingredients are not compatible with the child’s intestines.

Pasty yellow stool

Yellow diarrhea, like any other, has the function of cleansing the body of harmful microbes that bring infection and force you to fight them. Simply put, the reasons here are infection, which is also the main factor causing yellow diarrhea.

Situations arise when such disorders are provoked by an inflammatory process of the intestinal mucosa. Often, mushy yellow diarrhea is caused by insufficient digestion of food, which indicates disturbances in the functioning of the stomach.

Rotavirus infection is one of the main causes of yellow diarrhea. It is not difficult to identify, since the temperature immediately rises and on the second day the stool becomes a gray mass.

This infection continues with the following symptoms:

• runny nose
• redness of the throat
• pain when swallowing.

Often all this is aggravated by a general loss of strength and decreased appetite, up to its complete absence. All symptoms of the disease are included in the so-called intestinal flu, since it is often activated during influenza epidemics.

Pasty stools with mucus

Mushy stools along with mucus are a sign of serious internal disorders of the digestive system, both in adults and children.

Symptoms may occur:

1. after eating mucus-like foods or against the background of a common cold.
2. When consuming fermented milk mixtures, fruits, and berry porridges, you need to be prepared for the appearance of such stools.
3. There are often cases when a severe runny nose, provoking changes in the nasopharynx, makes it possible to release mucous into the esophagus. From there they very quickly enter the intestines.

Such phenomena can appear after an infection has entered the intestines; it is usually bacterial in nature. The acute form of mucus in most cases develops with dysentery.

Pasty stool in the morning

Surely, morning diarrhea is an unpleasant memory for many people. The phenomenon marks frequent bowel movements, it can be chronic and acute.

If mushy stool occurs constantly in the morning, this indicates that there are chronic problems in the body, and an immediate examination by a doctor is required.

If morning diarrhea occurs situationally, then the cause of its occurrence can be identified independently. As a rule, the person himself is to blame for the appearance of such stools.

Diarrhea may appear in the morning if a person takes medications with a laxative effect. The intestines do not sufficiently absorb the active substances of these drugs, but when they are eliminated, diarrhea appears. However, diarrhea with pancreatitis is also a common occurrence, and this disease is quite dangerous.

Frequent mushy stools

Frequent diarrhea can indicate a variety of digestive system disorders. It may be that diarrhea also acts as an independent disease. Frequent mushy stools, which occur periodically, with breaks of up to 1 month. This disorder can take on a chronic or acute form.

Acute diarrhea occurs as a result of infection with one of the intestinal infections. Poor washing of vegetables and fruits often contributes to the penetration of pathogenic microbes into the human digestive system, which gives rise to the disease.

There are several ways that lead to the formation of diarrhea:

1. Very frequent bowel movements, which can reach several dozen times a day, which is accompanied by vomiting, nausea and high fever, indicate progressive salmonellosis.
2. With cholera, stools are almost always not only frequent, but also watery, which quickly leads to dangerous dehydration.
3. If you experience frequent watery stools, combined with pain, mucus and blood, a medical examination is required, which cannot be postponed.

After finding out the cause of frequent diarrhea, you need to immediately begin treatment for the disease that caused it. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the prescribed diet, and in the future, avoid eating foods that can cause frequent mushy stools.

Loose stools, but not diarrhea in an adult: causes and treatment

Frequent, loose stools that are passed more than 3 times a day may be a cause for concern. Regular loose stools, but not diarrhea, in an adult are usually a sign of illness, especially if there is blood, mucus or fat in the stool. In such a situation, you should abandon home treatment and consult a doctor as soon as possible. Check what diseases the symptoms described above may indicate and what are the causes of frequent urge to go to the toilet.

Causes of loose stools

Loose stools for a long time may be accompanied by chronic diarrhea. In this case, free (semi-liquid) impurities of a large volume are observed, containing traces of blood, pus or mucus, they occur more often than 3 times a day.

A characteristic feature is a constant feeling of the need to defecate. This disease can alternate and be a symptom of many serious diseases.

A factor in the development of loose stools in the morning and after each meal can be a disease:

• Irritable bowel syndrome.

This is a chronic disease - its symptoms can persist throughout life. There is rarely the presence of blood, and there is also unexplained weight loss (despite the use of a balanced diet) and a feeling of fatigue. Often the need to defecate appears at night.

During illness, changes occur within the cells of the colon mucosa. Loose stools appear, which may contain blood (as a result of bleeding from the tumor). Often the only symptom of developing cancer is a change in bowel habits: diarrhea and constipation. It is worth knowing that the symptoms of rectal cancer are varied and depend on the location of the tumor.

The disease consists of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the rectum or colon. Its symptom is, in particular, frequent urges, which look like loose sediment mixed with blood. The disease is very dangerous because its complications can include liver failure, colon perforation and even cancer.

• Crohn's disease.

This is an inflammatory disease of the colon of unknown etiology, leading to destruction of the intestinal wall. The inflammatory process initially involves the mucous membrane, eventually occupying all layers of the colon wall. Symptoms of the disease often include loose stools, weight loss and changes in the membrane (ulcers, abscesses, fistulas).

Celiac disease is an inflammatory disease of the small intestine, the essence of which is gluten intolerance. In people who struggle with this type of malabsorption, inflammation occurs as a result of contact with gluten supplements. The consequence is slow damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine. A characteristic symptom of the disease is loose, pale, impurities with a strong pungent odor. Liquid stool is excreted from the body in large quantities.

• Hyperthyroidism.

Excessive production of thyroid hormones causes the patient's metabolism to accelerate, resulting in frequent urination and diarrhea. At the same time, a decrease in body weight occurs, despite the fact that the patient’s appetite does not decrease.

This is a disease that can be contracted while staying in tropical countries. It is caused by bacteria from the genus Salmonella. Fever and abdominal pain appear in the first week. In the second, severe headaches and dry cough are observed. Only in the third week do loose stools appear.

Urination is free, severe diarrhea immediately after eating with a strong odor is one of the characteristic symptoms of this disease. Other symptoms also appear from the gastrointestinal tract: an increase in abdominal volume and blockage of the salivary glands with thick, viscous mucus.

Other causes of frequent diarrhea and dysbiosis:

• taking medications - many medications, such as diabetes pills, laxatives or hydrochloric acid antacids, can cause loose stools as an undesirable side effect of taking them. If there is a suspicion that medications are the cause of diarrhea, you should stop taking them and consult a doctor. Very often, dysbiosis is caused by antibacterial drugs;
• consuming large amounts of sugar substitute (sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol).

Chronic diarrhea is a symptom of illness that lasts more than 14 days. During this period, the patient gives away more than 3 liters of fluid per day. There can be many reasons, ranging from food allergies to life-threatening diseases.

What to do if an adult has loose stools

Some patients trigger the disease. Diarrhea can last for more than a year. In this case, there is a high risk of dehydration. If you have loose stools for a long time, it is important to conduct a comprehensive examination to eliminate the risk of developing a dangerous disease.

At the first symptoms and frequently recurring diarrhea, it is important to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Drugs such as:

The doctor may prescribe probiotics to improve internal intestinal motility (Linex, Bifidumbacterin).

If loose stools are accompanied by vomiting, the cause may be a rotavirus infection or gastroenteritis. Enterofuril tablets can help cope with bacterial damage. They have antibacterial and healing effects.

If you have soft stools after each meal, you are more likely to develop dehydration. You should definitely drink sweet tea or salted water in small portions. There is a special drug, Regidron, that helps cope with dehydration during rapidly developing diarrhea.

If an adult has loose stools, but not diarrhea, and has been bothering you for a long time, you should definitely undergo an examination. It will help identify provoking factors. You should not self-medicate. After all, the disease can lead to intoxication of the body, significant loss of weight and appetite.

It is important to take immediate action to eliminate diarrhea. Now there are different pills for this.

Which? Like Smecta they only make things worse. I've been suffering for a week now

Have you tried seeing a doctor? If sorbents do not help, it may be a violation of peristalsis, diagnostics is necessary

Add a comment Cancel reply

The information on the site is for informational purposes only. All rights reserved © 2016

Stool quality in normal and pathological conditions

Feces (stool or feces) is the end product of digestion, which is formed as a result of complex biochemical processes in the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted from the body during bowel movements. The main properties of feces are its quantity, consistency, shape, color and smell. Changes in these indicators may indicate various diseases. In this article we will look at the quality of stool in normal and pathological conditions.

1. Number of bowel movements

Normally, bowel movements occur 1-2 times a day without strong straining and painlessly.

With pathology, there may be a lack of bowel movements for several days - constipation; there may also be too frequent bowel movements (up to 3-5 times a day or more) - diarrhea or diarrhea.

2. Forms of feces

For convenient classification of stool, the “Bristol Stool Shape Scale” was developed in England. According to this scale, there are 7 main types of feces.

Type 1. Individual hard lumps, like nuts (difficult to pass) - characterizes constipation.

Type 2. Sausage-shaped, but lumpy - characterizes constipation or a tendency to constipation.

Type 3. Sausage-shaped, but with cracks on the surface - a normal variant.

Type 4. Sausage-shaped or snake-shaped, smooth and soft - a variant of the norm.

Type 5. Soft lumps with clear edges (easily passing) - tendency to diarrhea.

Type 6. Fluffy, torn pieces, porous feces - characteristic of diarrhea.

Type 7. Watery, without solid pieces, entirely liquid - characteristic of severe diarrhea.

Using this scale, the patient can roughly assess whether he currently has constipation or diarrhea. Unfortunately, for people with chronic diseases, this scale does not always give an accurate result, so it is not recommended to diagnose yourself without consulting a doctor.

3. Amount of feces

Normally, an adult excretes approximately a gram of feces per day.

Reasons for decreased stool output:

• constipation (if feces remain in the large intestine for a long time, maximum absorption of water occurs, resulting in a decrease in the volume of feces);
• the diet is dominated by foods that are easily digestible;
• reducing the amount of food eaten.

Reasons for increased stool output:

• predominance of plant foods in the diet;
• disruption of digestive processes in the small intestine (enteritis, malabsorption, etc.);
• decreased pancreatic function;
• impaired absorption in the intestinal mucosa;
• decreased flow of bile into the intestines (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis).

4. Consistency of stool

Normally, it has a soft consistency and a cylindrical shape. In pathology, the following types of feces can be noted:

1. Dense feces (sheep) – the cause of such feces can be:

• dysbacteriosis;
• staphylococcus;
• peptic ulcer;
• irritation of the walls of the colon;
• colitis;
• poor circulation in the intestinal walls;
• syndrome of insufficiency of motor and reflex function of the gastrointestinal tract;
• nervous system disorder, stress;
• insufficient fluid intake;
• recovery period after surgery;
• sedentary lifestyle.

If you experience similar bowel movements, you need to consult a specialist, since if you continue to have bowel movements of this nature for a long time, your well-being may deteriorate significantly. Headaches and irritability may appear, intoxication of the body begins, and immunity decreases. Sheep feces can cause fissures in the anal canal, can provoke rectal prolapse, and cause the formation of hemorrhoids. Regular constipation requires mandatory consultation with a specialist.

There can be many reasons for mushy stool. If you have similar stools and also notice an increase in the number of bowel movements (more than 3 times a day), contact a specialist to establish a diagnosis.

Pasty yellow stools can be caused by infections, inflammatory processes in the intestinal mucosa, disturbances in the functioning of the stomach (indigestibility of food), or rotavirus infection.

Pasty stools with mucus - may appear against the background of a common cold, after eating mucus-like foods, fermented milk mixtures, fruits, berry porridges. Often, with a severe runny nose, mucous secretions enter the esophagus, then into the intestines and can be visualized in the stool. For an infection that is bacterial in nature.

Pasty stools may appear with pancreatitis, and the color of the stool may take on a gray color. This type of feces may indicate the presence of fermentative dyspepsia, chronic enteritis and colitis with diarrhea.

Diarrhea can also be caused by:

• dysbacteriosis;
• intestinal infections;
• tuberculosis of various forms;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• malabsorption syndrome;
• poor nutrition;
• kidney disease;
• insufficient digestibility of food;
• constant stress;
• allergic reactions;
• avitaminosis;
• diseases of the digestive organs in severe form;
• oncological diseases of the rectum.

3. Ointment-like feces - a fatty consistency of feces is characteristic of a disturbance in the functioning of the pancreas (pancreatitis), with cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, with liver disease, intestinal disease with malabsorption.

4. Clay or putty-like gray feces - characteristic of a significant amount of undigested fat, which is observed when there is difficulty in the outflow of bile from the liver and gallbladder (blockage of the bile duct, hepatitis).

• Loose, watery stools are most often a sign of infectious diarrhea or intestinal infection.
• Liquid green stool is characteristic of intestinal infections.
• Black liquid stool indicates bleeding from the upper or middle parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Light liquid stool is a sign of damage to the initial parts of the small intestine.
• Liquid yellow feces are a sign of damage to the final section of the small intestine. In this case, the stool occurs 6–8 times a day, watery, foamy.
• Liquid stool that resembles pea puree is a sign of typhoid fever.
• Liquid stools, similar to rice water, almost colorless, are a sign of cholera.

Unreasonable diarrhea in middle-aged and elderly people, lasting more than two weeks, often mixed with blood, is one of the symptoms that allows one to suspect a tumor of the small intestine.

Constantly loose stools occur with nonspecific educational diseases of the intestine - chronic enteritis, colitis, Croc's disease, after intestinal resection, etc.

Causes of diarrhea are also:

• dysentery;
• salmonellosis;
• rotavirus infection;
• helminths;
• fungi;
• nervous disorders, stress;
• with a lack or excess of digestive enzymes;
• in case of poisoning;
• after taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, iron supplements and other medications;
• for food allergies;
• gastritis with secretory insufficiency;
• after gastrectomy;
• stomach cancer;
• hepatitis, liver cirrhosis;
• adrenal insufficiency, increased thyroid function, diabetes mellitus;
• hypovitaminosis, severe metabolic kidney diseases;
• for systemic diseases (for example, scleroderma).

6. Foamy feces are a sign of fermentative dyspepsia, when fermentation processes predominate in the intestines.

7. Yeast stool – indicates the presence of yeast. May appear as cheesy, foamy stools like rising sourdough, may have strings like melted cheese, or have a yeasty odor.

5. Stool color

Normal color can vary from light brown to dark brown. In pathology, the following may be noted:

If you find almost black stool that has a viscous consistency, contact a specialist immediately, as this may indicate the presence of blood in the stool.

6. Stool smell

Normally, stool has an unpleasant and not pungent odor.

• A pungent odor is characteristic of meat foods that predominate in the diet.
• Rotten smell - due to poor digestion of food (undigested food can be food for bacteria, it can simply rot in the intestines).
• Sour – may indicate the predominance of dairy products in the diet. Also noted with fermentative dyspepsia, after drinking fermented drinks (for example, kvass).
• Foul - with pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hypersecretion of the large intestine, with the proliferation of bacteria.
• Putrefactive – putrefactive dyspepsia, digestive disorders in the stomach, colitis, constipation.
• The smell of rancid oil is a consequence of bacterial decomposition of fats in the intestines.
• Weak odor - observed with constipation and accelerated evacuation from the small intestine.

Feces should sink gently to the bottom of the toilet. If stool splashes into the toilet water, this indicates insufficient dietary fiber. If feces float on the surface of the water, this may be a consequence of eating a large amount of fiber, high levels of gases in the feces, or a large amount of undigested fat. Poor flushing from the toilet walls may indicate pancreatitis.

Pasty stool

Causes of mushy stool

Many people have repeatedly encountered problems associated with sudden diarrhea and the need to quickly eliminate it. The condition is far from the most pleasant, and in order to be able to deal with it competently, you need to understand the reasons that cause it.

It is important to know that diarrhea can be caused by almost any disease. Thus, the body signals about impending danger. In view of this, if after taking several tablets of activated carbon the problem does not go away, you should consult a doctor.

Pasty stools can be caused by the following reasons:

There may be more reasons. It’s not worth the risk, and if activated carbon doesn’t help, you should contact a specialist.

Pasty stool in an adult

Many diseases change the nature and frequency of fecal discharge. Perhaps, during defecation, a burning sensation, pain will begin to arise, emptying will be incomplete and blood will begin to mix in. Frequent bowel movements are diagnosed when visiting the toilet more than three times a day. In an adult, at this time there is an increase in the mass and volume of feces, their color and consistency changes. With this combination of symptoms, there are frequent cases of mushy stool in an adult. The occurrence of diarrhea indicates a malfunction of the intestines. In other words, this means that there are problems with the absorption of fluid in the large intestine, resulting in dehydration of the blood flow. In order to avoid further troubles, frequent bowel movements are necessary. In the case of an adult, restoration of intestinal microflora and water balance is easier than in a child. If diarrhea lasts more than three days, you should seek help from a doctor.

Pasty stool in a child

The child’s digestive system is much more sensitive to the effects of unfavorable circumstances that disrupt its functionality and create indigestion, manifested in the appearance of diarrhea.

In young children, diarrhea can be life-threatening because it causes dehydration. If the child is a newborn, the cause of his diarrhea may be pathogenic bacteria that are completely safe for an adult, but pose a threat to the baby.

The main cause of mushy stool in a child is poor nutrition. Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that bottle-fed children are 6 times more likely to suffer from digestive disorders than breastfed children. This is explained by the fact that mixtures containing artificial substitutes are incompatible with the baby’s intestines.

Pasty yellow stool

Yellow diarrhea, like any other, performs the function of cleansing the body of pathogenic microbes, which, introducing infection, force us to fight them. Thus, infection is the main factor causing the appearance of yellow diarrhea. There are situations when disorders of this type are caused by inflammatory processes in the intestinal mucosa. Often, mushy yellow stools are explained by poor digestion of food, indicating stomach diseases.

Among the main causes of yellow diarrhea is the so-called rotavirus infection. It is easy to recognize, because when it appears, the temperature rises instantly and the stool that appears on the second day becomes a gray mass. This infection does not end with intestinal problems alone. Almost always the situation is complicated by a runny nose, pain when swallowing and redness of the throat. Very often this condition is accompanied by a complete loss of strength and lack of appetite. This disease has received another name “intestinal flu” because it becomes more active during influenza epidemics.

Pasty stools with mucus

Pasty stools with mucus are a sign of dangerous internal changes in the digestive system of adults and children.

Such symptoms can appear for very minor reasons: as a result of eating mucus-like foods or a common cold. If you eat fermented milk mixtures, cereals with mucus, berries and fruits, then you need to be prepared for the appearance of such mucous impurities.

It also happens that a runny nose, leading to changes in the nasopharynx, provokes the release of mucous drips into the esophagus, from where they enter directly into the intestines.

A similar phenomenon is possible as a result of infection (usually bacterial) entering the intestines. With dysentery, an acute form of mucus may occur.

Pasty stool in the morning

Everyone has probably experienced diarrhea in the morning. In itself, such a phenomenon means increased bowel movements; depending on the nature of the bowel movement, it can be acute or chronic.

If the appearance of mushy stool in the morning is chronic, it means that serious problems have accumulated in the body and medical intervention is necessary. If diarrhea in the morning occurs in isolated cases, you can try to determine the cause of its occurrence on your own. Most often, the person himself is to blame for the manifestation of this phenomenon. Diarrhea may appear in the morning due to taking medications that have a laxative effect. The intestines almost do not absorb the active substances of these drugs, but when they are excreted, diarrhea occurs.

Frequent mushy stools

Frequent diarrhea may indicate a wide variety of diseases of the digestive system. It is also possible that diarrhea acts as an independent disease. Frequent, pasty stools occur intermittently, with breaks of up to a month possible. The disease can have an acute and chronic course. The cause of acute diarrhea may be infection with one of the forms of intestinal infections. Violation of hygiene rules when handling fruits and vegetables, in other words, poor washing of them, can provoke the penetration of microbes into the digestive organs, which is the beginning of the disease. Excessively frequent stools (several dozen times a day), accompanied by discharge of blood and pus, characterized by attacks of nausea, vomiting and fever, indicate progressive salmonellosis. In the case of cholera, almost watery stools occur, leading to dehydration.

In case of frequent watery stools, accompanied by pain, bleeding, and mucus, a medical examination is necessary. Having found out the cause of frequent diarrhea, you should begin to treat the disease that caused it. You should adhere to the prescribed diet, avoiding foods that cause frequent mushy stools.

Search by alphabet

Unstable chair

Almost every patient who has encountered disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract reports the occurrence of various types of stool disorders ( unstable chair). Such a disorder is caused by frequent changes in constipation and diarrhea, changes in the color and amount of feces, which significantly depletes the patient’s body and makes it difficult to treat the underlying disease.

It is worth noting that unstable stool is most often associated with intestinal diseases, however, problems with the stomach, liver and pancreas can also cause stool disorders.

Stool instability against the background of improper functioning of the stomach is associated with the intensity of its secretion of digestive juices. If the stomach produces them in excess (occurs when gastritis, stomach ulcer), then most likely the patient will be bothered by constipation. With gastritis, unstable stool will be pronounced - there may be no stool for 3-4 days (less often - a week), the patient feels pain during bowel movements, but during remission of the underlying disease, there are no problems with stool.

When diagnosed with a stomach ulcer constipation may be accompanied by significant pain along the large intestine (more often in the lower abdomen, on the left and/or right). The reason is that the acidic gastric contents from the stomach entering the intestines irritate the walls of the organ, resulting in noticeable spasms. Along with spasms and constipation, the quality of stool leaving changes - the amount of exiting masses decreases significantly, taking on the appearance of “sheep feces”.

For diseases of the stomach with reduced production of gastric juice ( chronic gastritis, stomach tumors), on the contrary, stool becomes more frequent and the patient regularly experiences diarrhea. This is due to the fact that food is not sufficiently processed by juices and enters the intestines almost in its original form. Diarrhea is an increase in bowel movements up to 2-3 times a day, which is naturally not the norm. With diarrhea associated with a decrease in the secretion of gastric juice, the feces do not change qualitatively - there are no impurities in the masses, and its quantity does not increase.

With unstable secretion of gastric juices (periods of exacerbation and remission of stomach diseases, periods of initiation of treatment for such diseases), unstable stools are most pronounced, constipation and diarrhea very often alternate.

But still, the main reason for the development of unstable stools is intestinal diseases, this is due to the fact that it is this organ that is responsible for the digestion, absorption and final formation of feces.

Among intestinal diseases, which can provoke the development of fecal disorders, the following are distinguished:

Inflammation of the small intestine - chronic enteritis- (causes frequent bowel movements, 2-3 times a day with unformed feces in the form of liquid porridge of golden yellow color);

Chronic inflammatory processes in the colon - colitis, enterocolitis- (the stool is unstable: constipation alternates with diarrhea; during constipation, the feces look like sheep's: it is very dry and is excreted in small portions, sometimes with an admixture of blood or mucus; with diarrhea: stool can be up to 10-15 times a day, emptying cause rumbling, flatulence and severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen).

Functional disorders in the colon - irritable bowel syndrome- (the stool is disturbed in the direction of constipation, from minor to persistent and prolonged, with severe pain and significant discomfort - emptying seems incomplete, unsatisfactory).

Intestinal vascular disorders - hemorrhoids, anal fissures- (the stool is disturbed in the direction of constipation: severe pain during defecation forces patients to be forced to restrain the act of bowel movement, which over time leads to chronic constipation: hard stool, sometimes mixed with blood).

Nervous shocks - stress- (severe stress shocks can provoke one-time cases of diarrhea).

What diseases cause unstable stools:

Which doctors should you contact if you experience unstable stools:

Gastroenterologist
- Therapist
- Proctologist

Are you worried about Unsteady stools? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need an inspection? You can make an appointment with a doctor– clinic Eurolab always at your service! The best doctors will examine you, study external signs and help you identify the disease by symptoms, advise you and provide the necessary assistance. you also can call a doctor at home. Clinic Eurolab open for you around the clock.

How to contact the clinic:
Phone number of our clinic in Kyiv: (+38 044) 206-20-00 (multi-channel). The clinic secretary will select a convenient day and time for you to visit the doctor. Our coordinates and directions are indicated. Look in more detail about all the clinic’s services on it.

(+38 044) 206-20-00

If you have previously performed any research, Be sure to take their results to a doctor for consultation. If the studies have not been performed, we will do everything necessary in our clinic or with our colleagues in other clinics.

Do you have unstable stools? It is necessary to take a very careful approach to your overall health. People don't pay enough attention symptoms of diseases and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called symptoms of the disease. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. To do this, you just need to do it several times a year. be examined by a doctor, in order not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in the body and the organism as a whole.

If you want to ask a doctor a question, use the online consultation section, perhaps you will find answers to your questions there and read self care tips. If you are interested in reviews about clinics and doctors, try to find the information you need on. Also register on the medical portal Eurolab to keep abreast of the latest news and information updates on the site, which will be automatically sent to you by email.

The symptom chart is for educational purposes only. Do not self-medicate; For all questions regarding the definition of the disease and methods of its treatment, consult your doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information posted on the portal.

If you are interested in any other symptoms of diseases and signs of human diseases, or you have any other questions and suggestions, write to us, we will definitely try to help you.

The most natural process in human life is daily self-emptying of the intestines. In the absence of any pathologies, this process does not cause any discomfort. To ensure that your stool is daily and painless, it is enough to eat right. Malfunctions in the intestinal tract occur for a number of reasons. For example, the presence of chronic diseases, previous surgical interventions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, dietary errors. In cases where deviations in the quantity and quality of feces are present without the reasons described above, this should be alarming. Further in the article, we will go into detail about what a normal stool should be like in an adult, when the color of stool or impurities in it may indicate health problems, be symptoms or signs of the development of various kinds of diseases.

Standard, normal stool in an adult

Each person's body is individual. What is considered a pathology for one is considered normal for another. Normal bowel movement in an adult depends not only on his eating habits, but also on metabolic processes in the body. Therefore, the color of stool and the consistency of stool in an adult may differ significantly from the type and quality of food consumed, the presence of diseases or other characteristics of the person’s health.

Most people have a bowel movement every day in the morning. For them this process is the norm. However, if this process is disrupted, these people begin to panic. Such people should remember that self-emptying their bowels once every 2 days or 2 times a day is also considered normal. Feces should be fairly thick in consistency and should not contain any impurities, such as mucous, blood, or foamy discharge. Even when an adult’s daily stool has changed slightly and the intestines are cleaned once every two to three days, there is no need to sound the alarm. The problem of irregular or frequent bowel movements may be due to a poor diet. In such cases, you first need to normalize your diet, and only if this measure does not bring relief should you consult a doctor.

Frequent bowel movements, frequent urge to go to the toilet, causes of diarrhea

Along with infrequent bowel movements (once every two to three days), a person may be worried about bowel movements, which are repeated up to five times a day. If the stool is quite dense in texture and does not cause any problems, then a possible reason for frequent bowel movements may be the consumption of foods that help speed up digestion. You need to worry only in cases where the stool becomes liquid during frequent bowel movements and contains foam, mucous or bloody discharge. At the same time, the stomach is quite painful and the body temperature is higher than usual. To prevent complications of health, urgent measures should be taken.

Liquid stool, loose stool in an adult

Cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by liquid stool, does not always indicate problems with the digestive tract. If the bowel movements are liquid, like diarrhea, not strong and do not cause pain in the abdominal area, then they may be of a natural nature. A factor influencing the liquefaction of stool and the onset of diarrhea may be the food eaten before. Eating kefirs, yoghurts, milk, certain vegetable products and fruits in large quantities contributes to the appearance of liquid stool masses. Also, such loose stools in an adult can be preceded by alcohol consumed in large portions, namely beer and wine. With the help of strong bowel movements, the body tries to free itself from alcohol poisoning.

Foamy stool in an adult

If you experience loose stools or diarrhea with foamy contents, do not panic. You should know that fermentation processes are caused by an excess of carbohydrates in the human body, which have accumulated over a long time. In this regard, it is recommended to exclude from your menu sweet fruits, certain types of vegetables, soda, and alcohol that causes gas formation. Liquid porridges should be included in the daily menu for foamy and frequent stools in adults. They help strengthen the contents of the stomach and improve its functioning.

Stool with mucus in an adult, causes of stool with mucus

In adults, stool may contain small amounts of mucus due to eating foods that promote mucus formation. Therefore, stool mixed with mucous discharge is not surprising if a person’s daily diet consists of mucous porridges, fermented milk products, fruits, and berries. In this case, additional discomfort in the form of bloating, diarrhea, and pain in the abdominal area is also possible.

Quite often, liquid stools containing mucus appear during long-term use of antibacterial therapy. Also, liquid stool with foam is characteristic of gastrointestinal microflora disorders, chronic inflammatory processes in the stomach, ulcerative colitis, cracks in the intestines, the presence of E. coli and other infections.

Bloody stool, causes of bloody stool, causes

Many people in vain do not pay attention to stool with isolated blood spots. Changes in the color of stool and the presence of blood impurities are evidence of quite serious pathologies. If the blood in the stool is bright scarlet and is located on top of the stool, then the reason most likely lies in the fact that there are anal fissures.

Black stool indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The black color of stool is explained by the fact that in the process of moving through the intestines, the blood has already coagulated. A sign of the opening of an ulcer is considered to be a small amount of feces with a fairly large amount of blood discharge. If you notice dangerous symptoms such as bloody stool, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How to understand that the color of the stool indicates disease?

Other shades of feces also indicate the presence of pathologies. Light gray or white stool indicates the presence of Crohn's disease, rotavirus infection, malignant or benign neoplasms, kidney stones, and dysbiosis. The color of stool depends on changes in diet and the stage of chronic diseases.

Black stool in an adult

Black color of stool is possible in cases where the day before a person consumed foods that contribute to the color of stool, as well as in the presence of internal bleeding of the upper intestine. After or while taking certain medications, your stool may also turn black. For example, medications for anemia, activated carbon and a number of other medications that contribute to the appearance of black stool.

Green stool and its causes

The green tint of stool indicates that there are fermentation processes in the body, the causes of which can be either overeating foods containing large amounts of carbohydrates, or the development of bacterial infections. Quite often, green feces are associated with large admixtures of mucous secretions. Along with the unusual green color of the stool, mild pain, flatulence, and bloating appear.

Yellow stool, causes of yellow stool

A bright yellow tint to stool means that there are pathologies with the gallbladder in the human body. If, with this color of stool, there is also a bitter taste on the lips and in the mouth, then there is no doubt that there are problems with the bile ducts. Disorders of the pancreas, due to which a large amount of bile secretion simply does not have time to be broken down, are the cause of the yellow color of stool. Also, yellow stool in an adult may indicate diseases of the digestive tract and the presence of kidney stones. With urolithiasis, yellow stools will be observed for quite a long time.

Causes of gray stool in adults

Grayish stool with a very pungent, nasty odor indicates a clear sign of malabsorption. When a person abuses fatty foods, his pancreas does not have time to cope with it, which leads to colorless feces.

White feces, causes of white stool

A light shade of feces in an adult may indicate hepatitis or pancreatitis. White stool in an adult generally indicates obvious pathologies of the bile ducts, or the impossibility of the outflow of bile secretions. In such situations, certain difficulties may be hidden in the appearance of stones or the presence of neoplasms in the form of tumors. White stool in an adult is also possible as a result of dysbacteriosis, which causes constant discomfort.

Throughout the life of an adult, stool can undergo significant changes. In this regard, what is considered normal at fifteen to twenty years old, after the age of forty may be the first “beacon” to the appearance of pathology. Therefore, experts recommend being more careful about your health, monitoring the slightest changes in your body, and if you suspect any disease, do not self-medicate, but be sure to consult a doctor.

How many times a day should a person walk?

There is no specific norm for how many times a day and in what quantities an adult should defecate. However, a certain standard is the amount from three times a day to once for three days. On average, a person walks approximately once every 24 hours and produces 28.35 g of feces per 5,443 kg of body weight. Based on this norm, the bowel movements of a man or woman weighing 72.6 kg are equivalent to 454 g of feces daily.

Frequent stools (more than four times a day) that are loose and watery are called diarrhea. This definition is appropriate when it is not a symptom of any more serious illness (the exception is circumstances in which fluid leaves the body only with diarrhea). There are three types of diarrhea: acute, persistent and chronic. The first category occurs after infection and quickly resolves. Prolonged diarrhea may not go away for more than two weeks, but chronic diarrhea lasts for months. The causes of diarrhea are usually infections, medications (particularly antibiotics), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and nutritional problems (failure to digest certain foods, which may be due to physiological characteristics).

Different people have different bowel movements. As noted earlier, the norm is to have three bowel movements a day to one bowel movement in three days. There are many factors that have a certain effect on intestinal motility (gastrointestinal movements), which you should not worry about. The motility of the gastrointestinal tract is affected by: changes in diet, medications, moving and traveling, sleep, sports, hormonal surges, tension and stress, diseases, operations, childbirth and much more. It is also necessary to monitor how the processes of emptying the rectum and bladder occur. A clear signal of the existence of problems with the human body is excessively strong efforts during bowel movements and urination.

What should be the daily amount of feces?

With a varied diet, the daily norm for defecation is considered to be the amount of feces in the range of 150-400 g. If plant foods predominate in a person’s diet, then the abundance of stool increases. In the case of dominance of food of animal origin, the frequency of bowel movements is much less.

Too much and active elimination of waste from the body for three days or more (polyfecality) may be a harbinger of ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder and its tracts, pancreas, or the loss of one or many nutrients entering the digestive tract due to their insufficiency absorption in the small intestine (malabsorption). Constipation can sometimes result from a decrease in the amount of stool and the frequency of bowel movements. This occurs due to prolonged retention of body waste in the colon and excessive absorption of fluid, due to which the volume of bowel movements decreases. This may also be due to the predominance of food that is digested too quickly.

What should be the density of stool?

The normal composition of stool is 70% water and 30% food, which has been processed by the body, dead bacteria, and exfoliated particles of the gastrointestinal tract. The product of defecation most often has a cylindrical shape, and its structure resembles a soft round sausage. However, a high content of plant components in the diet contributes to the thickening of stool. A favorable indicator is the absence of bloody clots, mucus, pus and parts of incompletely digested food.

Deviation from the standard is mushy feces. This occurs with increased contraction of the walls of the small intestine, as well as with increased secretion of intestinal juice. Too thick bowel movements occur with difficulty in emptying, inflammatory infections and convulsive contractions of the colon mucosa. Ointment-like waste occurs when there are complications in the functioning of the pancreas, a rapid decrease in the flow of bile into the intestines. More rare bowel movements occur when food is difficult to process in the small intestine, improper absorption and extremely rapid passage of feces. Foamy stools occur when fermentative dyspepsia develops. With this disease, fermentation processes in the digestive tract occur more often and longer than any other. Banded stool occurs when a patient has a persistent narrowing of the lumen or a prolonged spasm of the colon, as well as with cancer of the final part of the digestive tract. Loose and frequent bowel movements are called diarrhea. Pasty, excessively runny stool occurs when consuming large quantities of liquids. Foamy stools are a sign that the food or drink you consumed was high in yeast. Thin stool can signal ailments of the colon, namely neoplasms or polyposis.

What should the stool smell like?

The standard is considered to be a not very pleasant, but not too irritating odor. This is influenced by the food that enters the body. The cause of a strong odor may be meat, while a sour odor may be due to foods of dairy origin. Also, the smell directly depends on the manifestation of fermentation and decay processes in the organs. Acid is felt in fermentative dyspepsia. It is caused by frequent consumption of carbohydrates (baked goods, sugar) and carbonated liquids in large volumes. Pronounced stench occurs in case of problems in the functioning of the pancreas (its inflammation), decreased flow of bile into the intestines (cholecystitis), hypersecretion of ions and any liquid into the intestinal lumen. This also occurs due to an excessive amount of bacteria. Some of them produce hydrogen sulfide, which has a characteristic rotten odor. Feces smell rotten due to problems in the process of digesting food, putrefactive dyspepsia, which is associated with frequent consumption of protein and its slow absorption. Also, the causes of such a smell may be granulomatous enteritis or ulcerative colitis. A weak aroma is characteristic of difficult emptying of the gastrointestinal tract or too rapid evacuation of food through it.

What shape should an adult's stool have?

Thin stools (pencil stools) indicate obstruction in the lower half of the digestive tract or an external pressure on the large intestine. If these symptoms occur, a colonoscopy should be done to rule out the development of cancer. Small and hard stools are clear signs of difficult bowel movements, namely constipation. This may be due to missing fiber in a person's diet. It is necessary to increase the content of dietary fiber in the diet, perform more sports exercises, eat plantain and flaxseeds to improve intestinal motility.

Stool that is too soft and sticks to the toilet means your body is not absorbing the oils as well as it should. Sometimes essential drops actually float in the toilet. With these symptoms, there are also disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, so it is very important to immediately consult a medical specialist for diagnosis. The presence of mucous clots in stool is a common occurrence. However, if excessive mucus content is noticed in the stool, there may be some kind of inflammation in the body, granulomatous enteritis or ulcerative colitis.

Gases in the intestines, what is the norm for an adult?

Gases are produced due to the functioning of microorganisms located in the gastrointestinal tract. During defecation and in a calm state, from 0.2 to 0.5 liters of gas are removed from the body of an adult during the day. The standard is to fart about 10-12 times throughout the day (preferably less). More frequent emissions may result from the presence of the following foods in the diet: carbonated drinks, foods containing carbohydrates, fiber, yeast and lactose.

Most adults are accustomed to the fact that human stool should be hard, densely formed, and brownish in color.

And when the stool becomes liquid, panic arises, what to do?

First you need to find out why loose stools appeared, and only then sound the alarm if necessary.

Loose stools or diarrhea

Loose stools are a normal state of the body, which is accompanied by the excretion of large amounts of liquid feces due to the physiological needs of the body. A person should have stool every day or twice a day, but not more often. Normally, stool has a dense consistency, but sometimes it is slightly runny, but not watery. If a person has bowel movements more often than 3-4 times a day, then we can already talk about diarrhea or diarrhea.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between these two concepts, but it is possible. To do this, it is necessary to take into account such criteria as:

• stool frequency;
• consistency;
• color and smell;
• side symptoms (stomach cramps, flatulence, pain during bowel movements, weakness, nausea);
• the presence of inclusions in the stool (pus, blood, undigested food debris).

Depending on what indicators are missing or do not correspond to the norm, we can say that this is loose stool, but not diarrhea, or vice versa.

To distinguish loose stools from diarrhea, you can use the table below.

If all parameters show that this is loose stool, then the adult has no reason to worry. But if diarrhea is diagnosed, it is better to consult a doctor to avoid the undesirable consequences of this phenomenon. He will tell you what to do in this case and how to treat diarrhea.

What causes loose stools?

The reasons for the appearance of daily loose stools can be completely different. Namely:

Diarrhea differs from loose stools in that there is a lot of watery discharge, trips to the toilet occur more than five times a day, the stomach constantly hurts and weakness is felt, symptoms of intoxication are noted, namely:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• pale skin;
• darkening of urine;
• temperature increase;
• stool mixes with mucus, pus, or even blood.

Diarrhea is already a sign of a serious illness, or a pathological condition of the digestive tract. Diarrhea can be caused by:

1. Infectious diseases such as cholera, salmonellosis, shigelosis, typhoid fever. Each of these diseases will differ in the nature of the stool, its consistency, color, smell; tenesmus and characteristic symptoms of the disease may be present.
2. Viral hepatitis.
3. Gastrointestinal bleeding. They are extremely dangerous for the body and are characterized by characteristic diarrhea.
4. Operations on the digestive organs: pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver.
5. Crohn's disease.
6. Diverticulosis.
7. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis.
8. Bowel cancer.

If the cause of frequent loose stools is one of these diseases, then you should immediately consult a doctor to stop the disease at an early stage.

One of the main causes of constipation and diarrhea is use of various medications. To improve bowel function after taking medications, you need to do it every day. drink a simple remedy ...

Child chair

Young mothers always panic when they see something in their baby that they are not used to noticing in themselves. And in vain.

A child's chair has different characteristics than an adult's. The baby may have bowel movements up to 15 times after each meal, and this is normal.

Frequent loose stools in infants are due to the immaturity of the food system. When the baby begins to eat like adults, then his stool will be similar to theirs. It is important to say that the consistency and color of feces in babies is unstable. It may be yellow, light yellow, with white specks, but absolutely odorless. Moreover, it should not normally be smelly. If, despite frequent bowel movements, the baby remains cheerful and continues to eat well and gain weight, then there is no reason to worry. It's just loose stools, not diarrhea.

Diagnostics

If your stool becomes profuse, there are various kinds of impurities and the general condition of the body leaves much to be desired, then this is a reason to consult a doctor.

The specialist will prescribe tests and examinations that will help determine the cause of this phenomenon. A coprogram, test for eggworms, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, colonoscopy, endoscopy will help you find out what could be causing the liquid stool.

Further treatment will be aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms, but also at eliminating the cause of this failure.

Treatment

Having identified a disease that has caused the appearance of liquid or semi-liquid feces, the doctor will prescribe drug treatment with antibiotics, anthelmintic drugs, enzymes, hormones, or whatever the circumstances require. But the most important thing and the first thing the doctor will prescribe is diet. The diet for loose stools and diarrhea should be as follows:

In addition to diet, it is important to lead an active lifestyle and stick to a daily routine. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, loose stools will soon acquire a normal consistency and will no longer bother you.

Video: How to stop diarrhea?