If there are changes in the texture, color or consistency of our bowel movements, we should get to the bottom of the trigger. But what to do if you not only have diarrhea, but also have mucus? We explain the causes of mucous diarrhea.
Our waste reveals a lot about our health. For this reason, changes in bowel movements should always be examined closely. But what to do if diarrhea with mucus admixtures occurs? If the consistency, color or frequency of the stool changes only briefly, this is usually not a cause for concern. If the changes occur over a longer period of several days, the cause should be investigated. Various triggers can be responsible for slimy bowel movements.
Table of Contents
Slimy diarrhea: There are these causes
Slimy diarrhea caused by food intolerance
Both diarrhea and mucus admixtures can occur with food intolerances such as lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance . In this case, the mucus will be light and clear. Other symptoms that can occur with an intolerance are nausea, vomiting, flatulence and abdominal pain or cramps. If you suspect you may have a food allergy, you should seek medical advice.
Slimy diarrhea caused by infectious diseases
Another cause of mucous diarrhea are infectious diseases such as gastrointestinal inflammation (gastroenteritis). In this case, the mucus is usually yellow in color – the yellow mucus is caused by dead immune cells. You can recognize the disease by other symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain. The slimy diarrhea only occurs during infection and should subside after recovery.
Slimy diarrhea caused by chronic inflammatory bowel disease
In the case of mucous diarrhea that persists over a longer period of time, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis could be the cause. In both diseases, the symptoms, which include not only mucous diarrhea but also severe abdominal cramps and fever, last over a longer period of time and occur in phases. In the case of ulcerative colitis, different sections of the intestine are affected, in Crohn’s disease it is always the same section. The diarrhea can be accompanied by mucus, pus and blood.
Beware of red mucus in the stool
Special care is needed if you notice red mucus in your stool, whether you have diarrhea or not. Red mucus is mostly blood admixtures. These can occur with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, but also with tumor diseases such as colon cancer. Always seek medical attention as soon as possible if you notice blood in your stool.
