Slimy diarrhea

What is slimy diarrhea?

Slimy diarrhea is a change in bowel movements. Diarrhea is defined as an increase in stool frequency to at least three bowel movements per day. But there can also be stool with a water content of over 75%, in this case too one speaks of diarrhea. In addition, an increased weight of the stool can be decisive for the diagnosis of diarrhea. The term slimy also refers to the consistency of the diarrhea. This means a consistency that is to be distinguished from liquid diarrhea. Sticky, shiny diarrhea is more likely to occur when speaking of slimy diarrhea.

causes

Food intolerance and infections of the gastrointestinal tract are particularly common causes of slimy diarrhea. Food intolerances include, for example, celiac disease, in which certain proteins, which are mainly contained in cereals, cannot be digested. Lactose intolerance is also a food intolerance that is associated with slimy diarrhea. Affected people cannot digest the lactose from dairy products. Insufficient digestion of the affected food can change the consistency of the bowel movement into slimy diarrhea. The composition of the chyme in the digestive tract changes due to the non-decomposed portions of the food, so that the digestion as a whole can become unbalanced. Pathogens (especially viruses and bacteria) can also affect digestion and cause slimy diarrhea. Typical viruses that cause slimy diarrhea are, for example, noro- and rotaviruses. Read more about the topics here: Food intolerance and gastrointestinal infections

Bacterial diarrheal diseases are often caused by spoiled food, in which the pathogens are absorbed into the intestine via the spoiled food and there destroy the healthy balance of naturally occurring intestinal bacteria. Inflammatory bowel disease can also cause slimy diarrhea.

Would you like to know more about inflammatory bowel disease? Then read our article on this: Chronic inflammatory bowel disease

psychological causes

The psyche plays an important role in the development of diseases of the digestive tract. Often, however, psychological causes are not the sole triggers for slimy diarrhea. Rather, the gastrointestinal tract is irritated (intolerance, inflammation, pathogens, etc.). These manifest themselves in the form of nausea, vomiting and slimy diarrhea. Additional physical and / or psychological stress can worsen the symptoms or make the symptoms last longer. Especially with chronic diseases of the digestive tract, psychological stressors also play an important role in the symptoms and processing of the disease. In the case of slimy diarrhea in connection with psychological causes, one speaks of psychosomatic diseases (psyche and body both contribute to the development of the disease through interactions), and irritable bowel syndrome can also be counted among them.

Read our article on this: Irritable bowel syndrome

Antibiotics

In connection with slimy diarrhea, antibiotics are usually more likely to be seen as the cause of symptoms. Through the use of antibiotics (especially when taken orally, for example in the form of tablets), a large amount of the active ingredient enters the digestive tract. There is usually a delicate balance of naturally occurring intestinal bacteria. Antibiotics kill some of the intestinal bacteria while others multiply. The digestive balance is disturbed and stool irregularities such as slimy diarrhea, changes in color and smell develop. Only in rare cases, when a bacterial infection has been proven to be the cause of the slimy diarrhea, therapy with antibiotics can be considered to eliminate the pathogens and thus improve the symptoms. The antibiotic should be carefully selected so that the normal intestinal bacteria are not accidentally killed and the pathological bacterial strain can then multiply more quickly.

diagnosis

Slimy diarrhea is a symptom that requires more detailed diagnostic clarification. Anamnesis (questioning the person concerned) plays an important role. Important causes of illness (intolerance, triggering medication, spoiled food, etc.) can be identified or excluded as triggers. This is followed by the physical examination with listening and palpation of the abdomen.Depending on the suspected cause of the disease, blood values ​​(e.g. inflammation parameters) or a stool sample can be examined in the laboratory. Ultrasound, X-ray, MRI and CT can be used as imaging methods. If necessary, special allergy and intolerance tests are carried out. A stomach and / or colonoscopy can also be part of the diagnosis.

These symptoms tell me that my slimy diarrhea is pathological

Slimy diarrhea can indicate a variety of different conditions, but there are also some harmless causes of the stool changes. One should assume a pathological cause if no harmless explanation (such as short-term changes in stool after an appropriate diet) is recognizable. Typical symptoms that indicate pathological mucous diarrhea are further digestive tract complaints. These include abdominal pain, gas, nausea, and vomiting. Signs of an infection such as a pronounced feeling of illness, tiredness, fatigue, headache and fever can also indicate that the slimy diarrhea is pathological. If the diarrhea occurs more frequently after eating certain foods, an appropriate intolerance should be considered. In particular, improvement by omitting the affected food is a strong indication of intolerance. If, in addition to the slimy diarrhea, the color of the stool changes, this can also be a symptom of an illness. One should be particularly prudent when it comes to blood deposits such as (light) red admixtures. However, a dark to black coloration of the stool can also be caused by (digested) blood.

with blood

Blood in the case of slimy diarrhea usually indicates damage to the intestinal wall. This leads to irregularities in the digestion, causing slimy diarrhea. In addition, small vessels can be damaged, which is why blood gets into the interior of the intestine and is deposited on the stool. Bleeding in the back of the intestine is usually indicated by bright red blood in the stool. On the other hand, bleeding from the esophagus, stomach, and anterior intestines in the form of black (or very dark) stools may occur. Typical causes of bloody, slimy diarrhea are acute infections or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis.

Further interesting information on this topic can be found at: Blood in the stool with diarrhea

Flatulence

Flatulence is a sign that more intestinal gases are being formed. Intestinal gases arise naturally when some food components are digested by the intestinal bacteria. Therefore, a certain amount of intestinal gases is normal even in healthy people. However, if there is a change in the composition of the intestinal bacteria due to diseases of the intestine, this can lead to an increased production of intestinal gases, which causes flatulence. In addition, the changed digestion quickly leads to slimy diarrhea.

therapy

In most cases, symptomatic therapy for slimy diarrhea is of the greatest importance. Especially in the case of infectious, viral or bacterial causes of the complaints, the therapy should mainly consist of an adequate supply of fluids. A large amount of water to drink (teas, juices, water) is important for this, and eating soup can also improve the fluid balance. If additional vomiting occurs, care should also be taken to balance electrolytes (blood salts). The home remedies cola and pretzel sticks can contribute to symptomatic therapy. Attention should also be paid to food. In the first days of the illness, it makes sense to eat gently. If the symptoms arise due to food intolerance, it is usually sufficient to do without the corresponding food. Serious illnesses such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease often also have to be treated with drugs that downregulate the immune system.

Forecast and duration

The prognosis and duration of the slimy diarrhea depends on the cause. Infectious diseases usually peak after a few days and are usually healed after about a week. Food intolerances, on the other hand, often last a lifetime. However, if you do without the triggering foods, the symptoms disappear within a short time, they can even be avoided completely. Chronic diseases of the digestive tract, which are accompanied by slimy diarrhea, often show a relapsing course. The symptoms disappear under therapy, but the disease can flare up again after a while.

Slimy diarrhea during pregnancy

Slimy diarrhea during pregnancy is often due to the change in hormones and the resulting changes in the body. However, the symptoms can also indicate infections or other diseases of the digestive tract. If you experience additional symptoms such as blood in your stool, fever, and fatigue, you should see a doctor. This can recognize potentially dangerous diseases (for the child and / or the mother) and initiate therapy at an early stage. In the drug treatment of slimy diarrhea in pregnancy, the choice of active ingredients should be made carefully.

Read more on the subject at: Diarrhea in pregnancy