What do different stool colors indicate about your health. How can diet influence the color of your poop. When should you be concerned about changes in your stool color. What medical conditions can cause abnormal stool colors.

The Rainbow of Stool Colors: Understanding Normal and Abnormal Hues

The color of your stool can provide valuable insights into your digestive health and overall well-being. While variations in stool color are often harmless and related to diet, certain hues may indicate underlying health issues that require attention. This comprehensive guide will explore the spectrum of stool colors, their potential causes, and when to seek medical advice.

Brown: The Standard Shade of Healthy Stool

Brown is the most common and typically healthy color for stool. But why is poop usually brown? The answer lies in the digestive process:

• Bile, a yellowish-green fluid produced by the liver, plays a crucial role in digestion.
• As bile travels through the digestive system, it undergoes chemical changes.
• These changes result in the transformation of bile pigments, ultimately giving stool its characteristic brown color.

Variations in the shade of brown are generally normal and often reflect differences in diet and hydration levels. However, significant deviations from this standard color may warrant closer attention.

Green Poop: Causes and Considerations

Green stool is often harmless and can be attributed to various factors. What causes green poop? Here are some common reasons:

1. Diet rich in green vegetables (e.g., spinach, kale)
2. Consumption of foods with green food coloring
3. Iron supplements
4. Rapid intestinal transit time

In most cases, green stool is not a cause for concern. However, persistent green diarrhea may indicate that food is moving through the digestive tract too quickly, preventing bile from completing its color-changing process.

When to Be Concerned About Green Stool

While generally benign, green stool accompanied by other symptoms may require medical attention. Seek advice if you experience:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever

Yellow Stool: Potential Digestive Issues

Yellow stool can range from normal to potentially concerning, depending on its characteristics and accompanying symptoms. What does yellow poop indicate?

Normally, yellow stool is common in breastfed infants and some adults. However, greasy, foul-smelling yellow stool may suggest excess fat content, possibly due to malabsorption issues.

Celiac Disease and Yellow Stool

One potential cause of persistent yellow stool is celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten consumption. In individuals with celiac disease, consuming gluten-containing foods can lead to intestinal damage and malabsorption, potentially resulting in yellow, fatty stools.

If you suspect celiac disease, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and management. A gluten-free diet is typically recommended for those with confirmed celiac disease.

White, Pale, or Clay-Colored Stool: Potential Liver and Gallbladder Concerns

Pale or clay-colored stools can be alarming and may indicate more serious health issues. What causes white or pale stool? Several factors can contribute to this unusual color:

• Medications: Certain antidiarrheal drugs containing bismuth subsalicylate (e.g., Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can temporarily cause pale stools.
• Diagnostic procedures: Barium, used in some gastrointestinal imaging tests, can result in light-colored stools.
• Bile duct obstruction: A blockage in the bile ducts can prevent bile from reaching the intestines, leading to pale stools.
• Liver disease: Conditions such as hepatitis can impair bile production, resulting in light-colored stools.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Pale Stools

If you experience persistent pale or clay-colored stools without a clear explanation (such as recent medication use or medical procedures), it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider promptly. This color change could indicate underlying liver or gallbladder issues that require further investigation and treatment.

Black Stool: Distinguishing Between Benign and Serious Causes

Black stool can be alarming, but it’s not always a sign of a serious problem. What causes black poop? There are several potential explanations:

1. Dietary factors: Consuming certain foods and supplements can lead to black stools, including:
   • Black licorice
   • Blueberries
   • Iron supplements
   • Bismuth subsalicylate-containing medications
2. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Black, tarry stools (melena) can indicate bleeding in the upper digestive tract, which may be caused by:
   • Stomach ulcers
   • Esophageal erosions due to acid reflux
   • Noncancerous tumors in the upper GI tract
   • Certain cancers

Differentiating Between Dietary and Medical Causes of Black Stool

To determine whether black stool is cause for concern, consider your recent diet and medication use. If you haven’t consumed any of the aforementioned foods or supplements, and the black color persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain or weakness, seek medical attention promptly.

Red or Reddish Stool: Identifying Potential Sources of Bleeding

Red or reddish stool can be alarming, but it’s important to consider both benign and serious causes. What leads to red poop? Here are some possibilities:

Dietary Causes of Red Stool

Several foods and beverages can impart a red or pinkish hue to stool, including:

• Beets
• Tomato soup
• Red gelatin desserts
• Red-colored drinks

Medical Causes of Red Stool

If dietary factors are ruled out, red stool may indicate bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Potential causes include:

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Colorectal polyps or cancer

It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider if you experience persistent red stools not attributable to diet, especially if accompanied by pain, changes in bowel habits, or other concerning symptoms.

Orange Stool: Potential Digestive and Dietary Factors

Orange stool, while less common, can occur due to various factors. What causes orange poop? Here are some possibilities:

1. Diet high in beta-carotene-rich foods:
   • Carrots
   • Sweet potatoes
   • Squash
2. Medications and supplements:
   • Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide
   • Rifampin (an antibiotic)
3. Digestive issues:
   • Bile duct obstruction
   • Celiac disease
   • Short bowel syndrome

When to Be Concerned About Orange Stool

Occasional orange stool due to dietary factors is generally not a cause for concern. However, persistent orange stools accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, or changes in bowel habits should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Monitoring Stool Color: When to Seek Medical Advice

While variations in stool color are often harmless, certain changes may warrant medical attention. When should you consult a doctor about stool color changes? Consider seeking medical advice if you experience:

• Persistent changes in stool color not attributable to diet or medication
• Black, tarry stools (unless taking iron supplements or bismuth subsalicylate)
• Bright red stools not explained by diet
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Any change in stool color accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, or significant changes in bowel habits

Remember that early detection and treatment of underlying health issues can lead to better outcomes. Don’t hesitate to discuss concerns about stool color with your healthcare provider.

The Role of Diet in Stool Color Variation

Diet plays a significant role in determining stool color. How does food affect poop color? Here’s a closer look at the impact of various foods on stool hue:

Foods That Can Alter Stool Color

• Green vegetables: Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens can lead to green stools.
• Beets: These can cause red or pinkish stools.
• Artificial food coloring: Brightly colored foods and drinks can temporarily change stool color.
• Iron-rich foods and supplements: These can result in dark green or black stools.
• High-fat diets: Excessive fat consumption may lead to pale, greasy stools.

Understanding the connection between diet and stool color can help alleviate concerns about temporary changes. However, it’s important to monitor persistent alterations in stool color, especially when not related to recent dietary changes.

Stool Color in Infants: What’s Normal and What’s Not

Infant stool colors can vary widely and may cause concern for new parents. What’s considered normal for baby poop? Here’s a guide to understanding infant stool colors:

Newborn Stool Colors

• Meconium: The first stool passed by newborns is typically black and tar-like.
• Transitional stools: These may be greenish-brown as the baby begins feeding.
• Breast milk stools: Often yellow, seedy, and loose in consistency.
• Formula-fed stools: Generally firmer and tan to brown in color.

When to Be Concerned About Infant Stool Color

While a range of colors can be normal for infants, certain hues may indicate potential issues:

• White or very pale stools: May suggest liver or gallbladder problems.
• Red stools: Could indicate intestinal bleeding if not caused by diet.
• Black stools (after the meconium phase): May signal upper GI bleeding.

Always consult a pediatrician if you have concerns about your infant’s stool color or consistency.

The Impact of Medications on Stool Color

Various medications can influence stool color, sometimes leading to alarming changes. How do drugs affect poop color? Here are some common medications and their potential effects on stool appearance:

• Antibiotics: May cause green or light-colored stools.
• Iron supplements: Often result in dark green or black stools.
• Antacids containing bismuth: Can lead to black or dark stools.
• Antidiarrheal medications: May cause constipation and darker stools.
• Laxatives: Can result in lighter-colored, looser stools.

When starting a new medication, be aware of potential changes in stool color. If you have concerns, consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist for guidance.

Stool Color and Digestive Health: What Your Poop Reveals

Beyond color, other characteristics of your stool can provide valuable insights into your digestive health. What else should you observe about your poop? Consider the following factors:

Stool Consistency

The Bristol Stool Chart categorizes stool consistency into seven types, ranging from separate hard lumps to entirely liquid. Ideal stools are typically smooth, soft, and sausage-shaped (Types 3 and 4 on the chart).

Frequency

Normal bowel movement frequency can vary widely among individuals, ranging from three times a day to three times a week. Significant changes in your personal pattern may warrant attention.

Odor

While stool naturally has an unpleasant odor, extremely foul-smelling stools may indicate malabsorption issues or infections.

Floating vs. Sinking

Floating stools can be normal, often due to gas content. However, persistently floating, greasy stools may suggest malabsorption of fats.

By paying attention to these aspects of your stool, you can gain valuable insights into your digestive health and overall well-being. Remember to consult a healthcare professional if you notice persistent or concerning changes in your bowel habits.

What Do Different Poop Colors Mean?

Written by Hope Cristol

• What Do Different Stool Colors Mean?
• Normal Poop Color
• Green Poop
• Yellow Poop
• White, Pale, or Clay-Colored Poop
• Black Poop
• Red or Reddish Poop
• Orange Poop
• When to Get Help for Poop Color Changes
• More

Different stool colors can mean different things, mostly depending on what you’ve eaten.

You’d probably notice if your poop is a different hue than normal. But what does it mean if it’s green? What about red, yellow, white, or black? Or orange?

Most of the time, minor changes in the color of your waste are due to diet. After all, we don’t eat the same thing at every meal, every day. But sometimes a color change can signal a minor health issue. In rare cases, it means something serious is wrong in your digestive system.

If the color you see before you flush worries you, call your doctor.

Poop is normally brown. The color is the result of what you eat and how much bile is in your stool.

Bile is a fluid your liver makes to digest fats. It starts out as a yellowish green color. But as the pigments that give bile its color travel through your digestive system, they go through chemical changes and turn brown.

Your poop can sometimes have a slightly greenish hue, or even be a more vivid green. Most of the time, green or greenish poop is normal.

Is your diet causing green poop?

Think back on what you’ve been eating. These foods and supplements can cause your poop to be green:

• Green veggies, like spinach or kale
• Green food coloring, such as in drink mixes or ice pops
• Iron supplements

Other causes of green poop

If you have green diarrhea, the color of your food may not be to blame. It’s likely that your meal moved through your gut too quickly, so the fat-digesting bile didn’t have time to turn brown.

There may be times when your poop looks more yellow than brown.

This shade is also normal for many people. It’s common for babies, especially those who breastfeed. But if you have yellow poop that looks greasy and smells very bad, it may have too much fat. That could be a sign your body isn’t digesting food properly.

Is your diet causing yellow poop?

Indirectly, your diet could cause yellow poop. If you have celiac disease, your body can’t handle a protein called gluten, which is in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have the condition and eat foods that have gluten, like many breads, pastas, and cookies, your intestines won’t work as they should. So, if you’re eating those foods, and your poop is yellow, it may be time to see a doctor.

Other causes of yellow poop

There may be other causes of yellow poop that’s greasy and smelly. If it happens to you often, tell your doctor.

Sometimes, poop may not have much color at all.

Is your diet causing pale poop?

If your poop is pale, it’s not likely directly due to a food. But medicines for diarrhea like bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can sometimes cause pale or clay-colored poop. So can barium, a chalky liquid you drink before you get X-rays of the upper part of your digestive tract.

Other causes of pale poop

A more serious cause is a lack of bile in your stool. (Remember, bile gives poop its brown color.) Your body makes bile in the liver, stores it in the gallbladder, and releases it into your small intestine to help digest your food. If there’s not enough of it to give your poop its typical brown color, it could be a sign of a problem along the way.

Liver disease, such as hepatitis, can keep bile from getting into your body waste. So can a blockage in the tubes (called ducts) that carry bile. This can happen because of:

• Gallstones
• A tumor
• A condition you’re born with called biliary atresia

Babies’ poop is black for the first few days after they’re born. Otherwise, it may be because you ate something very dark-colored or took a medicine or supplement that causes black poop. But this color can be a sign of a more serious problem: bleeding in the upper part of your digestive tract.

Is your diet causing black poop?

Foods and supplements that turn poop black include:

• Black licorice
• Blueberries
• Iron supplements

Medicines that have bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can also cause very dark stools.

Other causes of black poop

Poop that looks like tar is often a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract. Some causes include:

• Bleeding from stomach ulcers
• Bleeding sores in your esophagus from acid reflux
• Bleeding from noncancerous tumors in the upper GI tract
• Cancer

If you don’t think black poop came from what you ate, you need to talk to your doctor.

If you see red or reddish poop in the toilet, don’t be alarmed right away. First ask yourself if you’ve had red foods lately.

Is your diet causing red or reddish poop?

Several foods can change the color of your stool to a pink or reddish color:

• Beets
• Tomato soup
• Gelatin dessert
• Red drinks

Other causes of red or reddish poop

If you don’t think your diet is the cause, the red you see may be blood. And if it’s bright red, the blood likely comes from the lower part of your digestive tract. Common causes include:

• Noncancerous tumors
• Cancer
• Inflammation in the colon, called colitis
• Growths called polyps in your colon
• Conditions caused by small sacs in the wall of the colon, called diverticular disease
• Hemorrhoids

Call your doctor if you see red that’s probably not from food you ate.

Poop can often come out the color of the food that went in, especially if you have diarrhea. If your poop has an orange hue, it’s most likely due to some orange foods.

Is your diet causing orange poop?

Foods that have beta-carotene can turn your poop orange, such as:

• Carrots
• Winter squash
• Pumpkin
• Sweet potatoes

Foods with orange coloring, such as sodas, candy, or gelatin dessert, can also give your poop an orange color.

Also, antibiotics and antacids that have aluminum hydroxide in them can make your stool orange.

Other causes of orange poop

Rarely, poop can be orange if you have a problem with your liver that causes it to make less bile than normal, or a blockage that keeps bile from leaving the liver and entering your system. But usually, if this is the case, your poop will be pale or clay-colored.

Most of the time, poop that’s a different color from what you’re used to isn’t something to worry about. It’s rare for it to be a sign of a serious condition in your digestive system. But if it’s white, bright red, or black, and you don’t think it’s from something you ate, call your doctor.

Top Picks

What Do Different Poop Colors Mean?

Written by Hope Cristol

• What Do Different Stool Colors Mean?
• Normal Poop Color
• Green Poop
• Yellow Poop
• White, Pale, or Clay-Colored Poop
• Black Poop
• Red or Reddish Poop
• Orange Poop
• When to Get Help for Poop Color Changes
• More

Different stool colors can mean different things, mostly depending on what you’ve eaten.

You’d probably notice if your poop is a different hue than normal. But what does it mean if it’s green? What about red, yellow, white, or black? Or orange?

Most of the time, minor changes in the color of your waste are due to diet. After all, we don’t eat the same thing at every meal, every day. But sometimes a color change can signal a minor health issue. In rare cases, it means something serious is wrong in your digestive system.

If the color you see before you flush worries you, call your doctor.

Poop is normally brown. The color is the result of what you eat and how much bile is in your stool.

Bile is a fluid your liver makes to digest fats. It starts out as a yellowish green color. But as the pigments that give bile its color travel through your digestive system, they go through chemical changes and turn brown.

Your poop can sometimes have a slightly greenish hue, or even be a more vivid green. Most of the time, green or greenish poop is normal.

Is your diet causing green poop?

Think back on what you’ve been eating. These foods and supplements can cause your poop to be green:

• Green veggies, like spinach or kale
• Green food coloring, such as in drink mixes or ice pops
• Iron supplements

Other causes of green poop

If you have green diarrhea, the color of your food may not be to blame. It’s likely that your meal moved through your gut too quickly, so the fat-digesting bile didn’t have time to turn brown.

There may be times when your poop looks more yellow than brown.

This shade is also normal for many people. It’s common for babies, especially those who breastfeed. But if you have yellow poop that looks greasy and smells very bad, it may have too much fat. That could be a sign your body isn’t digesting food properly.

Is your diet causing yellow poop?

Indirectly, your diet could cause yellow poop. If you have celiac disease, your body can’t handle a protein called gluten, which is in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have the condition and eat foods that have gluten, like many breads, pastas, and cookies, your intestines won’t work as they should. So, if you’re eating those foods, and your poop is yellow, it may be time to see a doctor.

Other causes of yellow poop

There may be other causes of yellow poop that’s greasy and smelly. If it happens to you often, tell your doctor.

Sometimes, poop may not have much color at all.

Is your diet causing pale poop?

If your poop is pale, it’s not likely directly due to a food. But medicines for diarrhea like bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can sometimes cause pale or clay-colored poop. So can barium, a chalky liquid you drink before you get X-rays of the upper part of your digestive tract.

Other causes of pale poop

A more serious cause is a lack of bile in your stool. (Remember, bile gives poop its brown color.) Your body makes bile in the liver, stores it in the gallbladder, and releases it into your small intestine to help digest your food. If there’s not enough of it to give your poop its typical brown color, it could be a sign of a problem along the way.

Liver disease, such as hepatitis, can keep bile from getting into your body waste. So can a blockage in the tubes (called ducts) that carry bile. This can happen because of:

• Gallstones
• A tumor
• A condition you’re born with called biliary atresia

Babies’ poop is black for the first few days after they’re born. Otherwise, it may be because you ate something very dark-colored or took a medicine or supplement that causes black poop. But this color can be a sign of a more serious problem: bleeding in the upper part of your digestive tract.

Is your diet causing black poop?

Foods and supplements that turn poop black include:

• Black licorice
• Blueberries
• Iron supplements

Medicines that have bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can also cause very dark stools.

Other causes of black poop

Poop that looks like tar is often a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract. Some causes include:

• Bleeding from stomach ulcers
• Bleeding sores in your esophagus from acid reflux
• Bleeding from noncancerous tumors in the upper GI tract
• Cancer

If you don’t think black poop came from what you ate, you need to talk to your doctor.

If you see red or reddish poop in the toilet, don’t be alarmed right away. First ask yourself if you’ve had red foods lately.

Is your diet causing red or reddish poop?

Several foods can change the color of your stool to a pink or reddish color:

• Beets
• Tomato soup
• Gelatin dessert
• Red drinks

Other causes of red or reddish poop

If you don’t think your diet is the cause, the red you see may be blood. And if it’s bright red, the blood likely comes from the lower part of your digestive tract. Common causes include:

• Noncancerous tumors
• Cancer
• Inflammation in the colon, called colitis
• Growths called polyps in your colon
• Conditions caused by small sacs in the wall of the colon, called diverticular disease
• Hemorrhoids

Call your doctor if you see red that’s probably not from food you ate.

Poop can often come out the color of the food that went in, especially if you have diarrhea. If your poop has an orange hue, it’s most likely due to some orange foods.

Is your diet causing orange poop?

Foods that have beta-carotene can turn your poop orange, such as:

• Carrots
• Winter squash
• Pumpkin
• Sweet potatoes

Foods with orange coloring, such as sodas, candy, or gelatin dessert, can also give your poop an orange color.

Also, antibiotics and antacids that have aluminum hydroxide in them can make your stool orange.

Other causes of orange poop

Rarely, poop can be orange if you have a problem with your liver that causes it to make less bile than normal, or a blockage that keeps bile from leaving the liver and entering your system. But usually, if this is the case, your poop will be pale or clay-colored.

Most of the time, poop that’s a different color from what you’re used to isn’t something to worry about. It’s rare for it to be a sign of a serious condition in your digestive system. But if it’s white, bright red, or black, and you don’t think it’s from something you ate, call your doctor.

Top Picks

Is it possible to determine bowel disease by feces?

During an appointment with a gastroenterologist, many patients avert their eyes to the question: “How long have you been paying attention to the result of the work of the gastrointestinal tract?” It’s not embarrassing!

In our opinion, it is much sadder if you have never looked at your feces. Such observations are a very important method of self-diagnosis and diagnostics in general. It is periodic observation that is dominant, and not one single look at the stool in the morning before a visit to the doctor.

A change in stool parameters is one of the main symptoms of most diseases of the intestines and the gastrointestinal tract in general.

Indicators to pay attention to when self-diagnosing stools :

• frequency per day and per week;
• consistency and volume;
• change in the frequency and consistency of the stool, in comparison with how it was before, when peace and tranquility reigned in the stomach;
• impurities in the stool and its color;
• cases of unsuccessful or excessive urge to empty the bowels;
• lack of urge to defecate or feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels.

You don’t have to look for a problem where there isn’t one, and you certainly shouldn’t turn a blind eye to alarming symptoms. To determine what is the norm, it is important to understand that each organism is individual!

Normal chair characteristics

1. Frequency – usually 1-2 times a day, 3 to 7 times a week.
2. Stool consistency, for quick orientation of the patient and the doctor in it, the Bristol scale, which was published back in 1997, is used. Let’s get to know her better. Depending on the diet, the amount of fiber, water, stools can normally vary from type 3 to type 5.
3. Stool stability is perhaps the most difficult to explain: there should be no sudden changes in consistency, stool frequency during the week, +/- one type on the Bristol scale. Also important is the subjective sensation before, during and after the act of defecation. Here is a place for satisfaction and quiet joy, I’m quite serious!
4. The color of the stool can be varied, it depends on the diet. Brown of different shades is considered optimal. We make an amendment for the color of food: a lot of dairy products in the diet – the stool will be lighter. It’s darker if you ate a dish with nori, a black burger. In addition, it is worth thinking about drugs or dietary supplements that you can take – bismuth and iron preparations give dark, closer to green stools.

Warning symptoms not to be ignored

1. Smaller stools (less than 1 every 2 days or 3 times a week) or frequent stools (more than 2, rarely 3 times a day).
2. Changes in shape and consistency. We will continue to get acquainted with the Bristol scale, not the norm in it: fragmented, “sheep” or dense, type 1-2 feces and, in contrast to it, mushy or watery stools, stools in separate flakes – type 6-7.
3. Unstable stools – alternation of its consistency and frequency without any regularity, then 1 time per day, then 5, then type 3 on the Bristol scale, then 6. It is also important to notice what sensations accompanied the alternation of stool (good / bad).
4. Color change. Pay attention to very light, closer to gray stools or very dark, black stools. Often yellow stools are also a sign of abnormality.
5. The appearance of impurities in the feces is perhaps the most formidable, but a clear symptom:

   🔸Blood. It can be scarlet, dark, it can be changed black. It can be in scarce amounts, only on a piece of paper or on the surface of the stool, it can be mixed with feces. It may drip or stand out excessively, but here you yourself will call an ambulance team without much thought.

   There are many diseases, a disturbing symptom, however, one should not be afraid of examination, it is better than reaping the fruits of inaction.

   🔸 Slime. Often we are faced with a misunderstanding of this term. I would describe it as follows: a clear viscous liquid, resembling saliva, can be mixed with the stool, can be separated on its own. May be released as foam.

   🔸 A yellow-green admixture in the stool can be a sign of the presence of pus, which means inflammation, or an accelerated passage of bile through the gastrointestinal tract.

   🔸Undigested pieces of food – the result of an accelerated work of the gastrointestinal tract and incomplete processing of the food product, pay attention to their composition (meat / vegetables), especially alarming if you see food consumed during the day.

6. Ineffective or excessive urge to stool, as well as the absence of an urge to stool, may not be the norm, pay attention to this.

In case of abnormalities, consult a gastroenterologist.

Fecal tests for diagnosing bowel diseases

Tracking stool parameters is a simple and effective method that can be used for preliminary diagnosis. If deviations from the norm have appeared, in addition to consulting a gastroenterologist, stool tests will be required to help establish the cause of these deviations. Fecal analyzes are powerful non-invasive diagnostic tools.

Coprogram or general fecal analysis is the most famous, proven analysis. It examines the components of the processing of all foods (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), mucus, visible blood, inflammatory cells, sometimes even protozoan cysts or helminth eggs can be identified and described.

Fecal occult blood is a more accurate method for detecting blood in the stool, including altered, from the upper GI tract, in minimal quantities.

Fecal calprotectin – assay to detect inflammation in the intestine. It is especially interesting as a screening in older people in conjunction with feces for occult blood.

Eosinophilic neurotoxin is an indicator of an allergic reaction in the gastrointestinal tract.

Pancreatic elastase is useful for patients with chronic pancreatitis to determine the degree of production of pancreatic enzymes.

Stool culture for dysbacteriosis to detect deviations in the composition of the microflora, the growth of pathogenic and opportunistic flora.

Also do not lose their relevance stool tests for helminths and protozoa . There are many of them, starting from microscopic examination by the Parasep enrichment method, up to high-precision PCR reactions separately for each type of pathogen or a panel of the most common ones.

For the interpretation of the tests, I recommend that you consult a doctor.

How to do a stool test correctly?

Proper preparation and collection of stool samples will ensure the correct result. All stool tests must be taken in a special container on the day of collection; the collected samples should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 6-8 hours. The collection of stool samples is carried out in a natural way, without the use of enemas and laxatives, urine should not get into the tests. The container must be filled 1/3. Some stool tests require special preparation before taking them.

To prepare for a coprogram, skip a week or more after taking antibiotics. Before analysis, do not take laxatives, enzymes, sorbents, do not use rectal suppositories and ointments.

Before testing for occult bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract, a 4-5-day diet is recommended with the exclusion of meat, offal (liver, heart), fish, as well as iron, magnesium and bismuth preparations. However, when testing stool for occult blood using the Colonview method, only restriction of the above drugs is recommended.

A special container is used for tests for helminth eggs, cysts and vegetative forms of protozoa, as well as for inoculation for intestinal dysbacteriosis.

At GC Expert, you can get a consultation with a gastroenterologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal diseases, pass all the above tests or undergo a comprehensive diagnosis under the “Check-up intestines” program in two days.

Be healthy! Sincerely, gastroenterologist-nutritionist Svetlana Igorevna Kovaleva.

Feces in colon cancer: stool color in adult oncology, mucus, types of feces, photo with explanations

Changes in feces in cancer are different. Oncological diseases, including malignant tumors of the intestine, are dangerous because they do not cause any symptoms for a long time. But even when cancer symptoms appear, they are non-specific. The symptoms of bowel cancer are very similar to those of other diseases. A person may think for a long time that he has an intestinal disorder, because he “ate something wrong”, or some kind of infection, or hemorrhoids, or a violation of the stool due to problems with the liver, pancreas.

It is important to take good care of your health. If you have unusual stool changes and other symptoms that persist for a long time, see your doctor and get tested. In most cases, this is not an oncological disease, but there is always a chance. If the symptoms are still caused by cancer, it is important to diagnose it as soon as possible and start treatment.

What are the symptoms of colon and rectal cancer?

The main manifestations that can occur with bowel cancer:

• Diarrhea or constipation that persists for several days.
• Change in the appearance of feces. It becomes thin, like a pencil, due to the fact that the tumor narrows the intestinal lumen.
• After going to the toilet, there is a feeling of discomfort, a feeling that the bowel has not been completely emptied.
• Bleeding from the rectum.
• Blood in the stool.
• Dark, tarry stools – in medical language, this appearance of feces is called chalky . More often this symptom occurs with lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
• Pain, cramps in the abdomen.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Constant weakness, increased fatigue.

Why should I get tested as soon as possible? If these symptoms are caused by cancer, then they indicate that the tumor has already grown quite strongly or has managed to spread in the body. The more time passes, the more the cancer progresses. This means that the prognosis worsens, the chances that the disease can be dealt with are reduced.

Changes in bowel habits

Bowel cancer often manifests as changes in bowel frequency, quantity and consistency of stools. Some patients are concerned about constipation, a condition in which the passage of stool through the intestine is impaired. It manifests itself with symptoms such as:

• Absence of stool for more than three days.
• Pain, discomfort, abdominal cramps.
• The volume of feces decreases, it becomes dense.
• An unpleasant feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, a feeling of “fullness”.
• Bloating, an increase in the volume of the abdomen.
• Belching, gas.

Cancer sometimes develops acute intestinal obstruction is a life-threatening condition. It manifests itself in the form of severe cramping pains in the abdomen, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Due to a drop in the level of protein in the blood, edema develops, and due to fluid loss, dehydration. Rotting begins in the intestines, toxic products enter the bloodstream and poison the body. necrosis (necrosis) of the intestinal wall develops, its contents enter the abdominal cavity and lead to peritonitis. If a patient with acute intestinal obstruction is not provided with timely medical care, he will most likely die within 4-6 hours.

Euroonco offers all types of treatment for intestinal obstruction. Our surgeons perform operations on the intestines, install stents, apply ileostomies and colostomies. Patients who develop emergency conditions receive treatment in intensive care and intensive care units equipped with modern equipment.

Diarrhea is a condition in which frequent stools are noted – 3 or more times within 24 hours, while the feces have a liquid consistency. Sometimes pain and discomfort in the stomach bothers, sometimes not. If diarrhea persists for several days, you should consult a doctor.

Constipation and diarrhea can be caused not only by cancer, but also occur as side effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy. In order to cope with this symptom, the doctor may give some recommendations about diet and lifestyle, and prescribe medications. Diarrhea caused by chemotherapy usually resolves within 3 weeks after cancer treatment is completed.

Severe diarrhea, even if it is not caused by cancer, is dangerous because it leads to loss of fluid, electrolytes, and intestinal absorption of nutrients. This is fraught with dehydration, exhaustion, electrolyte imbalance.

Changes in the appearance of stools

Changes in the appearance of feces may indicate that there is cancer or other pathological process in the intestines. With constipation, it becomes more dense, with diarrhea – mushy, liquid. If the cancer partially blocks the intestinal lumen, the stool becomes thin, like a pencil (“ribbon stool”). In addition to cancer and benign neoplasms of the intestine, this symptom can be caused by diseases such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, parasites.

Discoloration of stools

With bowel cancer, stools can turn black, look like tar and have an unpleasant odor. Such stool is called melena, and it looks like this because the blood is exposed to digestive juices in the stomach, intestines. Thus, melena can be a manifestation of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, less often – cancer of the small intestine.

In order for the stool to darken and take on a tarry appearance, at least 500 ml of blood must enter the intestines. If such a symptom occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor!

If there is a suspicion of bleeding in the digestive tract, which is not manifested in a change in the appearance of feces (the so-called occult bleeding), a stool test for occult blood is prescribed. The most common type of study is benzidine test (Gregersen reaction) . This laboratory diagnostic method plays an important role in the detection of cancer and some other diseases, it is indicated in the following cases:

• Prolonged constipation, diarrhea, mushy stools.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• False urge to defecate.
• Unexplained loss of appetite, weight.
• If cancer is detected during a colonoscopy (endoscopy of the colon).
• If tumors or ulcers are detected during FEGDS (endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum).

Fecal occult blood test is a very sensitive test. It can show a positive result in nosebleeds, bleeding gums. This must be taken into account and the results of the analysis should be evaluated in combination with other diagnostic methods.

Bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool

If the source of bleeding is in the lower intestine, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

• traces of blood on toilet paper;
• traces of blood on underwear, sheets;
• streaks of blood in feces;
• bleeding from the rectum.

If you notice more than two traces of blood on toilet paper, blood in the stool, or bright scarlet blood coming out of the rectum, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Mucus in the feces in an adult

Mucus in the stool in an adult is not a typical manifestation of malignant tumors of the intestine. Cancer is suspected when this symptom is combined with others, such as bleeding, chronic diarrhea, etc.

Most often, jelly-like mucus in the stool or even mucus instead of stool (excreted between bowel movements) are signs of infections in the intestines. Sometimes they are caused by a decrease in the tone of the sphincter muscle of the rectum. In any case, in order to exclude cancer or other serious disease, it is better to immediately visit a doctor and get checked.

Prevention and early diagnosis of bowel cancer

If a patient has fecal changes, they are referred to a coloproctologist. During the appointment, the doctor finds out what symptoms bother the patient, for how long, what he has been ill for during his life, and whether there are any intestinal pathologies in close relatives. Then a digital examination of the rectum is performed.

In order to detect cancer and other bowel pathologies, the following tests are used:

• Proctoscopy and colonoscopy – endoscopic examination of the rectum and colon. These diagnostic methods allow you to visualize cancer, polyp and other pathological changes.
• Biopsy is an examination that can be done during an endoscopy. The doctor, using a special tool, receives a fragment of a pathologically altered area of ​​the intestinal mucosa and sends it to the laboratory, where it is examined under a microscope. If malignant cells are found, it is cancer.
• Fecal occult blood test.
• Complete blood count – helps to detect anemia as a result of bleeding.
• If bowel cancer has already been diagnosed, a blood chemistry test is done to evaluate liver function, as there may be cancer metastases in the liver.
• Blood test for tumor markers: cancer embryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 . This study is not very informative in the diagnosis of cancer, as it can give false positive and false negative results. Tests for tumor markers are used as part of a comprehensive examination to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and detect relapse.
• Once colorectal cancer is diagnosed, CT scans, ultrasound, MRI, angiography, chest X-ray, PET scans are done to evaluate its spread and stage.

Screening tests help diagnose cancer before stool changes occur. Colonoscopy is used as the main type of screening. It is recommended for all people over 50 years of age. At Euroonco, this study is performed by experienced doctors using modern equipment. In order for the patient not to experience discomfort during the procedure, our doctors immerse him in a state of light anesthesia – “medicated sleep”.

Prevention of colon cancer

To reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, follow these guidelines:

• Maintain a healthy weight.