Just like examining the color of urine with naked eye tells you many things about your kidney and liver problem, stool examination is also an important tool for detecting diseases, especially of digestive tract. In normal condition slight amount of mucus is always passed in stool, but it is not visible with naked eye.
Mucus is jelly like sticky substance, generally colorless and clear. It is produced by the mucus membrane which lines the large intestine. Mucus protects the lining of intestine by keeping it lubricated and moist. Due to its slippery and jelly like consistency, it also allows easy expulsion of feces from the anus.
In this way passage of mucus to an extent is not harmful, but when excess of mucus in stool is passed, it is clearly a symptom of a digestive tract disease that requires to be treated.
Causes Of Excessive Mucus In Stools
- Ulcerative colitis: in ulcerative colitis, there are inflammatory changes in mucus membrane of large intestine.Ulcers develop leading to production of pus and mucus. In ulcerative colitis the volume of mucus is large enough to be detected with naked eye.
- Bacterial infection: infection of intestine caused due to salmonella, shigella, and Campylobacter bacteria can cause excess of mucus in stool. Together with mucus in stool, there may be associated symptoms such as abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea etc.
- Anal fissure and hemorrhoids: both of these disorders can produce mucus in stool. Blood is also present in the stool with mucus in anal fissure.
- Crohn’s disease: it is also a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disorder where there is excess of mucus in stool. Other symptoms accompanying it include abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea etc.
- Food poisoning: eating stale food or contaminated food may cause food poisoning. The symptoms include cramps in abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, mucus in stool, fever, weakness etc. It is caused due to bacterial toxins.
- Parasitic infestation: one of the main causes for mucus in stool is amoebic colitis. Entamoeba histolitica, giardia lamblia are parasites that produce excess of mucus in stool. Frequent bowel movements, loose and sticky stools, pain in abdomen while passing stool are few other symptoms of this infestation. Both enter in the intestine through contaminated water and food.
- Bowel obstruction: passage of mucus either blood stained or clear is also a symptom of bowel obstruction. It can occur as a result of impacted feces, large ball of round worms, hernia, tumor etc. The condition requires urgent hospitalization.
- Intolerance of food: certain food may not be tolerated and well digested by the patient. Such foods can cause excess production of mucus in stool.
How To Get Rid Of Clear Mucus In Stool Naturally?
White mucus in stool is just a symptom of a disorder. The main aim should be to diagnose the disease and treat it. When you find excess mucus in the stool, you should always talk to your doctor. When the underlying cause is detected, treatment becomes easy.
However, in some cases there is no serious cause that can be found. But there may be presence of mucus in stool, bloating of abdomen, constipation etc. In such cases home remedies can be useful. Drink enough water, at least 8 to 9 glasses in a day.
Besides this, certain herbs such as marshmallow and slippery elm are beneficial in reducing the amount of mucus in stool. Both act as demulcents. Avoid dairy food and oily food when there is mucus in stool.