A simple stool sample may hold a clearer record of what you eat than a food diary ever could. In a new study, researchers ...

A stool that looks like currant jelly can indicate a bowel disorder called intussusception. However, bloody mucus in the stool may also be a sign of other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel ...

A fecal lactoferrin test can detect intestinal inflammation. High lactoferrin levels in stool suggest that inflammation is present. This may indicate a bacterial infection or inflammatory bowel ...

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

Who Should Get a Digital Rectal Exam? You may need a digital rectal exam if you have rectal bleeding, abdominal or pelvic pain or a change in bowel habits. But studies have shown there is little ...

Carley Millhone is a writer and editor based in the Midwest who covers health, women's wellness, and travel. Her work has appeared in publications like SELF, Greatist, and PureWow. Jay N. Yepuri, MD, ...

People are obsessed with poop. Why does it float? Why do its colors and consistencies vary, and is that normal? (Here are 7 things your poop says about you.) People want to know it all—and now, some ...

In this Journal feature, information about a real patient is presented in stages (boldface type) to an expert clinician, who responds to the information, sharing his or her reasoning with the reader ...

A digital rectal examination (DRE) is a simple procedure doctors use to examine the lower rectum and other internal organs. A DRE is done for a number of reasons. It’s a quick, easy way to check the ...