The stool helps to evacuate solid wastes from digestion and other metabolic processes. Stool normally contains about 75-85% water and 20% dry matter.

The frequency, appearance and color of stool vary greatly from person to person. On average, bowel movements take place once or twice a day, although some people have a bowel movement more often and others less, without this being abnormal. Rather, it is the occurrence of changes in relation to the usual bowel movements that makes it possible to say that the situation is “abnormal”. It may be, in particular:

• too frequent and too watery stools (diarrhea)
• too hard stools (constipation)
• alternating diarrhea / constipation
• stool with blood or mucus
• fatty stools (steatorrhea)
• black stools (which are sometimes a sign of bleeding occurring in the upper digestive system, for example the stomach: this is called melena)
• very light or white stools
• unusual colored or very smelly stools
• stool containing parasites (sometimes visible to the naked eye)

Other symptoms may be added, such as intestinal pain (spasms), gas, digestive problems, fever, etc.

You should know that the normal brown color of the stool is due to the presence of bile pigments, stercobilin and urobilin, brown pigments.

The appearance of the stool provides information on the presence of possible pathologies: it is therefore important to consult without delay if your stool has unusual characteristics, such as those mentioned above.

A large number of diseases can cause changes in the appearance or frequency of bowel movements. Without making an exhaustive list, here are the most frequently encountered disorders, often responsible for diarrhea:

• digestive infection (gastroenteritis, food poisoning, “turista”, etc.) which can cause acute diarrhea
• intestinal parasitosis (giardia, amoeba, pinworms, tapeworm rings, salmonella, etc.)
• chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, which can cause mucus and bloody stools
• irritable bowel syndrome (alternating diarrhea / constipation)
• malabsorption syndromes (such as gluten intolerance, celiac disease), which can lead to fatty stools

Constipation can be linked to a multitude of causes:

• pregnancy
• statement
• endocrine diseases (diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism),
• metabolic disease
• neurological disease (Parkinson’s disease, etc.)
• taking certain medications (antidepressants, psychotropic drugs, opiates)
• digestive pathologies such as Hirschsprung’s disease

Finally, cancers can change the appearance of stool:

• digestive cancers, including colorectal cancer, often responsible for constipation or alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation, or the presence of blood in the stool
• pancreatic cancer: stools are yellow-whitish due to the lack of bile salts. Such stools can also be due to pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis), celiac disease, etc.

Aside from the discomfort caused by constipation or diarrhea, abnormal stools should be alert as they are often a sign of a health problem, especially if the abnormality persists or returns frequently.

The presence of blood in the stool, in particular, must always be the subject of a medical consultation, because it can be indicative of a serious pathology.

Likewise, black stools, which may be black due to the presence of digested blood, may indicate the existence of digestive bleeding.

In the slightest doubt, it is therefore important to consult your doctor. Additional examinations (coprological analyzes, stool culture, endoscopy, etc.) will be able to establish a diagnosis.

The solutions obviously depend on the cause, hence the importance of quickly identifying the origin of the disorder.

If the stool becomes abnormal after returning from a trip, or is accompanied by spasms, fever, digestive problems, it is likely that it is an infection. This can heal on its own in most cases within a few days, but if the symptoms persist, consult your doctor: it could be an intestinal parasitosis which requires specific treatment.

In case of constipation, it is important to hydrate well, to incorporate more fiber in your diet, to try certain natural laxatives such as prunes. Be careful not to overuse laxative medications: they can be irritating and make the problem worse. It is important to always seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.

Finally, if the abnormal stools reveal the presence of a tumor pathology, treatment in the oncology department will obviously be necessary. In case of IBD, a follow-up in gastroenterology will help alleviate the symptoms and ensure that the nutrition is done correctly.