💩 Bristol Stool Form Scale
Classify stool form with the Bristol Stool Form Scale.
Clinical takeaway
A simple, validated visual scale.
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When to use
Assess constipation and diarrhoea by transit time.
How it works
Types 1–7; 1–2 constipation, 3–4 normal, 5–7 looser/faster transit.
Key points
- A simple, validated visual scale.
- Useful for monitoring bowel habit and treatment.
- Types 3–4 are considered ideal.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Stool type | 1 — Separate hard lumps |
|---|
→Bristol type1
- Interpretation：Constipation (slow transit)
| Stool type | 7 — Watery, no solid pieces |
|---|
→Bristol type7
- Interpretation：Loose/diarrhoea (fast transit)
Frequently asked questions
- What is Bristol Stool Form Scale?
- Classify stool form with the Bristol Stool Form Scale.
- How is Bristol Stool Form Scale calculated? What is the core formula?
- Types 1–7; 1–2 constipation, 3–4 normal, 5–7 looser/faster transit.
- When is Bristol Stool Form Scale used?
- Assess constipation and diarrhoea by transit time.
- What are the key clinical points for Bristol Stool Form Scale?
- A simple, validated visual scale. Useful for monitoring bowel habit and treatment. Types 3–4 are considered ideal.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Bristol Stool Form Scale?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Bristol Stool Form Scale calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Stool type 1 — Separate hard lumps → Result: Bristol type 1（Interpretation: Constipation (slow transit)） Inputs: Stool type 7 — Watery, no solid pieces → Result: Bristol type 7（Interpretation: Loose/diarrhoea (fast transit)）