Common Causes
The fattier the food, the more likely it is to produce pale or clay-colored stool. That’s why the first time you notice pale or clay-colored, in the absence of any other symptoms, it’s usually safe to wait and see if the next one returns to normal before calling a doctor. (Don’t miss these 12 tips for choosing the best primary care physician .)
Related Conditions
There are some medications that can cause clay-colored stool, such as:
- Isoniazid- used for treating tuberculosis
- Bismuth salicylate- used for treating heartburn, indigestion, nausea and diarrhea. ...
- Kaolin- natural clay used for treating diarrhea
- Barium sulfate-used as a contrast substance for detecting various digestive tract disorders with X-ray [4,7].
Can clay colored stool go away on its own?
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- bloody or cloudy urine
- bloody, black, or tarry stools
- body aches or pain
- burning while urinating
- chest pain
- chills
- congestion
- cough increased
What causes light clay colored stools?
Some of the causes are:
- a milk-only diet
- barium sulfate from barium enema
- antacids
- blocked bile ducts or liver disease
What causes clay colored stool after taking azithromycin?
What causes light tan colored stools?
What does clay colored poop look like?
Gray or Clay-Colored Stool The stool can be gray or clay-colored if it contains little or no bile. The pale color may signify a condition (biliary obstruction) where the flow of bile to the intestine is obstructed, such as obstruction of the bile duct from a tumor or gallstone in the duct or nearby pancreas.
When should I worry about clay colored stools?
Having pale stools once in a while may not be a cause for concern. If it occurs frequently, you may have a serious illness. You should see your doctor whenever you have pale or clay-colored stools in order to rule out illness and disease.
Is Clay colored stool an emergency?
White stool isn't normal and should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. White or clay-like stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem.
What Colour is clay Colour?
So when a reputable medical site lists “clay colored” as a description for bowel movements, this actually refers to a light grey appearance.
What color is your stool if you have liver problems?
Considerations. The liver releases bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. You may have clay-colored stools if you have a liver infection that reduces bile production, or if the flow of bile out of the liver is blocked. Yellow skin (jaundice) often occurs with clay-colored stools.
Is peanut butter colored poop normal?
Stools should be brown, have a peanut-butter texture, and look like a sausage. If you have abnormal colors, it may be due to something you ingested. But it may also be due to serious illness. If it's abnormal once, it's likely nothing to worry about.
What foods cause clay colored stool?
Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash are among the many foods that contain this pigment. However, blocked bile ducts or certain medications including some antacids and the antibiotic rifampin can cause orange poop.
Can IBS cause clay colored stool?
Orange stools may be due to medications or diet, but may also be caused by a lack of bile or the malabsorption of bile due to IBS. Clay-colored stools are often a sign of hepatitis or pancreatic disease.
Can anxiety cause pale stools?
Anxiety does not specifically affect the color of stool, but it can affect how food moves through the digestive tract.
What color is clay poop?
Clay-colored or white stools (pale stools) Light-colored or clay-colored stools are often seen with diseases of the liver or bile ducts. The pale stool may be caused by pancreatic cancer that blocks the bile ducts. Lack of bile causes stool to lose its brown color and leaves it appearing pale.
What color is stool with pancreatitis?
Disorders that affect the pancreas Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, a blockage in the pancreatic duct, or cystic fibrosis can also turn your stool yellow. These conditions prevent your pancreas from providing enough of the enzymes your intestines need to digest food.
Why is my poop like clay texture?
If you have a white or clay coloured poop, go to a doctor immediately! This is not a normal or healthy colour for poops. This colour is caused by a lack of bile excreted by the liver and is usually an indication of a more serious underlying issue. This could mean anything from a blocked bile duct to liver disease.
Why is my stool yellowish?
Clay colored stool can occur due to a variety of causes that affect bile function, including insufficient drainage of bile from liver or the biliary system , low bile production by liver , and blockages in the bile ducts , etc. A temporary case of clay colored stool can be overlooked, but chronic cases need to be checked by a doctor for underlying causative diseases.
What are the symptoms of bile ducts?
Patients may experience symptoms like clay colored stool, jaundice, vomiting, itchiness, nausea, chills, fever, and pain in upper right abdomen. The condition can be treated via stenting or other surgeries that widen the bile ducts and allow the free passage of bile to the intestines. Biliary system structural defects: The biliary system is made up ...
What are the structural defects of the biliary system?
Biliary system structural defects: The biliary system is made up of organs like the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. Any kind of congenital structural defects of this system can adversely affect the free passage of bile and cause clay colored stool and other problems. The defects can be repaired via surgery.
Can a doctor check for clay colored stool?
A temporary case of clay colored stool can be overlooked, but chronic cases need to be checked by a doctor for underlying causative diseases. Treatment of clay colored stool is dependent on effective diagnosis of the underlying condition that is causing the abnormal feces and then curing it as per standard medical procedures.
Is biliary cirrhosis asymptomatic?
Biliary cirrhosis is usually asymptomatic, but some patients may elicit clay colored stool, dry eyes and mouth, fatigue, jaundice, itching skin, muscle or bone pain, abdominal pain, osteoporosis, elevated cholesterol, and swollen feet and ankles. Doctors are not aware of the exact cause and no cure has been found as yet.
Can gallstones cause pain in the back?
Gallstones do not cause any symptoms. Some patients may suffer from gallbladder inflammation, clay colored stool, and pain in the back, abdomen, and/or right shoulder. Gallstones can sometimes be dissolved with medications. If issue persists, or in case of excessively large gallstones, doctors may suggest surgical removal of the stones.
What does it mean when your stools are clay colored?
There’s a lot of misinterpretation as to what “clay colored” refers to, even though “clay colored stools” is commonly listed as a symptom for disease, including liver problems. Definition of Clay Colored Stools.
Why do my stools turn grey?
This is what “clay colored” stools look like. In addition to alcoholic liver disease, here are other causes of this light grey appearance, according to nlm.nih.gov, in no particular order: biliary cirrhosis; benign or malignant tumors of the liver, biliary system or pancreas; bile duct cysts; narrowing of the bile ducts;
What color is moist clay?
Fresh moist clay that you dig up in the ground appears to be a combination of tan/brown and grey, similar to the moist clay that a sculptor works with.
Why do I have a clay odor in my stool?
For instance, some anti-inflammatories can cause clay-colored stool. Antibiotics, anabolic steroids, and some birth control pills have also been known to cause clay-colored stool.
What color is my poop?
The color of your stool may seem irrelevant. However, clay-colored or pale stool can be a cause for concern. Some people who experience pale stool ignore it, thinking there is nothing they can do about it. Normal looking stools are various shades of brown, and this is normally a result of a healthy diet. Clay-colored stools are pale, white, ...
Why does pale stool turn yellow?
Complications resulting from untreated pale stool is jaundice because there is a build-up of bile in the body which makes the skin appear yellowish. Jaundice is also a symptom of liver disease and so it’s highly important you see your doctor if you notice color changes of your skin and the whites of your eyes.
Why is my stool brown?
The term for this is “acholic” and it is usually a result of lack of bile. Bile salts are released into stool by the liver and give them their brown color. When the liver is not producing enough bile, or when the flow of the bile is blocked, stools become clay-colored. Pale-colored stool in adults is no reason for alarm if it only happens once in ...
What are the symptoms of a bile duct cyst?
Symptoms include jaundice, loss of appetite, itching, fever, and pain on the right side. Cysts – Cysts on the bile ducts can prevent the flow of bile. Symptoms include jaundice and a mass in the upper right side of the stomach.
Why is my stool light colored?
For example, a barium enema—which is a special X-ray test of the large intestine—can be conducted to help uncover disease affecting the intestine. The inability to absorb fat properly may lead to the light-colored stool. The term for this is “acholic” and it is usually a result of lack of bile.
Do you have to rush off if you have a clay stool?
When you have a clay-colored sto ol on an occasional basis, you don’t have to rush off to the doctor. If you experience clay stools on a regular basis, you need to see a healthcare professional so you can be checked for possible medical conditions.
Why does my stool look clay?
You take calcium supplements or calcium-supplemented antacids. As noted by Dr. O’Connor, certain drugs and supplements can cause the stool to appear pale or clay-like. Family care physician, Susan Besser, MD, has seen pale or clay-colored stools in people who habitually take calcium supplements and calcium-supplemented antacids.
Why is my stool light colored?
If your skin is looking a bit pale (which can occur in people of any skin tone), there’s usually a reason. It could be anything from a vitamin B12 deficiency to a symptom of anemia.
Why is my stool pale?
It could be bile-related. When your stool is pale, and it’s not because of something you ingested, it can mean that your body is not producing enough bile, or that the bile is , for some reason, not reaching your stool .
Why does my stool float in the toilet?
The result is called steatorrhea, which is bulky, smelly, and pale-colored stool that often floats in the toilet instead of sinking to the bottom due to its fatty or oily content . If steatorrhea is a one-time thing after a particularly fatty meal, it’s not usually a cause for concern.
Is pale stool normal?
Although pale stool is not normal, there are a number of reasons why this happens, says family practitioner Kavita Shanker-Patel, MD, practicing family medicine at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Illinois. While some are serious, others are quite benign. In fact, pale-colored stool can be the result ...
Can celiac disease cause a foul smelling stool?
You could have celiac disease. One of the less-known symptoms of celiac disease (an autoimmune condition in which the gluten proteins in wheat and other grains trigger an intestine-damaging immune response), is pale stool, particularly if it’s foul-smelling.
Can calcium tablets cause a change in stool color?
In fact, calcium-containing antacids are known to cause changes in stool color. So if you notice pale or clay-colored stool for the first time, ask yourself if you might have inadvertently taken a calcium supplement in the form of an antacid tablet. In the absence of other symptoms, it’s OK to take a wait and see approach.
Considerations
The liver releases bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. You may have clay-colored stools if you have a liver infection that reduces bile production, or if the flow of bile out of the liver is blocked.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if your stools are not the normal brown color for several days.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will perform a physical exam. They will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Questions may include:
Why do my bowels look like clay?
Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may be the result of a lack of bile or caused by a blockage in the bile ducts. Stools that are light in color or look like clay can also occur after a test in the colon that uses barium (such as a barium enema ), because the barium may be passed in the stool.
What causes a pale stool?
Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: 1 Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease of the liver occurs after overexposure to alcohol. 2 Biliary cirrhosis: This is a type of liver disease where the bile ducts are damaged. 3 Birth defect: Some people are born with a problem in the biliary system. 4 Cysts: A cyst may block a bile duct. 5 Gallstones: These calcium deposits in the gallbladder could block bile ducts. 6 Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. 7 Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. 8 Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. 9 Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced hepatitis. These drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, hormonal birth control, and certain antibiotics. 10 Strictures: A narrowing of the intestine could block the flow of bile. 11 Tumor: A tumor could block the flow of bile.
Why is my stool brown?
Bile is what gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, and bile isn't entering the small intestine, the result could be stool that is light. Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease ...
What is the biliary system?
The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. 1 Bile is created in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and is released into the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum) while food is passing through. Ellen Lindner / Verywell.
What causes a lack of bile?
Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced ...
What does it mean when your urine is clay?
Concerning Symptoms. Clay-colored stool that is caused by certain medical conditions may be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes ( jaundice) or darkened urine. If signs of jaundice occur, a physician should be consulted immediately.
What tests are used to determine if a person has pale stools?
In addition to a complete medical history, some of the tests that might be used to make a diagnosis are: Liver function tests: Liver function tests can help determine if there is a condition that involves the liver that's causing the pale stools. 2 .
Why is my stool clay colored?
What Causes Clay-Colored Stool? Clay stool is not normal and could be a symptom of a serious medical condition. There are several diseases affecting the biliary system that can cause clay colored stool. Healthy stool can come in several different shades of brown, which is greatly affected by diet. Stool that resembles clay or pale in color, may ...
What causes clay in stool?
What Causes Clay-Colored Stool? The biliary system in the body is responsible for drainage of the pancreas, gallbladder and liver. The liver creates bile, which is stored in the gall bladder. Then the bile is secreted into the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine, as food passes through.
What are the symptoms of bile duct tumor?
Symptoms: The most common symptom of bile duct tumor is jaundice as a result of bile obstruction. Other symptoms that may be present include weight loss and loss of appetite, itching, pain on the right side, fever, clay-colored stool and difficultly in stopping blood loss when there are breaks in the skin. 6. Biliary Stricture.
Why is my stool brown?
Healthy stool can come in several different shades of brown, which is greatly affected by diet. Stool that resembles clay or pale in color, may indicate a health issue affecting the biliary system in the body, such as a blockage of the bile ducts or another problem resulting in a lack of bile. When the digestive system is unable to properly absorb ...
What are the symptoms of biliary stricture?
Symptoms: Symptoms of biliary stricture may include fever, chills, itching, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and light or clay stool. 7. Side Effects from Medication. Drug-induced hepatitis refers to liver inflammation and swelling caused by medication.
What causes dark urine and bile ducts?
9. Other Causes. Other causes include: Sclerosing cholangitis ---the scarring or inflammation of the bile ducts.
What are the symptoms of grey stool?
Besides grey stool, the most common symptoms include jaundice, which is the yellowing of the whites of eyes and skin, increased girth as a result of fluid accumulation and clay-colored stool. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, pain and tenderness of the abdomen, and weight loss.
What causes poop to be clay?
One type of parasite infection that can cause you to poop clay-like stools is a Giardia lamblia infection. This parasite lives in the small intestine and can interfere with bile flow.
Why is my stool gray?
Whitish, clay or gray stool usually happens when digestive bile can’t get to your small intestine to help with the digestion of food, as bile gives poop its brown color. Acholic stool is another name for pale, clay or whitish colored stool due to a lack of bile. Clay, light gray or pale colored stools can also be a result of a parasite infection, ...
Why is my urine dark?
According to a study about the effect of biliary diseases on the intestinal system, biliary obstructions can change the color of urine and stool. In many patients, a biliary duct blockage results in dark urine and pale, clay or whitish colored stool due to lack of bile (acholic stools). 6.
What is a biliary stricture?
Biliary strictures refer to a condition where the biliary duct becomes narrowed and impair the flow of bile. Biliary strictures often result in very light-colored stool that has a gray appearance.
How to tell if you have a swollen bowel?
According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, you may have the following symptoms along with white chalky stool: 2 1 Sudden sharp pain in your right upper abdomen where your gallbladder and liver are located 2 Upper abdominal discomfort after eating along with nausea 3 Fever and chills due to an infection in your biliary system 4 Yellow-looking skin and eyes (jaundice) 5 Noticing that your urine looks dark and murky 6 Itching
What causes brown stools?
Bile produced by your liver and stored in your gallbladder is responsible for the typical brown color of your stool. A lack of bile in your digestive process will result in stool that is gray, pale or clay-colored.
Why is my poop white?
The obstruction in your bile flow causes stool to become white-clay color due to lack of bile in your digestive system.