Causes of Fecal defecation to Look Out for
Foaming defecation is usually closely related to the food consumed or the medication that is being undertaken. However, the appearance of foam in the stool also could be a sign of a health problem that needs immediate medical attention.
Changes in the size, shape, color, and texture of stools can be important clues to identifying various diseases. One of the changes that occur in the stool is when bowel movements appear to be foaming.
Foaming defecation occurs when there is too much fat and mucus in the stool. The mucus fluid may look like foam or be found in foamy stools. Mucus in the stool is generally normal and helps to smooth out feces and protect the intestines. However, too much mucus in the stool can be a sign of a change in the digestive system, leading to certain diseases.
Clinical Conditions Cause of Foaming Defecation
In medical terms, too much fat in the stool is called steatorea. This condition can be a sign of malabsorsi fat, ie fat is not digested and not absorbed properly. Steatorea is generally characterized by oily stools, the stool is pale or muddy, the stool smells and soft.
In addition to fat malabsorption, foaming defecated or steatorrhea is also part of the symptoms of some clinical conditions, such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and an abscess or fistula on the anus. Foaming defecation needs to be watched if accompanied by symptoms of bowel defecation, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Disturbance in the Digestive System
Excessive foaming or mucus defecation in the stool can be a sign of impairment of the digestive system, such as:
- Food poisoning
In addition to symptoms similar to flu symptoms, food poisoning can cause stools to become slimy.
- Bacterial infection
Bacteria Clostridium difficile can cause severe diarrhea accompanied by slimy and foul-smelling stools. Other bacterial infections, such as dysentery, can also cause slimy stools.
- Giardiasis
Giardiasis is a parasitic infection of Giardia lamblia that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This infection is acquired from contaminated water and food, or swimming activity. Parasites can be transmitted between people, especially when exposed to infected feces. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal bloating, foaming defecation or oily stools, nausea and abdominal pain, and fever. Treatment is by giving antibiotics from doctors, and keep the body's fluids in order not to become dehydrated.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are conditions that can cause the intestines to hurt. In addition to diarrhea and abdominal pain, this condition allows foaming, purulent, even bleeding stools.
- Proctitis
Proctitis is an inflammation of the lower part of the large intestine or rectum. Intestinal inflammation and sexually transmitted diseases can be the cause.
- Celiac disease
Celiac disease is a condition caused by immune system problems that react when eating foods containing gluten, and damaging the cells of the intestinal wall. This condition also causes fat malabsorption and triggers a foaming defecation.
Although foaming defecation can usually disappear by itself in a few days or weeks, but you still need to be aware of other possible causes of foamy defecation. Do not hesitate to see a doctor, especially if the defecated bowel is accompanied by bloody stools, diarrhea for more than two days (or more than one day in children), fever, and severe abdominal pain.