Dela Cruz, Charmaine L.

February 11, 2020

BSMT 2-1 Clinical Parasitology - Laboratory

STOOL COLOR CHART

Stool color is typically influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile (a
fluid that digest fast) in your stool. Most color changes are normal; however, if the
changes are consistent, it can reveal many clues about your health.

COLOR CLINICAL FINDINGS CAUSES

Color caused by chemical

All shades of brown are considered changes in bilirubin (a pigment
Brown
NORMAL. resulting from the breakdown of
red blood cells).

Food may be moving through the large Green leafy vegetables, green
Green intestine too quickly, such as due to food coloring, such as in
diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have flavored drink mixes or ice
time to break down completely. pops, iron supplements.

Light-
A lack of bile in stool. This may Certain medications, such as
colored,
indicate a bile duct obstruction. large doses of bismuth
white or
subsalicylate (Kaopectate,
clay-
Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-
colored
diarrheal drugs.

Yellow, Excess fat in the stool, such as due to Sometimes the protein gluten,
greasy, a malabsorption disorder, for example, such as in breads and cereals.
foul- celiac disease. See a doctor for evaluation.
smelling

Bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal Iron supplements, bismuth

Black Tarry
tract, such as the stomach. subsalicylate (Kaopectate,
Pepto-Bismol), black licorice.

Bright
red/Maroon Bleeding in the lower intestinal tract, Red food coloring, beets,
such as the large intestine or rectum, cranberries, tomato juice or
often from hemorrhoids. soup, red gelatin or drink
Dela Cruz, Charmaine L. February 11, 2020
BSMT 2-1 Clinical Parasitology - Laboratory

mixes.

THE BRISTOL STOOL CHART

The Bristol Stool Chart (also called the Bristol Stool Scale or the Bristol Stool Form
Scale) is a diagnostic tool to evaluate samples of human feces based on the shape and
consistency of the stool. Samples are then assigned a number 1–7 that corresponds to
descriptions on the scale.

TYPE IMAGE CONSISTENCY INDICATION

Separate hard
1 Very constipated
lumps

Lumpy and Slightly

2
sausage-like constipated

Sausage shape
3 with cracks in the Normal
surface

A smooth, soft
4 Normal
sausage or snake

Soft blobs with

5 Lacking fibre
clear-cut edges

Mushy consistency
6 Inflammation
with ragged edges
Dela Cruz, Charmaine L. February 11, 2020
BSMT 2-1 Clinical Parasitology - Laboratory

Liquid consistency
7 with no solid Inflammation
pieces