Bristol stool scale facts for kids
The Bristol stool scale is a helpful tool doctors use. It helps them understand what your poop (also called stool or feces) looks like. It sorts poop into 7 different types. This scale is also known as the Bristol stool chart or Bristol stool form scale.
Doctors at the Bristol Royal Infirmary created this chart in 1997. It helps them check your health. It's also useful for people who find it hard to talk. They can just point to the chart to show their doctor if their digestive system (bowels) is having trouble. The chart can also help doctors figure out if someone has Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Understanding the Poop Chart
The Bristol stool scale describes seven main types of poop. Each type tells doctors something different about your digestive health.
- Type 1: Separate, hard lumps, like small nuts. These are often hard to pass.
- Type 2: Shaped like a sausage, but it looks lumpy.
- Type 3: Like a sausage, but it has small cracks on its surface.
- Type 4: Smooth and soft, shaped like a sausage or a snake. This is usually considered healthy.
- Type 5: Soft blobs with clear, defined edges. These are usually easy to pass.
- Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged or torn edges. It looks mushy.
- Type 7: Completely liquid, with no solid pieces at all. This is diarrhea.
See also
In Spanish: Escala de heces de Bristol para niños
