Stools To Watch Out For
Colors:
yellow or greenish--indicates rapid transit (small bowel)
black and tarry--indicates bleeding in the upper digestive tract
red blood or clots--indicates bleeding in the colon
pasty, light colored--indicates lack of bile (liver disease)
large, gray, rancid smelling--indicates inadequate digestion or absorption (unabsorption syndrome)
Consistency:
watery--indicates small bowel irritation (toxins and severe infections)
foamy--suggests bacterical infection
greasy--often with oil on the hair around the anus (indicates malabsorption)
excessive mucus--a glistening or jelly-like appearance indicates colonic origin
Odor: (the more watery the stool the greater the odor)
foodlike or smelling like sour milk--suggests both rapid transit and malabsorption (for example: overfeeding)
putrid smelling--suggests an intestinal infection
Frequency:
several in an hour, each small, with straining--suggests inflammation of the large bowel
3 or 4 times daily each large--suggests malabsorption or small bowel disorder
diarrhea which persists for several days or longer--suggests chronic ailment such as colitis, parasite infestation, or malabsorption syndrome. *diarrhea is a symptom not a disease*
background provided by boogie jack