A light colored stool often referred to as clay – colored or white stool is not a normal stool and it indicates a problem with the liver, pancreas, gallbladder or the biliary system. If you notice a light colored stool, seek immediate medical help.
What color should stool be?
- Red – Bright red or dark red in the stool can indicate bleeding somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. ...
- Black – Similar to red in the stool, a persistent black color in stool can indicate internal bleeding from esophageal varices. ...
- Grey, Pale, Yellow or Clay-Colored – The liver releases bile into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. ...
What causes light color stool?
So, pale-colored stool could indicate a problem with the bile, including:
- Lack of bile production
- Bile ducts that are blocked
- Bile that isn't entering the small intestine
What causes light-colored stool?
Light-colored or clay-colored stool are often seen with diseases of the liver or bile ducts. 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. Maroon colored stools are often due to bleeding in the GI tract.
What does it mean when you have light colored stools?
Light-colored stools (grey or clay-colored) in adults can be caused by lack of bile in the digestive system. It is usually from a blockage in the bile ducts, either from a stone or a tumor. Bile helps digest fats and is responsible for the brown color of stool.
What does it mean when your stools are pale?
The pale/grey stools or progressively worsening jaundice may be the first sign that something is wrong. You may also get an infection in the blocked bile, called cholangitis. That can cause fever and abdominal pain, and in severe cases, confusion and low blood pressure.
Why does stool look silver?
There are a few recorded cases of people having silver-appearing stool—these people all had tumors blocking the bile duct that also bled into the intestine. The combination of digested blood (black tar color) and lack of bile (pale grey color) gives a distinct silver color to the stool. —Dr. Adam Pont.
What to do if you have clay colored stool?
Surgery: If your clay-colored stools are caused by obstructing gallstones, after an ERCP, your doctor might recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder entirely (cholecystectomy) to help prevent recurrences.
Why is my stool brown?
It is usually from a blockage in the bile ducts, either from a stone or a tumor. Bile helps digest fats and is responsible for the brown color of stool. It is produced in your liver, stored in your gallbladder, and released into your intestines. If bile is prevented from getting into your intestines, this can cause persistent pale ...
What causes a stone to be stuck in the lower part of the bile duct?
If the stone is stuck in the lower part of the bile duct, it may block digestive fluid from exiting the pancreas, which can cause pancreatitis. If you notice pale/grey colored stools along with abdominal pain or jaundice, you should go to the ER.
Where do gallstones form?
Gallstones are very small stones that can form from the components of bile, a digestive liquid. They are often found in the gallbladder. Gallstones can sometimes block bile from exiting the gallbladder or become stuck in a bile duct, causing an obstruction (choledocholithiasis).
What organ is responsible for storing bile?
Gallbladder. Gallstones: Know the Symptoms & When to Treat. Gallstones are incredibly painful stones that form in the gallbladder, the organ responsible for storing bile, which helps the liver with digestion. When stones block the gallbladder’s drainage system, it can cause inflammation and be extremely painful.
Why is my stool light colored?
Sometimes, the color can be from large doses of medications. The main causes of light-colored stool include: Gallstones, or hardened deposits of bile that form in the gallbladder and block your common bile duct. Pancreatic cancer. Liver disease.
What does it mean when your poop is different colors?
What do different stool colors mean? Checking the color of your stool is a very good way to monitor your overall health. Most of the time, stool will be light to dark brown in color. But stool that’s a different color, texture, or consistency, are all signs there’s something different going on in your body.
Why is my bile green?
Bile travels through the GI tract and changes to brown when it interacts with certain enzymes. If your stool is green, it usually means that you have changed your diet slightly or your food is traveling through the large intestines faster than normal so it doesn’t have enough time to break down and change color.
Why is my stool white?
If your stool is pale in color or white, it usually means that bile isn’t moving through your GI tract. This would mean that there’s an obstruction of the bile duct that isn’t letting the bile flow into the intestine. Sometimes, the color can be from large doses of medications.
What to do if your stool color changes?
If your stool color has changed because of a change in diet and there are no other symptoms, no treatment is needed. If you are bleeding, you may need to go to the hospital, have laboratory and imaging tests, and possibly even a procedure, such as an endoscopy or colonoscopy.
Why is my stool dark?
The main causes of dark stool are: Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which can be from an infection, medication, trauma (like a car accident), or lesions of the blood vessels. Stomach/peptic ulcers that cause bleeding in the esophagus.
Why is my poop yellow?
If your stool is yellow, or more likely, contains yellow droplets (seen floating on the toilet bowl), it is a sign of fat in the stool. It can also have a bad odor and a greasy texture. You may see noticeable amounts of fat in your stool when it’s not absorbed properly by the body. Yellow stool can be a sign you’re having malabsorption issues—along with other signs like difficulty maintaining or gaining weight.
Why does stool change color?
Causes. In children. During pregnancy. When to see a doctor. Summary. Many things can change the color of stool, including vitamins, infections, and certain foods. Some underlying medical problems, such as gallbladder and liver disease, can also change stool color.
Why does my stool look pale?
Diseases of the pancreas can make it hard for this organ to secrete pancreatic juices into the digestive system. This can lead to the food moving too quickly through the gut, causing a pale and fatty-looking stool.
Why is my stool white?
When the stool is white or very light brown, this can signal a more serious problem, such as cholestasis, a type of liver disease. In newborns, cholestasis or any other problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas may be a medical emergency, so a caregiver should call their pediatrician right away.
Why is my stool pale after taking pain pills?
A person who notices a pale stool after taking a new medication or after taking OTC pain relievers for a long time or in excess of the correct dose may have medication-related liver damage. It is best to stop taking the drug, if it is not a prescription medication, and see a doctor as soon as possible. 4.
How to tell if you have liver disease?
In addition to pale stool, other symptoms of liver disease include: 1 nausea and vomiting 2 fatigue 3 very dark urine 4 fatty stool 5 itching 6 swelling in the ankles or legs
What does it mean when your poop is white?
Pale stool, especially if it is white or clay colored, can indicate a serious health problem. When adults have a pale stool with no other symptoms, it is usually safe to wait and see if the stool returns to normal. When children and babies have very pale or white poop, a doctor should see them as soon as possible.
How do you know if you have giardiasis?
A person can contract this parasite by drinking contaminated water or being in close contact with someone who has the infection. Giardiasis is more common in regions with inconsistent access to clean water. The most common symptoms of giardiasis include stomach pain, headache, swollen stomach, vomiting, and fever.
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 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 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.
Why does the liver not produce bile?
Reasons, why the liver might have issues producing adequate bile, include: 1 Liver damage from certain medications such as acetaminophen: As we note in our primer on painkillers, high doses or regular, long-term use of acetaminophen can cause liver damage, especially if combined with alcohol. 2 Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis of the liver, which is most often caused by chronic, excessive alcohol use, causes scar tissue to replace normal tissue in the liver. 3 Fatty liver disease: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is essentially an inflammation of the liver. Although it can be caused by alcohol abuse, it is more often caused by obesity. (Here are 9 risk factors for non-alcohol-related FLD .) 4 Liver infections: These include the various forms of hepatitis, which are liver-infecting viruses. 5 Autoimmune disease of the liver, including autoimmune hepatitis 6 Liver cancer: Malignant tumors of the liver are rare, but serious, and can be brought about or hastened by some of the other liver conditions noted here. 7 Genetic liver disease: A genetic disorder, known as alagille syndrome, which presents by the age of two, can affect the liver, the heart, and other parts of the body.
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.
Why does my stool change color?
Some causes of stool color changes include. hemorrhoids, bleeding in the stomach, bleeding in the lower parts of the intestines or colon, certain vegetables with deep colors, green foods , food dyes (especially red, green, purple), iron pills , bismuth-containing medications (such as Pepto-Bismol ),
What is the best way to determine if stool color is changing?
The evaluation of changes in stool color typically begins with a thorough physical examination and personal medical history. The doctor may ask about intake of alcohol, smoking, and other habits. Family history of any cancers, particularly of the liver or pancreas, or bleeding problems may be helpful.
Why is my bowel bleeding red?
If the bleeding originates from lower parts of the intestines or the colon, blood may not come into prolonged contact with digestive enzymes because of the short distance from the site of bleeding to the rectum. Moreover, large amounts of blood within the intestines speed up the transit of stool so that there is less time for the changes to take place. The stool in this type of bleeding may be dark red or maroon in color. Beets, other red vegetables, cranberries, and red food dyes also can turn the stool color red or maroon.
What causes black tarry stool?
Bleeding in the stomach (from gastritis or an ulcer) or the intestines can change the color of the stool. If bleeding occurs in the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine, the stool may turn black and sticky, and be described medically as black, tarry stool (melena).
Why is my stool brown?
Normal stool color is brown. This is due to the presence of bile in the stool. Normal stool color can range from light yellow to brown to almost black. If stool is red, maroon, black, clay-colored, pale, yellow, or green this may signify a problem. Some causes of stool color changes include. hemorrhoids,
What is the test for occult stool?
This tests the stool directly for blood with a dye (fecal occult blood test or FOBT).
What is the chemical reaction in stool testing?
Occult stool blood testing relies on a chemical reaction between a solution (called guaiac) and hemoglobin in a sample of stool. In the presence of hemoglobin, the drop of solution will turn the stool sample (smeared onto a special paper which reacts chemically with the solution) blue.
Why does my stool turn light colored?
Due to an inflammation of the liver with hepatitis viruses A, B, and C can lead to light colored stool. Hepatitis C is the type of viral hepatitis which often leads to liver diseases, affecting the normal function of the liver, including bile production.
What color should a stool be?
As mentioned, stool can come in a range of colors. Ideally, a stool should be a light brown in color. However, this is not always possible and sometimes stool due to various reasons can change its color. (2)
What causes brown stools?
Normally, the liver produces bile which is released into the stool, giving the stool its characteristic brown color. If the liver does not produce enough bile, if the bile flow is blocked in the biliary system than normally the bile will not be able to drain into the intestines, leading to a light colored stool. (3, 4)
What does it mean when your stool is white?
A light colored stool often referred to as clay – colored or white stool is not a normal stool and it indicates a problem with the liver, pancreas, gallbladder or the biliary system. If you notice a light colored stool, seek immediate medical help.
What is the name of the stone that blocks the normal flow of bile from the gallbladder to the
Gallstones. They are stones created in the gallbladder which can block the normal flow of the bile from the gallbladder to the biliary system. In many cases, a surgical removal of these stones is needed.
Why does my stool turn green?
Green stool. Indicates that the food passes through the large intestine too quickly and the bile doesn’t have the time to completely break down as it normally should. Iron supplements, green leafy vegetables, as well as, green food coloring can lead to a green stool too.
Why is my stool black?
Black stool. Indicates a bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal system, usually from the stomach. Seek immediate medical help as it could signify serious medical conditions, which when left untreated can lead to serious complications and even death. Iron supplements can lead to a black stool as well.
What are the colors of poop?
The normal stool can be a variety of different colors without indicating the presence of serious disease. The most common stool colors include: 1 Dark brown 2 Light brown 3 Orange 4 Tan 5 Yellow
What does it mean when your stool is red?
If you have stools that are this color, contact your doctor but do not overreact. Although it is true that red- or black-colored stools suggest bleeding and may indicate the presence of something like colon cancer, there are many other possibilities that are not as scary.
Why is my toddler's stool purple?
The cause can be simple—your toddler got into a stash of grape-flavored treats that turned his stool purple —or it may indicate a medical issue.
What is the psychology of IBS?
The psychology of IBS can be similar to that of post-traumatic stress disorder. When you have been traumatized by severe symptoms, your brain automatically wants to search for signs related to your disorder. This can result in hypervigilance, a constant state of anxious watching and worrying.
Why do people get upset when they check their scales?
A person dealing with an eating disorder will cause himself unnecessary anguish by constantly checking the scale. If the numbers are up, they become upset. The problem is that scales are not precise instruments and fluctuations in scale measurements are not necessarily indicative of weight gain.
Can bowel movements change without illness?
It's important to remember that stools can change dramatically without necessarily signaling serious illness. Yet it can be hard to know when to worry and when you can breathe easy. People dealing with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have a unique challenge in this matter.
Can IBS cause abnormal stool?
As stated above, IBS by definition involves a change in stool appearance. So, yes, your stool may look abnormal to you. Just remember that abnormal does not necessarily mean that your doctors have missed a more serious disease.
1. Light brown stool is a normal variant (due to food)
As a rule, all shades of brown stool, such as light brown stools and very dark brown stools, are considered normal. However, your stool color varies according to what you eat and several other factors.
A. Large fatty meals
Too much fat in your meal can turn your stool into light brown. The more fat you eat, the more the fat content of your stool.
2 . Diarrhea (loose stool)
The normal brown color of the stool is a result of the action of gut bacteria on bilirubin (secreted in bile to the gut tract).
3. IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
IBS is a common bowel disease that affects a large subset of people. It primarily affects the large intestine and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and bowel changes.
4. Gut infections
The gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis) infections often lead to diarrhea with subsequent light brown or yellow stools.
5. Food intolerance or allergy
Food intolerance is the inability of your digestive system to digest or absorb certain foods. It is a prevalent condition affecting up to 20% of the population. In addition, certain types of food intolerance are prevalent in the community, such as lactose intolerance (which affects about 65% of adult people).
6. Bible-related conditions
The brown color of your stool originates from bilirubin which reaches your intestine through the bile. The bile is formed initially inside the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the duodenum through the bile ducts.
Why does my stool change color?
For example, if you are constipated, if your stool is pebble-shaped, or if it sinks quickly, you may simply need to add more fiber to your diet.
Why is my stool dark?
This type of stool is often dark because it stays in the intestines longer.
What does it mean when your stool is brown?
Bile salts in the intestines give stool its usual brown color. Stool that is light-colored (either pale, white, grey, or clay-colored) could indicate a lack of bile in the stool. A blockage of the bile ducts from gallstones, or a condition affecting your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, can cause decreased bile output.
What foods make your stool darker?
Activated charcoal supplements. Dark foods, such as black licorice, blueberries, Oreo cookies, blackberries, grape juice, or blueberries. Stool can also appear darker with constipation. Dark green stool from bile that hasn't had time to break down may look black in certain lighting.
Why is my stool green?
3 Iron supplements and food coloring, including green, purple, and blue dye, can also turn feces an emerald color. Conditions that speed up intestinal activity, such as a bowel disorder or food poisoning, can also lead to green stool.
What is the name of the stool that is excreted in small pieces?
Stool excreted in small pieces is sometimes called pebble or pellet stool. 6 Fiber forms a gel in the intestines when it is fermented by bacteria in the colon and combined with water. If there is a lack of fiber holding stool together, it may be shaped like small pebbles.
Why is my stool yellow?
Stool that has suddenly become yellow can also be a sign of an intestinal infection, particularly if you also have diarrhea, fever, flu-like symptoms, or stomach cramps. Giardiasis, a small intestine infection caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia, can also lead to yellow stool or diarrhea. 1.
