Fecal Characteristics

Question 1

color

Answer 1

infant - yellow
adult - brown

abnormal
white or clay - absence of bile
black - iron or GI bleed
red - GI bleed, hemorrhoids, beets
pale, oily - malabsorption of fat

Question 2

odor

Answer 2

bad

Question 3

consistency

Answer 3

soft, formed

abnormal
liquid - diarrhea
hard - constipation

Question 4

frequency

Answer 4

infants - 4-6 times per day breastfed, 1-3 times per day bottle-fed
adult - twice daily to 3 times a week

abnormal - more or less = hypermotility or hypomotility

Question 5

shape

Answer 5

diameter of rectum

abnormal
narrow, pencil shaped - obstruction, increased peristalsis

Question 6

constituents

Answer 6

undigested food, dead bacteria, fat, bile, pigment, cells, lining intestinal mucosa, water

abnormal
blood, pus, foreign bodies, mucus, worms - bleeding, infection, irritation, inflammation, parasites
oily - malabsorption, enteritis, pancreatic disease
mucus - inflammation, infection, injury