Microscopic examination of the stool may be useful in categorizing the cause of diarrhea. Normally, there are no WBCs in the stool.
Absence of WBCs in the stool may be seen in:
Viral diarrhea
Cholera
Amoebic colitis
Parasites such as Giardia or Entamoeba
Toxic diarrheas from Staph or Clostrium
Large numbers of WBCs in the stool may be seen in:
Chronic bacillary dysentary
Chronic ulcerative colitis
Colonic abscess
Monocytes are seen in Typhoid Fever.
Neutrophils are seen in:
Ulcerative colitis
Invasive E.Coli diarrhea
Salmonella
Shigellosis
Normal Values*
Fecal Leukocytes
Negative
*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.
Source: Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300
