Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following conditions might necessitate a stool analysis?
Which of the following conditions might necessitate a stool analysis?
- Patient with skin rash due to parasitic infection (correct)
- Patient with a broken bone
- Patient with abdominal pain (correct)
- Patient with high blood pressure
What is the main component of feces?
What is the main component of feces?
- Cellulose (correct)
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins
- Proteins
Why are feces normally brown in color?
Why are feces normally brown in color?
- Because of undigested carbohydrates
- Because of the presence of vitamins
- Due to the bacterial degradation of proteins
- Because of bile pigments converted to stercobilin (correct)
Which substance is responsible for the characteristic odor of feces?
Which substance is responsible for the characteristic odor of feces?
Which of the following substances can be found in feces?
Which of the following substances can be found in feces?
What amount of fecal material does an average adult excrete per day?
What amount of fecal material does an average adult excrete per day?
What alteration in fecal characteristics might indicate the presence of a disease?
What alteration in fecal characteristics might indicate the presence of a disease?
What is the correct procedure for collecting a stool sample for analysis?
What is the correct procedure for collecting a stool sample for analysis?
What is a physiological cause of high alkaline stool?
What is a physiological cause of high alkaline stool?
What type of stool consistency might indicate diarrhea?
What type of stool consistency might indicate diarrhea?
Which organism is likely to be found in blood and mucus in the stool?
Which organism is likely to be found in blood and mucus in the stool?
Which naked eye observable parasite might appear in the stool?
Which naked eye observable parasite might appear in the stool?
What pathological condition can result in high acidic stool?
What pathological condition can result in high acidic stool?
Which finding in stool might suggest poor absorption of sugars?
Which finding in stool might suggest poor absorption of sugars?
Which compound is primarily responsible for the brown color of stool?
Which compound is primarily responsible for the brown color of stool?
Black colored stool can be an indication of which of the following?
Black colored stool can be an indication of which of the following?
What does bright red colored stool (Hematochezia) commonly indicate?
What does bright red colored stool (Hematochezia) commonly indicate?
What does a clay (gray-white) colored stool indicate?
What does a clay (gray-white) colored stool indicate?
Which of the following can cause very offensive stool odor?
Which of the following can cause very offensive stool odor?
What does pale brown stool with a greasy consistency commonly indicate?
What does pale brown stool with a greasy consistency commonly indicate?
What condition is associated with yellow-green colored stool?
What condition is associated with yellow-green colored stool?
Which of the following drugs can cause a red-brown color in stool?
Which of the following drugs can cause a red-brown color in stool?
Study Notes
Stool Analysis
- Stool analysis is a series of tests done on a stool sample to help diagnose conditions affecting the digestive tract.
- Indications for stool analysis:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Malnutrition or failure to thrive
- Abnormal stool color
- Skin diseases potentially related to parasitic infections
Composition and Characteristics of Feces
- Feces consist mainly of:
- Cellulose
- Undigested foodstuff
- Water (up to 70%)
- Other substances normally found in stools:
- Epithelial cells
- Fats
- Bile pigments (urobilin)
- Gastrointestinal and pancreatic secretions
- Electrolytes
- Average adult fecal output: 100-200g per day
- Stool characteristics:
- Normally brown due to bacterial degradation of bile pigments to stercobilin
- Characteristic odor caused by bacterial action on proteins and residues
Collection and Transport of Fecal Specimens
- Collect 10-15g of stool in a dry, clean container
- Avoid contamination with urine, water, soil, or other materials
- If necessary, collect a specimen by inserting a cotton wool swab into the rectum for 10 seconds
- Transport specimen to the laboratory within 30 minutes of passage
General Stool Examination (GST)
Macroscopic Examination
- Stool characteristics examined:
- Color
- Odor
- pH
- Consistency
- Naked eye parasites
- Gross blood, mucus, and pus
Stool Characteristics
- Color
- Normal: Brown due to stercobilin and urobinin
- Abnormal:
- Black: Iron medication or upper GIT bleeding
- Bright red: Lower GIT bleeding
- Clay: Obstructive jaundice
- Pale brown: Pancreatic deficiency causing malabsorption of fat
- Yellow-green: Breast-fed infants or bacterial imbalance
- Red-brown: Certain medications (e.g., Tetracyclines, Rifambicin)
- Odor
- Normal: Offensively smelly due to bacterial fermentation
- Abnormal:
- Very offensive: Constipation, certain foods, bacterial infection, or malabsorption
- Foul-smelling: Steatorrhea
- pH (reaction)
- Normal: Variable and diet-dependent
- Abnormal:
- High alkaline: High protein diet or secretory diarrhea, colitis, or antibiotic use
- High acidic: High carbohydrate diet or poor fat absorption, lactose intolerance
- Consistency
- Normal: Well-formed
- Abnormal:
- Semi-solid or watery: Diarrhea or dysentery
- Cysts: Formed stools
- Trophozoites: Watery stools
- Blood, Mucus, or Pus
- Normal: None
- Abnormal:
- Blood and mucus: Amoebic dysentery
- Blood and pus: Bacillary dysentery
- Only blood: Diarrhea caused by certain bacteria (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli, Clostridium difficile)
- Naked Eye Parasites
- Normal: None
- Abnormal:
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- Enterobius vermicularis
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Description
A series of tests done on a stool sample to diagnose conditions affecting the digestive tract. It helps identify issues in patients with abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, and more.
