Fecal (Stool) Analysis Flashcards (copy)

Normal stool color

Normally brown due to stercobilin.

Pale stool color

Indicates bile duct blockage.

Red stool

Suggests fresh bleeding from the lower GI tract or dietary causes.

Black stool (Melena)

Indicates old blood from the upper GI tract.

Green stool

May result from antibiotics, certain foods, or rapid transit times.

Normal formed stool bacteria

Typically does not contain significant amounts of bacteria.

Diarrhea

Frequent, watery stools.

Steatorrhea

Presence of excess fat leading to pale, foul-smelling stools.

Secretory diarrhea

Increased secretion of water and electrolytes into the intestinal lumen.

Osmotic diarrhea

Occurs due to unabsorbed solutes increasing osmotic pressure.

Altered motility

Changes in intestinal transit speed due to various conditions.

Steatorrhea definition

Increased presence of fats in stool due to impaired digestion or absorption.

Steatorrhea pathological indicator

Suggests pancreatic insufficiency or bile salt deficiency.

Mucus only in stool

May indicate intestinal irritation or inflammation.

Mucus and blood in stool

Indicates dysentery or intestinal wall damage.

Normal range of fecal leukocytes

None should be present.

Presence of WBCs in stool

Indicates invasive pathogens like Salmonella or Shigella.

No WBCs in stool

Suggests toxin-mediated diarrhea, such as from Staphylococcus.

Pancreatic enzymes

Key indicators tested for pancreatic insufficiency.

Trypsin

One of the key enzymes tested for pancreatic function.

Chymotrypsin

Another enzyme tested to assess pancreatic insufficiency.

Elastase-1

Most suitable enzyme for diagnosing pancreatic insufficiency.

Bile duct blockage color

Pale (beige/tan) stool color indicates blockage.

Rapid transit times stool color

Green stool may result from rapid transit.

Intestinal irritation indication

Mucus only in stool may indicate irritation.

Indicators of fat in stool

Presence of excess fat indicates steatorrhea.

Diarrhea causative pathogens

Common pathogens include E. coli, Clostridium, and Vibrio cholerae.

Malabsorption conditions

Can lead to osmotic diarrhea.