What cell type's appearance in stool indicates an inflammatory process?

The presence of white blood cells (WBCs) in stool is a strong indicator of an inflammatory process occurring within the gastrointestinal tract. When inflammation is present, particularly due to infection, irritants, or autoimmune reactions, the body responds by recruiting white blood cells to the affected area. This influx is part of the immune response aimed at fighting infection or healing tissue damage.

In cases of gastrointestinal inflammation, such as with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or bacterial infections like dysentery, WBCs may be seen in stool samples. Their identification can help clinicians diagnose the underlying cause of symptoms such as diarrhea, blood in the stool, or abdominal pain.

Other cell types mentioned, such as red blood cells, eosinophils, and platelets, do not typically indicate an inflammatory process in a straightforward manner or are specific to other contexts. While RBCs might indicate bleeding, and eosinophils could suggest allergic reactions or parasitic infections, they are not as direct a marker for general inflammatory processes as WBCs are.