Question: What can cause mucus in the stool? I have seen mucus in my stool lately and was wondering what the cause could be.

Answer: There is some mucus in stool always, but it is not usually visible to the naked eye. The large intestine secretes some mucus to assist in passing stool. If you are seeing it, however, it can be indicative of a problem.

Mucus in the stool can be caused by several conditions. If you have never been diagnosed with a digestive problem then you should mention the mucus to your physician immediately as it can be indicative of an underlying medical problem.

The common causes of mucus in the stool include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Crohns Disease
• Bacterial Infection
• Anal Fissure
• Bowel Obstruction

It is likely your physician will prescribe an antibiotic agent to treat this condition as the most likely cause is an infection. A simple blood test can indicate whether there is an infection or not.

If the condition does not improve after a course of antibiotics then an imaging study will likely be the next step. The imaging will be done to rule out a serious condition such as a bowel obstruction.

The best advice to see what is causing mucus in stool is to see your physician. We hope this answered your question and that you are able to find the cause of your symptoms soon.