Causes of Slimy Defecation and Treatment

Slime defecation is not a case to worry about if the amount of mucus is not large or not accompanied by other complaints. However, if the amount of mucus during bowel movements increases or there is blood present, then you may experience indigestion. A healthy body on average can produce 1-1.5 liters of mucus every day. This mucus can be found in various parts of the body, such as the lining of the nose, throat, eyes, ears, mouth, to the intestines. Under normal circumstances, small amount of mucus when defecating, clear or slightly yellowish in color, and often you do not realize it because mucus in the digestive tract is normal.

The function of mucus in the body

There are many functions of mucus in our body, including:

• Protect and lubricate the tissues and organs of the body.
• Capture and remove bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause disease from the body.
• Protect the digestive tract from stomach acids and other harmful fluids.
• Helps food and feces to get through the intestine smoothly.

Even though it's normally in the intestine, you still need to be vigilant if the mucus that comes out of the digestive tract when bowel is very large or accompanied by other complaints, such as bloody bowel movements, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. This can be a sign that you have indigestion.

Causes of slimy bowel movements

There are several diseases that can cause a lot of slimy bowel movements, namely:

1. Inflammatory bowel

Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, can cause large amounts of slimy bowel movements. Ulcerative colitis can cause sores on the walls of the large intestine to cause feces mixed with blood. While Crohn's disease causes wider inflammation in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, including in the mouth and anus.

2. Infection

Viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections that cause food poisoning can cause diarrhea. Infection in the gastrointestinal tract can make the intestines inflamed, so mucus will increase in number when defecating.

3. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disease that attacks the intestine for a long time and can recur at any time. The cause of this disease is unknown, but it is thought to be due to an abnormally sensitive intestinal or intestinal nerve. This disease can cause discomfort in the stomach or heartburn, flatulence, bowel movements become more frequent or rare than usual, until the stools are slimy during bowel movements.

4. Food malabsorption

Food malabsorption is a digestive problem where the digestive tract cannot absorb nutrients and fluids from the food or drinks consumed. Symptoms of this disorder can include weight loss, dry skin and redness, and bowel movements and slimy textured sticky stools.

5. Colon cancer

Colon cancer generally has symptoms of bloody bowel movements, abdominal pain, and weight loss. In addition, the feces of people with this disease also usually experience changes in shape, color, and slimy.

Slimy Defecation Handling

To deal with excess mucus during bowel movements, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause. In ensuring the diagnosis of the cause of slimy bowel movements, in addition to a physical examination, the doctor will conduct a supporting examination, as:

• Blood test.
• Stool analysis.
• Urine test.
• Colonoscopy and endoscopy.
• Imaging tests, such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, and CT scan of the digestive tract.

After the results of the examination are obtained, the doctor will provide treatment according to the diagnosis of the disease that causes slimy bowel movements. In addition, your doctor may also advise you to make lifestyle changes, such as:

• Drink plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated and constipated.
• Eat foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics, such as fruits and vegetables. If necessary, you can take supplements that contain probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus.
• Avoid foods that cause inflammation or gastrointestinal irritation, such as foods that are acidic, spicy, or contain alcohol.
• Eat foods that are clean, healthy, and nutritionally balanced.

Handling of slimy bowel movements is very dependent on the underlying disease. If you experience increased mucus in the stool, especially those mixed with blood or pus, consult a doctor immediately to get the right treatment.