What diseases cause stool to become discolored? What should stool look like normally and what do its changes indicate? Why might an adult have light-colored stool?

If an adult has light-colored feces, this does not indicate the development of pathological processes. The reasons for such phenomena may be related to dietary habits and medications. However, it is important to know what symptoms indicate the presence of pathology, and how to act correctly in case of signs of the disease.

In some cases, this is a normal physiological phenomenon that is associated with excess intake of certain foods or taking certain medications.

Physiological reasons

There is a fairly extensive list of foods, the consumption of which can actually lead to lightening of stool. Conventionally, they can be combined into 2 groups:

Note! Sometimes the consumption of low-quality food and alcoholic beverages also leads to the appearance of white stool; as a rule, in these cases, symptoms of food poisoning are also observed (nausea, vomiting, loose stools, etc.).

Among the medications that lead to the lightening of feces are the following:

1. Medicines containing calcium - for example, calcium gluconate.
2. Antacids are indicated for the treatment of acid-related diseases of the stomach and intestines. They also contain calcium, which is why the stool may appear light-colored.
3. Consolidating medications.
4. Antibiotics.
5. Medicines used in the treatment of gout and tuberculosis.
6. Anticonvulsants.
7. Oral contraceptives.
8. Paracetamol (in case of significant overdose).
9. Barium sulfate, which is used as a contrast agent when performing x-rays (for example, when diagnosing stomach diseases).

If, after stopping the use of these drugs, the color of the stool became normal, then these drugs were indeed the cause. However, temporary termination of the course of treatment is allowed only after agreement with the attending physician - for example, stopping taking anticonvulsants without permission can lead to complications of a chronic disease.

What to pay attention to

However, the occurrence of such problems is often associated with physiological disorders - certain diseases of the digestive system and complications. They are always accompanied by additional symptoms, for example:

1. Signs of poisoning (nausea, vomiting, etc.).
2. Accumulation of gases, bloating.
3. Stab in the intestines and stomach.
4. Loss of appetite, digestive disorders.
5. General weakness, malaise, increased fatigue for no apparent reason, dizziness.
6. Temperature fluctuations, sweating.
7. Darkening of urine.
8. Feverish conditions.

Such phenomena indicate the development of pathological processes in the body, therefore, if any of the symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo diagnostics.

Diseases leading to lightening of stool

Depending on the specific symptoms, we can talk about the development of one or another pathology. Since the brown tints of stool occur due to bilirubin (a substance that is part of bile), any disturbances associated with the functioning of the liver and gallbladder can lead to lightening of the stool. The most common cases are discussed below.

Disease	Image	Description and symptoms
		Inflammatory processes of the liver, provoked by various viruses; the symptoms sometimes resemble the flu, and the person also experiences unnatural yellowing of the skin, body aches and general malaise
		A complication of gallstone pathology, due to which inflammatory processes develop in the gallbladder, pain appears in the right side (sharp or dull), signs of poisoning
		Inflammatory processes in the tissues of the pancreas caused by poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption; accompanied by sharp pain, often with fever and signs of poisoning
		Violation of the production of enzymes by the pancreas, as a result of which there is a significant deterioration in digestive processes; symptoms resemble poisoning
		This is a group of diseases in which there is damage to the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines - for example, intestinal flu, Crohn's disease, etc.
		They can form in different parts and give symptoms of general malaise and pain; require prompt consultation with a doctor, since in the first stages of development they do not give pronounced symptoms

Note! Diagnosis of diseases at home is impossible. In each case, it is necessary to consult a doctor as quickly as possible, who can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

Light color combined with other shades

Sometimes an adult experiences not only lightening of the stool, but also other shades (yellow, gray, green). Often this can be caused by dietary patterns (for example, vegetarianism can lead to a light green coloration). However, in some cases, such phenomena indicate the presence of a disease. The most common shade options are described in the table.

Color	Image	Description
		Excessive intake of dairy products, foods of plant origin, as well as diseases of the liver, pancreas and gall bladder, including malignant tumors
		Excessive intake of vegetables, herbs, as well as dysentery, dysbacteriosis
		Insufficient secretion of enzymes produced by the pancreas (enzymeopathy), dysfunction of the liver and gallbladder
		Abuse of fatty foods, oral contraceptives, some antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Note! If the lightening of stool is accompanied by an unpleasant odor that has never been observed before, this clearly indicates a pathology of the liver, pancreas or other organs of the digestive system.

Diagnosis and treatment

Regardless of the specific symptoms and duration of the disorder, the patient should consult a gastroenterologist. The doctor analyzes the patient’s complaints and analyzes his medical history. It is important to try to clearly answer several questions:

• how long have you had light-colored stools?
• are there any complaints of general malaise;
• what medications are taken constantly (or was there a one-time dose of medication, after which the feces became lightened);
• Are there any other symptoms (nausea, pressure surges, pain, etc.).

The doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis, after which the patient is indicated for diagnostic procedures. A general blood test and urine test are usually performed. If serious pathologies are suspected, an examination is prescribed using instrumental methods:

• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• CT scan.

Treatment is carried out in strict accordance with the diagnosis. As a rule, cases of stool lightening are not associated with any severe disorders of the digestive system. It’s enough just to adjust your diet and give up bad habits. Typically, the doctor recommends using the following remedies:

1. Activated carbon.
2. "Imodium."
3. "Smecta".

The course of treatment with these drugs in most cases lasts no more than a week.

If the appearance of light-colored feces is observed for the first time and is not accompanied by other symptoms, this certainly indicates that the cause is related to poor nutrition - an excess of certain foods or consumption of poor-quality food, alcohol abuse. In these cases, doctors recommend adjusting your usual diet - here are some simple tips:

Thus, the reasons for the appearance of light-colored stool may not be related to any specific disease. Lightening of feces occurs due to poor nutrition and taking certain medications. Therefore, as a result of lifestyle correction, this disorder quickly disappears. However, if this is not the first time such a phenomenon occurs, continues for a long time and is accompanied by other symptoms, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible - there is a high probability that a pathology of the digestive system has begun to develop.

Video - 3 chair colors

An adult should not panic when white feces suddenly appear. At the same time, such a phenomenon cannot be left without due attention.

The reasons why feces change color vary. Medical practice shows that first of all it is necessary to conduct a liver study.

White or light gray feces also appear in some intestinal pathologies.

Reasons for appearance

The digestive system of an adult is capable of functioning under extreme stress.

Alcohol, fatty foods and spicy seasonings are absorbed by the body, converted into feces and excreted. White mucus in the stool of an adult may be present in small doses.

This is quite normal. Mucus is produced in the large intestine and is intended to provide gentle transportation of food processed into feces.

In this case, the mucous membrane of the colon is not injured. The usual color of stool is formed under the influence of bilirubin, which is one of the components of bile.

White feces appear when the transit of bile from the gallbladder to the intestines is disrupted. This is the first sign of a developing pathology.

Feces take on a white color in the following diseases:

• acute pancreatitis;
• cholelithiasis;
• pancreatic or gallbladder cancer.

There is no need to talk about the seriousness of the listed diseases. If after two or three days the normal color of the stool has not been restored, then you should immediately contact your local physician and undergo a comprehensive examination.

White plaque on the stool may indicate the formation of fistulas in the walls of the rectum.

Stool becomes noticeably discolored as a result of long-term use of potent medications. The list of such drugs includes antibiotics, antifungals and even the well-known aspirin.

Excessive use of medications, without proper supervision by the attending physician, over time leads to the fact that the stool becomes white.

Sometimes this happens when fatty foods such as sour cream and lard are included in the diet. An adult should pay attention to his own well-being.

If the stool turns white for no apparent reason, then perhaps the liver or pancreas has become depressed.

No specific norms or restrictions on the color of stool have been developed on a scientific basis.

Factors that determine the consistency and color of human feces:

• products present in the daily diet;
• rhythm of life;
• the presence of chronic diseases of the digestive system.

Typically, stool is yellow-brown or light brown in color. Single inclusions in stool that have a white or grayish tint may appear randomly - this is not a cause for concern.

But if white specks are regularly present in the stool, then the person should contact their physician. In case of diseases of the digestive system, stool is first taken for analysis.

Characteristic symptoms

Stool examinations are performed to diagnose diseases of various profiles. White fibers in stool can appear when the acidity of gastric juice is low, most often in cases where the daily diet is rich in plant foods.

When, simultaneously with white feces, the patient experiences pain in the right side or girdle pain, there is a high probability of acute pancreatitis.

Similar signs, with the appearance of white particles in the stool, are characteristic of the chronic form of this pathology. Any disease of the pancreas causes a large number of pathologies in different body systems.

Severe illnesses often develop in the first stages without visible symptoms. It would be more accurate to say that the symptoms are present, but the patient does not pay due attention to them.

Regular discharge of white feces interspersed with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting may indicate the development of an oncological process in the liver or pancreas. In this case, unexpected intolerance to certain foods occurs.

Fibrous white feces appear as a result of incomplete digestion of eaten foods. Most often, this means that the digestive system is not functioning properly.

Feces with white mucus and a simultaneous increase in body temperature are considered clear signs of an intestinal infection.

Why stool turns white can be found out by performing a comprehensive examination of the body.

A large number of people are infected with helminths, and many are not even aware of their infection. Although infectious disease specialists and therapists never tire of reminding that it is necessary to conduct a stool test if feces with a white tint appear.

An adult should make it a habit to analyze stool, both his own and that of his child.

When white stool of normal consistency appears and at the same time urine becomes dark, experts regard this as a symptom of hepatitis or cholecystitis. The presence of these diseases is confirmed by a comprehensive examination of the body.

When examining white balls that suddenly appear in the stool, you need to know that these may be the remains of undigested food, usually fresh vegetables and herbs.

If after two or three days the balls are still observed in the stool, then it is advisable to visit your personal doctor.

Diagnosis and treatment

To effectively and quickly treat any disease, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence. White excrement is found in adults and children.

If the color of stool does not change when avoiding fatty foods, the doctor will prescribe a biochemical blood test.

Based on the results of the analysis, the presence of gastritis or cholecystitis is determined. To clarify the diagnosis, the patient is examined using an ultrasound machine.

It happens that white streaks in feces appear due to an unbalanced diet. In this case, there is no need for drug treatment. It is enough to change the daily menu.

Treatment with medications

Each of the numerous liver diseases is treated according to an appropriate strategy. Stool with a white coating appears as a result of blockage of the bile ducts or during an exacerbation of one of the forms of hepatitis.

Based on the results of the analysis, the attending physician prescribes appropriate medications and procedures to treat the pathology. The most commonly used are antiviral drugs that stimulate the strengthening of the immune system.

If there is a large accumulation of stones in the gall bladder, treatment is carried out surgically. In severe cases of pathology, the gallbladder is removed.

White spots in the stool are formed as a result of the active activity of fungi that disrupt the bacterial balance in the intestines.

After completion of treatment, the regimen involves a recovery period when the patient must follow a strict diet.

Treatment with traditional methods

The arsenal of folk methods for treating pathologies of the liver and gastrointestinal tract has accumulated a large number of recipes. When an adult has white or grayish stool, you can always choose a suitable remedy for treatment from a set of natural remedies.

It should be noted that many herbs and roots that are used to prepare medicinal potions grow in the garden or summer cottage.

For those who choose medicines based on natural raw materials, it is very important to prepare them correctly.

If a patient suffering from white feces caused by liver disease does not have the proper experience, then you can use herbal remedies from the pharmacy.

The practice of recent years shows that decoctions and tinctures prepared from such collections have an effective therapeutic effect.

The flowers of the sandy immortelle are considered one of the strong choleretic agents. Calendula and chamomile also have similar properties.

Prevention measures

Every adult should learn that if white stool appears, you need to schedule a visit to the doctor. A white film on feces is also a warning sign.

To avoid serious troubles and long-term treatment, you need to care for and protect your body.

First of all, it is necessary to adhere to a balanced diet - a diet that does not overload the liver. This means that the consumption of alcohol, spicy snacks and fatty foods should be kept to a minimum.

Another important point that many do not pay attention to is that bowel movements should be performed regularly, preferably in the morning. You should always pay attention to the color of stool.

White or light gray feces may appear within two to three days after a big holiday, when the body is cleansing itself of excesses. In normal times, the color of stool should be normal.

To ensure defecation occurs without excessive strain, it is recommended to do light exercise.

Discoloration of discharge is a symptom of insufficient production of digestive enzymes by the liver and pancreas. The condition may develop due to a pathological process or be the result of taking certain foods or medications. Light-colored stool in an adult requires examination and search for the causes of clinical symptoms.

What affects the color of stool

The color of feces can change when certain types of food and medicine are consumed.

Products

A change in the color of excrement in an adult results from long-term, 2-3 days, consumption of exclusively fatty foods. And this is with a deficiency of other substances necessary for the body (proteins, carbohydrates). Products that cause this phenomenon include:

• oil;
• cream;
• sour cream;
• milk;
• salo.

Discoloration in this case is not total. The stool is light or light yellow, but not white. This phenomenon is not considered pathological if there is no clinical picture of the disease. The volume of feces should not exceed 150–500 grams in 24 hours. It is necessary that they maintain a solid consistency. Liquid feces are evidence of pathology.

In early childhood and in infants, stool is normally light in color. This is facilitated by the nature of the baby’s diet (diluted fatty substances) and the functioning of the digestive system (insufficient production of stercobilin, a bile pigment that colors excrement dark).

The presence of discolored masses in the absence of signs of disease does not require treatment. The normal color of stool in adults returns two days after switching to a nutritious diet. In children, the phenomenon disappears as the gastrointestinal tract stabilizes and switches to solid food.

In practice, discolored feces are a sign of gastrointestinal disease. The phenomenon is extremely rarely of nutritional origin.

Medicines

The symptoms in question are caused by taking certain medications. These include antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and antifungal drugs. The phenomenon is caused by the development of dysbiosis, the cause of which is an imbalance of pathogenic and normal intestinal microflora.

The pathology is the presence of light or white lumps inside the stool against the background of diarrhea and dyspeptic syndrome (abdominal pain, bloating). To prevent intestinal dysfunction, a patient receiving antibiotic therapy is prescribed:

• Probiotics (Bifidumbacterin 2 sachets twice a day).
• Synbiotics (Maxilak 1 capsule daily).

A change in the color of stool to normal occurs within a few days after stopping antibacterial treatment, even without restorative therapy. Taking products containing intestinal microorganisms accelerates the normalization of stool, however, this is not a necessary condition. Prophylactic intake of probiotics is recommended from the very beginning of antimicrobial supervision, before the appearance of symptoms of dysbiosis.

Possible diseases

The reasons for light-colored stool can be life-threatening. Pancreatitis, diabetes, hepatitis, cholecystitis, and oncological processes lead to the development of this symptom. In addition, clarification of excrement occurs during fermentative dyspepsia, dysbacteriosis, and intestinal infections.

Depigmentation sometimes occurs in pregnant women. The reason for this is mechanical compression of the abdominal organs by the enlarged uterus.

The pancreas is one of the structures responsible for the production of digestive enzymes. Its inflammation leads to a decrease in the secretion of pancreatic juice and incomplete breakdown of food entering the duodenum. In addition, swelling and compression of the efferent ducts are the cause of impaired exit of bile from the bladder. In this case, the feces become light or colorless. The shade depends on the level of blockage of the excretory ducts.

The color of stool itself is not a diagnostic sign. With pancreatitis, the stool is loose and unformed. There is a large amount of fat (steatorrhea), fiber, and undigested food particles. Foaming of excrement may occur. The masses are poorly washed off with water and smell unpleasant.

In addition to assessing the characteristics of the stool, the overall clinical picture is also important. The patient complains of acute, stabbing pain behind the sternum or in the upper abdomen, vomiting, nausea, and dyspeptic symptoms. On ultrasound, the gland is swollen and enlarged. Foci of necrosis may be detected.

Therapy for such conditions is carried out in a hospital setting. The patient is prescribed analgesics, antispasmodics, enzymes, and a therapeutic diet. A person notices the return of the properties of feces to normal after the clinical manifestations of the disease subside.

Dysbacteriosis, intestinal infection

Food poisoning, a disorder of viral or bacterial etiology can discolor stool. In this case, the patient shows signs of dyspepsia and general intoxication (hyperthermia, headaches, myalgia). The disease is manifested by the appearance of lumps in the excrement, the color of which varies from white to light gray and yellowish. The stool of such patients is liquid, sometimes mixed with blood and mucus. The shade of the main volume of discharge is greenish, marshy.

Complete depigmentation does not occur in infectious intestinal diseases. This is only possible if the organs of the hepatobiliary system are involved in the process, in particular the liver, gallbladder or pancreas. Otherwise, the outflow of bile is not disrupted and a lack of stercobilin does not occur.

Treatment of intestinal infections depends on the severity of their course. The patient is prescribed probiotics and diet. Complex gastroenteritis is an indication for the use of antibiotics and infusion detoxification. The color of the stool returns to normal after the cause of the malfunction is eliminated.

Diabetes

More often, diabetes does not lead to the appearance of light-colored stool. The exception is cases of combined damage to the endocrine and exocrine parts of the gland. In this case, the lightening of excrement is a consequence of insufficient secretion of pancreatic juice. Direct dysfunction of the islets of Langerhans cannot be the cause of the phenomenon under consideration. Since the insulin secreted by them is involved in the digestive process already at the stage of simple carbohydrates entering the blood.

Inflammation of the liver parenchyma is the main cause of discoloration of the discharge. The patient has light yellow stool. In severe cases, complete loss of pigmentation occurs. The excrement has a pungent odor, a greasy consistency, and a mushy appearance. The diagnosis is made based on the general clinical picture, where the following symptoms predominate:

• Pain in the right hypochondrium.
• Urine “the color of dark beer.”
• Hepatomegaly (increase in liver size).
• High levels of bilirubin and liver enzymes.
• Yellow coloration of the sclera of the eyes and skin.

The stool acquires a normal brown color after the inflammatory process subsides. When treating hepatitis the following are used:

• Hepatoprotectors.
• Enterosorbents.
• Vitamins.
• Immunomodulators.
• Choleretic agents.
• Detoxification solutions.

Such therapy can reduce swelling of the hepatic parenchyma, accelerate tissue regeneration, and stop the phenomena of sensitization and dyspepsia. Processes of infectious origin require specialized etiotropic therapy with interferons.

Until recently, viral hepatitis B and C were considered an incurable chronic disease. Now there are drugs that can destroy the pathogen. The accumulated experience of therapy shows the effectiveness of the developed methods. Jaundice of infectious origin is no longer a death sentence.

Cholecystitis

Liquid stool due to inflammation of the bladder is caused by insufficient flow of bile into the intestines. The pathogenesis is similar to that of pancreatitis. The disease is caused by a functional disorder of the bladder, the presence of stones, and disturbances in the functioning of the outlet sphincters. The excrement becomes completely or partially discolored.

When generalized obstruction of the orifice of the duct by a stone occurs, the discharge becomes white. Yellow or beige color indicates insufficient, but not completely absent, supply of enzymes to the intestines.

Elimination of pathological symptoms is possible only after eliminating its causes. Relief of dyskinesia is carried out using choleretic drugs and a therapeutic diet. The presence of stones in the bladder is an indication for surgery. The affected organ is removed, the lack of enzymes is compensated with the help of medications (Creon, Pancreatin).

Fermentative dyspepsia

Another reason why stool may become discolored is dyspepsia. The disease is caused by a decrease in the concentration of pancreatic amylase and the secretion of gastric juice. All this leads to stagnation of food in the intestines and the beginning of fermentation processes. The released gases inflate the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, which enhances its peristalsis.

The symptom in question is a consequence of the reabsorption of toxic substances formed in the intestinal lumen. Toxins lead to intoxication of the pancreas and further suppression of it. In addition, endogenous poisons negatively affect the bile-forming function of the liver.

Feces with fermentative dyspepsia are never completely white. They only slightly change the shade towards the lighter side. Treatment of the disease is carried out using diet number 4A. In severe cases, adsorbents, carminatives, astringents, and antispasmodics are used. The stool returns to normal after 3–4 days, when acute manifestations subside.

In this video, Elena Malysheva talks about feces and symptoms of diseases.

Oncology

Changes in the color of excrement during tumor processes of the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder have the same pathogenetic mechanisms as with pancreatitis, hepatitis and cholecystitis. The basis of the disorders is the complete or partial cessation of the outflow of bile. The nature of feces depends on the degree of destruction of the affected organ and its residual functionality.

Treatment of such processes is carried out by an oncologist. In most cases, obstructive jaundice is an indication for emergency surgery. Inoperable tumors are a reason for chemotherapy and the use of radioknife technology. Normalization of bowel movements is observed after restoration of the patency of the biliary tract.

Accurate diagnosis

Differential recognition of the disease is only possible using imaging techniques. The latter include ultrasound, CT, MRI, and radiography. An auxiliary method is a blood test for tumor markers, general, biochemical, to determine the acid-base environment. In the presence of organic pathology, the diseased structure may appear swollen and enlarged. In case of functional disorders, there are no visually noticeable changes. In such a situation, the diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory examinations and samples.

Light-colored stool in a child

In children, depigmentation of discharge is caused by the same diseases as in adults, with gluten intolerance (celiac disease). In addition, the phenomenon normally occurs in the first days of life, when the intestines and digestive system of the newborn are not yet fully able to cope with their function. The stool returns to normal within 3–5 days. The cause of depigmentation of discharge may be an error in the diet of the nursing mother or in the diet of the child himself.

Doctor's report

The appearance of discolored stool does not always mean the presence of a disease, however, the likelihood of this is very high. The symptom occurs with severe lesions of the hepatobiliary system, which are often life-threatening. If there are changes in the color characteristics of the stool in combination with signs of damage to the digestive tract, you should consult a doctor to diagnose and treat the existing pathology.

Light-colored feces on a bright sunny day are not a good sign. It's different with poop. Their normal color ranges from brown to tan. If you notice that your feces have become light in color - discolored, gray or white, then you should think about it. This phenomenon is not normal and it is possible that the lightening of stool was affected by negative changes in the functioning of your body. With the help of poop, the body can give us signals and tell us about any deviations in its work, asking you to help it. Therefore, let's learn to understand what our body is saying when the poop takes on a light color - white or gray.

What affects the change in the color of stool to white or gray - the reasons for its discoloration

An element such as stercobilin is responsible for the color of stool; it is the end product of the breakdown of bilirubin. Stercobilin colors stool brown. Therefore, light-colored feces indicate a lack of stercobilin. You can read more about the process of coloring excrement and the color variations it can take in the article about.

Now let's find out what may be associated with a lack of coloring pigment.

White feces as a result of gallbladder dysfunction

One of the most common causes of white stool is blockage of the gallbladder ducts. Stercobilin is a bile pigment and, due to the difficulty of its transportation, feces become discolored, becoming white, gray or clay-colored. Other symptoms may indicate problems with bile transport, the most obvious being yellowing of the eyes and skin. Blockage of the bile ducts can occur due to tumors or the formation of stones. Stones, in turn, are very dangerous, since the bile duct connects to the pancreatic duct, which will lead to disruption of its secretions.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

Gallstones form due to poor nutrition or frequent fasting. The gallbladder requires regular contractions, which occur during meals. When the gallbladder contracts, it releases bile into the intestines to break down fats. During fasting, there is no contraction and, accordingly, no release of bile, which leads to the formation of stones!

When the pancreatic ducts are blocked, its juices will begin to corrode its own tissues, which will further contribute to the leakage of pancreatic juice, which in turn will begin to break down the body from the inside and can be fatal. Therefore, white feces is one of the signs of the need for an urgent medical examination.

Light-colored stool as a symptom of liver dysfunction

The liver plays one of the main roles in digestion. It is in it that bile acids are formed, which then accumulate in the gallbladder. This is not the only process occurring in the liver that causes the stool to change color to gray or white. A lot of different processes and metabolisms of various kinds of substances occur in the liver. In particular, the metabolism of bilirubin, during the breakdown of which the coloring pigment stercobilin is formed. Various types of liver dysfunction can also appear as white feces.

Other causes of white stool in adults

White feces can be caused not only by the reasons described above; the microflora of the intestine itself can affect the change in the color of poop. Light-colored feces occur when bile pigments do not interact properly due to changes in intestinal microflora.

The microflora, in turn, may change for the following reasons:

• Use of any medications that contribute to intestinal dysbiosis. This phenomenon most often occurs while taking antibiotics.
• Perhaps you have recently experienced severe stress, which could contribute to changes in the intestines that cause lightening of the stool.
• A sudden change in diet or poor nutrition also leads to intestinal dysfunction. This is a stressful situation for the body. Therefore, this factor can be attributed to the above. Most often, this factor influences the change in color of stool to gray in children when changing their diet.

The above-mentioned reasons for changes in intestinal microflora most often cause white feces.

If your feces have changed color to white, gray or clayey and this is accompanied by other changes in your body, for example, nausea, sudden changes in temperature, pain in the liver, yellowing of the eyes or skin, then most likely the cause of the white feces is a malfunction liver and gall bladder. In such cases, you should not self-medicate. Problems with these organs can lead to serious consequences, including death. And incorrect self-treatment will only negatively affect the situation and instead of providing treatment, you only finish off your organs. Our body is an integral system, everything in it is interconnected. And if some organ fails, perhaps the source of the problem is in a completely different place. To identify the cause, it is necessary to undergo a series of tests and conduct an examination; this cannot be done at home.

Causes of light-colored stool in pregnant women and children

Before a child can be born, it must be conceived and then carried to term. So let's start with pregnant women first and then move on to children.

In pregnant women, gray feces can be observed due to the consumption of large amounts of fruits and all kinds of vitamin complexes. A child needs a lot of vitamins. If this is not accompanied by abdominal pain and other types of ailments, then most likely there is no cause for concern. When changing the diet, the color of feces should normalize. But it is better to consult a doctor.

Newborn babies may also experience abnormal stool color. Infants' poop may contain white specks. These inclusions are nothing more than lumps of fat from the mother's breast milk. Also, when fed heavily with formula milk, baby shit can take on a light color. Diet adjustments are necessary to normalize the color of the newborn's stool. But do not lose your vigilance, carefully monitor your child’s behavior and possible changes in mood; perhaps something hurts him. In this case, the cause of light-colored poop is no longer food, but something else. In any case, it is better to play it safe and consult your pediatrician.

So the couple came to take stock. Know that you need to regularly check what you got there when you go to the toilet for the most part. What if there is a message or distress signal there for you? In some cases, changes noticed in time will play a significant role in treatment. Be attentive to all changes in your body; it has its own alphabet to communicate with you, and sometimes its letters are poop.

And remember, he will always be glad to see you and will gladly come to your aid in any life situation. We wish you healthy feces and excellent digestion and appetite!

Relief!

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Doctors call discolored feces acholic. When discolored, the consistency of feces changes - feces become shapeless, clayey, similar to window putty.

What does this symptom mean and what needs to be done urgently if the stool of a child or adult becomes discolored?

Formation of discolored stool

The pigment that gives stool its color is mainly bilirubin. Together with bile acids, it breaks down proteins that contain hemoglobin and other hemes.

Bilirubin is brown, so it colors feces. There is no pure bilirubin in feces, since in the intestines it turns into another brown pigment - stercobilin.

If little bile enters the intestines, the stool is not colored. Food remains are excreted undigested and uncolored, that is, the feces become acholic.

Young children (up to two months of age) fed only formula or breast milk may produce light yellow or whitish stool due to insufficient enzyme production.

This should not alarm parents, since discolored feces at this age are considered a physiological norm.

Acholic stools are not always associated with a lack of bilirubin. Diet can affect the color of stool.

Discolored feces appear after consuming homemade sour cream, butter, and animal fats.

Due to their high fat content, such products cannot be completely digested and enter the large intestine unchanged, partially discoloring the feces.

This phenomenon is not dangerous to health. After a few days, the color of the discolored feces will be restored. The person does not experience any unpleasant symptoms and feels completely healthy.

To determine what exactly made the feces discolored in an adult - diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or dietary features, you need to monitor whether there is a connection between the color of feces and nutrition and how often discolored feces appear.

Isolated cases of discolored stool in an adult are more likely to indicate an excess of fatty foods, chocolate or alcohol in the diet than to health problems.

In order for stool to stop being discolored, it is enough to adjust your eating habits. It is useful to exclude alcohol and dishes prepared by frying from the menu - this will facilitate the work of the liver and pancreas, and the production of bile will be restored.

Some medications can cause discolored stool.

These include:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• oral contraceptives;
• aspirin;
• antifungal tablets;
• drugs to get rid of tuberculosis.

The listed groups of medications do not directly discolor stool - they affect the functioning of the liver.

If, during treatment with the above drugs, discolored feces appear, then you must inform your doctor about this. You may need to immediately check the condition of your liver and adjust your treatment.

Diseases of the digestive organs

A common cause of discolored stool is inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Feces with pancreatitis are liquid, mushy, they contain a large amount of unprocessed fats, since the body does not have enough enzymes to process them.

The color of stool can be described as pearlescent or dirty gray. Simultaneously with the change in the color of the stool, the temperature rises, pain in the hypochondrium, dizziness, and vomiting begin.

The pain may be tingling in nature. Taking painkillers does not improve the condition.

Acute pancreatitis is a serious illness with the possibility of death. The chronic form is less severe.

Feces in chronic pancreatitis have a characteristic odor and gray color and are difficult to flush down the toilet. A dull pain appears in the hypochondrium, and the temperature may rise.

Another reason why stool may become discolored is cholecystitis. This is the name for inflammation of the gallbladder, an organ in which bile produced in the liver accumulates before being released into the intestines.

With cholecystitis, a large amount of fat and nitrogenous products are found in the stool, leading to a change in its color to light, sometimes whitish.

Symptoms of gallbladder inflammation:

• stool discoloration;
• pain in the right hypochondrium that occurs after eating spicy or fatty foods or drinking alcohol;
• constant nausea;
• bitter or metallic taste in the mouth;
• irritability, insomnia;
• white coating on the tongue, dry mouth.

Cholecystitis can occur in acute and chronic forms - the color of stool changes in both cases. In case of acute cholecystitis, the patient needs urgent surgery. The chronic form is treated conservatively: with medications and diet.

Discoloration of stool due to cholelithiasis

Another common disease of the gallbladder - cholelithiasis - can lead to the appearance of discolored stool.

With this disease, undigested fat is found in the coprogram, which gives the feces a light yellow color.

Light-colored stool means that due to a blockage in the bile duct, bile does not flow into the intestines in sufficient quantities.

A typical symptom of cholelithiasis is biliary colic. The patient (usually in the evening or at night) has a slight rise in temperature, the skin and mucous membranes turn yellow, and diarrhea and vomiting begin.

After an injection of an antispasmodic, the spasm ends and the state of health improves. With a mild form of cholelithiasis, attacks of biliary colic are observed 1–5 times a year, with a moderate form - once a month. In severe cases, the stomach hurts constantly, the stool is liquid and discolored.

To diagnose cholelithiasis, it is necessary to do a stool and blood test, perform an ultrasound examination or tomography of the liver and gall bladder. GSD is a disease in which it is very important to be able to prevent colic.

To prevent attacks, a special diet and medications are used to dissolve cholesterol stones.

It is very important for people with gallstones to monitor the color of their stool. If you notice discoloration of feces (usually this phenomenon is accompanied by soreness under the ribs on the right side), you should immediately go on a strict diet. Nutritionists recommend using diet No. 5 to prevent exacerbations of cholelithiasis.

Inflammatory liver diseases

Has your stool become discolored and your urine dark? Most likely, these are symptoms of hepatitis - a dangerous viral disease.

Depending on the type of virus, hepatitis A, B and C are distinguished. In recent years, other types of the virus have been identified.

Lightening of stool is observed with any type of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis A can be contracted through water and food. Hepatitis B is transmitted only through blood.

Its most dangerous complication is cirrhosis of the liver, which develops in 10% of patients. Hepatitis C proceeds in the same way as the previous form, but is much easier to tolerate.

The Delta form of hepatitis is the most dangerous and appears only simultaneously with form B. Due to the doubled viral load, the liver quickly fails.

With any type of viral hepatitis, three typical signs are observed:

• discolored feces;
• dark urine;
• yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes and eyeballs.

With viral hepatitis, viruses that cause the disease are found in feces. The feces not only become discolored, but also acquire a characteristic odor, which is an additional symptom.

Chronic viral hepatitis is dangerous because it may not show pronounced symptoms, such as high fever, abdominal pain or loose stools, for years.

Defecation with discolored feces is often the first, and sometimes the only signal that makes you suspect liver inflammation and start treatment on time. Timely measures taken will help avoid cirrhosis and sometimes cancer.

So, discoloration of stool can be a symptom of diseases of the liver, pancreas or gall bladder.

If the tests do not reveal any pathologies, then you just need to change your diet, and the color of the stool will be restored.