What Could be Causing Hard or Loose Stools?

What Causes Hard Or Loose Stools?

Hard or loose stools can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'minor' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose hard or loose stools, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "hard or loose stools" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Gastroenteritis
Hyperthyroidism
Ulcerative Colitis
Lactose Intolerance
Diarrhea
Blastocystosis
Crohn's Disease
Giardia

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

meal-induced pain for over a month

significant red blood in stools

angry/hostile disposition

elevated free T4

major unexplained weight gain

having a slight fever

bloating caused by specific foods

high T3 free level

regular episodes of diarrhea

rapid pulse rate

recent onset nausea

frequent meal-related bloating

... and more than 90 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of hard or loose stools:

Cause	Probability	Status
Crohn's Disease	95%	Confirm
Gastroenteritis	17%	Unlikely
Hyperthyroidism	14%	Unlikely
Giardia	0%	Ruled out
Blastocystosis	0%	Ruled out
Lactose Intolerance	0%	Ruled out
Diarrhea	0%	Ruled out
Ulcerative Colitis	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate irregular stools, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

On average, how well-formed are your bowel movements / stools?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ Hard, difficult to pass
→ Well-formed, easy to pass
→ Loose
→ Very loose and watery

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate having hard stools, having normal stool texture, having loose stools or having watery stools, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Blastocystosis (Blastocystis hominis)

Watery or loose stools, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anal itching, weight loss and excess gas have all been reported in persons with blastocystis infection.

Crohn's Disease

Diarrhea

Gastroenteritis

Giardiasis Infection

Hyperthyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Lactose Intolerance

Ulcerative Colitis

... and also rule out issues such as:

Crohn's Disease

Diarrhea

Hyperthyroidism