Mucus in Stool

Mucus in stool is a secretion produced by the cells of the intestinal wall to protect the mucosa and facilitate the passage of stool. Normally, its amount is minimal and not visible to the naked eye.

• Absent: normal indicator. A small amount of mucus, invisible to the naked eye, is considered normal.
• Small amount: may occur with intestinal irritation (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome), after eating spicy food, or with mild dysbiosis.
• Marked presence: visible mucus in stool indicates inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, enteritis, colitis, proctitis, dysbiosis, or presence of parasites.
• Mucus with streaks of blood: possible in ulcerative colitis, fissures, tumors, or dysentery.
• Mucus with green tint: indicates bacterial infection, most often intestinal (e.g., salmonellosis, shigellosis).

Assessment of the presence and nature of mucus in stool is important for diagnosing inflammatory, infectious, and functional intestinal diseases.