The normal color of stool is typically brown due to bile pigments. Abnormal color (e.g., black, red, pale) can indicate conditions like GI bleeding, liver disease, or bile duct obstruction.Stool should be soft and formed. Diarrhea (loose stool) or constipation (hard, pellet-like stool) can indicate GI infections, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or digestive disorders.Strong, foul-smelling stool may suggest malabsorption, infection, or liver disease. An unusually sweet smell may indicate diabetes or starvation.Presence of blood (e.g., hematochezia or melena) can indicate conditions like GI bleeding, ulcers, colorectal cancer, or hemorrhoids.Mucus in the stool can indicate inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Presence of white blood cells (pus cells) can indicate an infection (e.g., bacterial gastroenteritis), IBD, or parasite infection. RBCs in the stool suggest bleeding from the upper GI tract (e.g., gastric ulcers) or lower GI tract (e.g., hemorrhoids or colorectal cancer). Presence of parasites or their eggs (e.g., giardia, amebic dysentery, roundworms) can indicate parasitic infections. A stool culture helps identify bacterial infections like Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, or Campylobacter. A positive occult blood test indicates hidden bleeding in the digestive tract and may point to colorectal cancer or gastric ulcers. High fecal fat content may indicate malabsorption conditions such as celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, or gallbladder disease. Stool pH is typically slightly acidic. A low stool pH (below 5.5) may indicate carbohydrate malabsorption, while an increased pH could suggest infection or colonic diseases.