Fecal Analysis

Abstract

Few persons think of feces as a body fluid that is invaluable in diagnosing conditions of the body, but there are similarities. There can be immunological responses that alter normal elimination from the bowel, or bleeding problems of the gastrointestinal system that result in blood in the feces. There may be parasites obtained from the soil, dirty water or dirty food that will infest the bowel, and diagnosis usually is done by tests of the fecal material microscopically, although there are other methodologies for this purpose.

Although the bowel contains tremendous numbers, both in species and ratio to other organisms, it is possible to suffer from an intestinal bacterial infection. Unfortunately, antibiotics do not favor those causing infection, but may destroy even the normal flora, or bacteria useful in digestion and in holding harmful pathogens, including bacteria, at bay. Then opportunistic pathogens may invade the GI (gastrointestinal) tract.