Narrow or Thinning Stool
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Feb 26, 2024
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Thin stools
Stringy poop
Pencil thin stools
Funny looking poop
Long and thin poop
Smaller caliber poo
Poo became thin
Find another symptom
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How Ubie Can Help You
With an easy 3-min questionnaire , Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
Questions are customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Smaller caliber stool
- Narrow (thin) stools
- Narrowing of stool
- Long and thin stool
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Decrease in poop size or shape causing your poop to look narrow or pencil-like.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Thin narrow stool
Possible Causes
Generally, Narrow or thinning stool can be related to:
- Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the rectum. Malignant, or cancerous cells, form in the rectal tissue and can spread to other parts of the body.
- Colon Cancer
Cancer of the large intestine which is the final part of the digestive tumors. It often grows from non-cancerous polyps in the intestine. Both polyps and colon cancers can be found during colonoscopy (camera test of colon). Symptoms can include blood in stool, diarrhea or constipation or both, or abdominal pain but many times there are no symptoms and the cancer is found on colonoscopy. It can be easily treated in early stages, so the general population is encouraged to get screened with colonoscopy and sometimes stool tests. Risk factors include a family history of colon cancer or polyps, or a personal history of abnormal polyps, low-fiber high-fat diets, some inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, obesity, and lack of exercise.
- Sigmoid Colon Cancer
The sigmoid colon is the final part of the large intestine before reaching the rectum. The exact cause of sigmoid colon cancer is unknown, but it begins when healthy cells in the colon develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. Risk factors include family history, certain hereditary cancer syndromes, diet, smoking, and alcohol use.
- GIST
- Colonic Polyp
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Is your stool thin and narrow like a pencil?
- Are your stools greasy and smelly?
- Is there mucus in your stools?
- Is your stool shape or consistency abnormal?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizFind Similar Symptoms
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
References
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
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This symptom checker site is a great resource to either get an idea of what is happening inside your body or even get a second opinion without incurring another huge bill. It also provides a way to connect with a professional if needed. I really enjoy this site.
Aug 30, 2024 (Female, 40s)
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
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