Mucus in the stool might appear in several conditions such as: irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis or bacterial infections. The mucus is a product of the mucous membrane glands located in the intestines.
If the mucus was red then it might have been mixed with blood. However, the orange to dark orange color does not rule out the presence of blood in the stool. The blood changes its color when it decomposes.
You might want to visit an internist or a specialist in gastrointestinal disorders. A hemocult blood test is designed to detect small amounts of blood in the stool which might not be visible with the eye. If the test is negative, then no blood is detected in the stool. If the test is positive, then additional examinations are needed to detect the cause for the bleeding, which might include; hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease or other more serious conditions.
A stool culture might also be asked for in order to detect any bacteria and the most effective antibiotic. If all the tests are negative, then you might calm yourself and temporarily check for the condition of your stool.
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