In some cases, a person with Crohn's may notice yellow mucus on the outside of their stools. This mucus can completely or partially cover the stool and may appear white or yellow. The body produces mucus to protect the inner lining of the intestines and make it easier to pass the stool.
It is important to treat the underlying disease, that is treat the gut inflammation, in cases of active Crohn's or active colitis. During an IBD flare, the lining of the intestine becomes inflamed and cannot absorb all fluid. This results in stools being loose and watery, or even entirely liquid.
And when you have an urgent need to go — which, for people with Crohn's, can sometimes be up to 20 times a day, according to Kaiser Permanente — maintaining an on-the-go lifestyle can be difficult.
Blood and stool samples can be tested for things like inflammation – which could be due to Crohn's disease – and infections. It may take a few days or weeks to get the results.
Intestinal endoscopy. Intestinal endoscopies are the most accurate methods for diagnosing Crohn's disease and ruling out other possible conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, or cancer.
It may go undiagnosed for years, because symptoms usually develop gradually and it doesn't always affect the same part of the intestine. Other diseases can have the same symptoms as Crohn's disease. But doctors can diagnose Crohn's by doing a test that looks at the inside of the intestine and doing a biopsy.
Mucus in the Stool
“Pus is a marker of inflammation,” he points out. Mucus in stool looks a bit like snot, and can be whitish or yellowish. People often find just a small bit mixed in with stool or pass it at the end of a bowel movement.
Mild Crohn's disease causes inflammation through the digestive system. At this stage of the disease, symptoms remain less severe and are more easily managed. Symptoms of mild Crohn's disease include abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
Symptoms often include diarrhea, a frequent need to move your bowels, stomach pain, and bloating (all symptoms of IBS). However, with Crohn's disease, patients also may notice things like vomiting, tiredness, weight loss, fever, or even bleeding.
People with Crohn's disease may produce stools containing mucus, blood and/or undigested fats, whereas stool samples from people with ulcerative colitis are more likely to contain only mucus and/or blood.
Causes of anal discharge
Mucus-based discharge may be caused by: Infection due to food-poisoning, bacteria or parasites. An abscess due to infection or an anal fistula – a channel that can develop between the end of your bowel and anus after an abscess.
Some people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), experience changes in body odor as a result of the disease. Although they are common symptoms, these odors can make a person feel anxious, affect their self-esteem, and even make them wary of leaving the house.
Gastroenterologists almost always recommend a colonoscopy to diagnose Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. This test provides live video images of the colon and rectum and enables the doctor to examine the intestinal lining for inflammation, ulcers, and other signs of IBD.
A Crohn's flare usually involves diarrhea, often with mucus and sometimes with blood. Many people also have low-grade fevers. Other symptoms, which range from mild to severe, may include: Abdominal pain or cramps.
Untreated Crohn's disease could lead to obstructions because the ongoing inflammation could cause the intestine to thicken or it could cause narrowing of the intestine (which are called strictures).
The CalproSmart self-test is a rapid test for distant monitoring of patients with established chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease. Being a pro-active test, the patient will perform the Calprotectin test at home with regular intervals or at their own discretion.
At present, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cannot be diagnosed through simple blood tests. However, blood tests are still very important as they may be supportive of the diagnosis and can also be used to monitor the activity of your disease.
Pain: In people with Crohn's disease, pain can be felt throughout the entire abdomen. Whereas with coltitis, pain is typically localized to the left area of the abdomen. Sores in the mouth or the anus occur more often in people with Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis.
Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can come and go, with periods of flare-ups. The main symptoms of Crohn disease are: Crampy pain in the abdomen (belly area).