What causes floating stools. How to identify malabsorption symptoms. When should you consult a doctor about changes in bowel movements. What dietary changes can help with floating stools. How are floating stools diagnosed and treated.

The Science Behind Floating Stools: Malabsorption and Flatulence

Floating stools are a common occurrence that often raises questions about digestive health. The primary reasons for this phenomenon are poor nutrient absorption (malabsorption) and excessive gas (flatulence) in the intestines. To understand this better, let’s examine the digestive process:

1. Food moves from the stomach to the small intestine.
2. Nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine.
3. Unabsorbed material passes into the colon.
4. The colon absorbs most of the remaining water.
5. The residue is eliminated as feces.

When this process is disrupted, it can lead to floating stools. Are floating stools always a cause for concern? In most cases, they are harmless and temporary, often resolving without treatment. However, persistent floating stools may warrant further investigation.

Common Causes of Floating Bowel Movements

Floating stools can be attributed to various factors, most of which are related to diet and digestive health. Here are some common causes:

• Dietary changes resulting in increased gas production
• Gastrointestinal infections
• Severe malabsorption, especially when accompanied by weight loss
• Chronic conditions such as pancreatitis, which can increase stool fat content

Is a high-fat diet always responsible for floating stools? Contrary to popular belief, most floating stools are not caused by increased fat content. However, certain conditions can lead to fat malabsorption, resulting in greasy, foul-smelling stools that float.

Identifying Symptoms of Malabsorption

Malabsorption can manifest in various ways beyond just floating stools. Key symptoms to watch for include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic diarrhea
• Bloating and excessive gas
• Fatigue and weakness
• Nutrient deficiencies

How can you differentiate between harmless floating stools and those caused by malabsorption? Pay attention to additional symptoms and the frequency of occurrence. If floating stools persist and are accompanied by other digestive issues or weight loss, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

Dietary Modifications to Address Floating Stools

In many cases, floating stools can be managed through simple dietary adjustments. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Identify and eliminate trigger foods
• Increase fiber intake gradually
• Stay hydrated
• Limit consumption of gas-producing foods
• Consider probiotics to support gut health

Can dietary changes alone resolve all cases of floating stools? While dietary modifications can be effective for many individuals, persistent issues may require medical intervention. It’s important to monitor your symptoms and consult a healthcare provider if concerns persist.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Floating Stools

While floating stools are often benign, certain situations warrant medical attention. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Persistent changes in bowel movements
• Bloody stools
• Unexplained weight loss
• Dizziness or fever accompanying digestive symptoms
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation

How urgently should you seek medical care for these symptoms? If you experience bloody stools accompanied by weight loss, dizziness, and fever, it’s crucial to contact your healthcare provider immediately, as these could indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Diagnostic Approach to Floating Stools

When you consult a healthcare provider about floating stools, they will likely take the following steps:

1. Perform a physical examination
2. Discuss your medical history and symptoms
3. Inquire about dietary habits and recent changes
4. Assess the frequency and characteristics of your stools
5. Consider additional symptoms such as odor or color changes

In some cases, further testing may be necessary. This could include:

• Stool sample analysis
• Blood tests to check for nutrient deficiencies or other abnormalities
• Imaging studies or endoscopic procedures in more complex cases

How comprehensive is the diagnostic process for floating stools? The extent of testing depends on the individual case and the presence of other symptoms. In many instances, a thorough medical history and physical examination may be sufficient to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

Treatment Options for Persistent Floating Stools

The treatment for floating stools varies depending on the underlying cause. Here are some potential approaches:

• Dietary modifications to reduce gas production
• Enzyme supplements to aid digestion
• Medications to address specific gastrointestinal conditions
• Probiotics to support gut health
• Treatment of underlying infections or diseases

Is there a one-size-fits-all treatment for floating stools? No, treatment is tailored to the individual’s specific diagnosis and needs. Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an appropriate management plan based on the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Preventing Floating Stools and Maintaining Digestive Health

While not all cases of floating stools can be prevented, there are steps you can take to promote overall digestive health:

• Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Stay hydrated by drinking adequate water throughout the day
• Engage in regular physical activity
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine
• Quit smoking, if applicable

Can lifestyle changes significantly impact the occurrence of floating stools? In many cases, yes. Adopting a healthy lifestyle can improve overall digestive function and reduce the likelihood of experiencing persistent floating stools. However, it’s important to remember that some cases may require medical intervention.

The Role of Gut Microbiome in Stool Consistency

Recent research has highlighted the importance of the gut microbiome in maintaining digestive health. The balance of beneficial bacteria in your intestines can influence stool consistency and overall bowel function. Here’s how the gut microbiome relates to floating stools:

• Supports proper nutrient absorption
• Aids in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates
• Regulates gas production in the intestines
• Helps maintain a healthy intestinal barrier
• Influences the immune system’s response in the gut

How can you support a healthy gut microbiome? Consider incorporating probiotic-rich foods into your diet, such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. Prebiotic foods, which feed beneficial bacteria, include garlic, onions, bananas, and asparagus. In some cases, probiotic supplements may be recommended by your healthcare provider.

The Impact of Medications on Stool Characteristics

Various medications can affect stool consistency and potentially lead to floating stools. Some common culprits include:

• Antibiotics, which can disrupt the gut microbiome
• Laxatives, particularly those that work by drawing water into the intestines
• Certain antacids containing magnesium
• Some types of anti-inflammatory drugs
• Medications used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Should you stop taking medications if you experience floating stools? Never discontinue prescribed medications without consulting your healthcare provider. If you suspect a medication is causing changes in your stool, discuss your concerns with your doctor. They may be able to adjust your dosage or recommend alternatives.

Understanding the Link Between Stress and Digestive Health

The connection between stress and digestive function is well-established. Chronic stress can impact various aspects of digestion, potentially contributing to floating stools. Here’s how stress affects your gut:

• Alters gut motility, potentially leading to diarrhea or constipation
• Increases inflammation in the digestive tract
• Disrupts the balance of gut bacteria
• Affects the production of digestive enzymes
• Can exacerbate symptoms of existing gastrointestinal conditions

What stress management techniques can improve digestive health? Consider incorporating stress-reduction practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, or regular physical activity. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has also shown promise in managing stress-related digestive issues.

The Importance of Hydration in Stool Formation

Proper hydration plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bowel movements. Dehydration can lead to various digestive issues, including changes in stool consistency. Here’s how hydration affects your stools:

• Helps soften stool, preventing constipation
• Supports the absorption of water in the colon
• Aids in the proper formation of stool
• Facilitates the movement of waste through the intestines
• Supports overall digestive function

How much water should you drink to maintain proper hydration? While individual needs vary, a general guideline is to aim for 8-10 cups (64-80 ounces) of water per day. Factors such as climate, physical activity, and overall health may influence your specific hydration needs.

Exploring the Connection Between Food Intolerances and Floating Stools

Food intolerances can sometimes manifest as digestive symptoms, including floating stools. Common food intolerances that may contribute to this issue include:

• Lactose intolerance
• Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease
• Fructose malabsorption
• Sorbitol intolerance
• Sensitivity to FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols)

How can you identify potential food intolerances? Consider keeping a food diary to track your meals and any associated symptoms. An elimination diet, under the guidance of a healthcare professional or registered dietitian, can help pinpoint problematic foods. In some cases, specific tests may be recommended to diagnose food intolerances or related conditions.

The Role of Fiber in Digestive Health and Stool Consistency

Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining digestive health and can influence stool consistency. There are two main types of fiber, each with unique effects on digestion:

1. Soluble fiber: Dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance in the gut
2. Insoluble fiber: Doesn’t dissolve in water and adds bulk to stool

Both types of fiber are important for proper digestion and can impact stool characteristics. Here’s how fiber affects your digestive system:

• Promotes regular bowel movements
• Helps maintain a healthy gut microbiome
• Supports proper stool formation
• Aids in the removal of waste and toxins from the body
• Can help regulate blood sugar levels and cholesterol

How much fiber should you consume daily? The recommended daily intake of fiber is 25-30 grams for adults. Good sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. When increasing your fiber intake, do so gradually to avoid digestive discomfort, and ensure you’re drinking plenty of water.

Understanding the Impact of Exercise on Digestive Function

Regular physical activity can have a significant impact on digestive health and may influence stool characteristics. Here’s how exercise benefits your digestive system:

• Stimulates intestinal contractions, promoting regular bowel movements
• Reduces inflammation in the digestive tract
• Helps maintain a healthy body weight, which can improve overall digestive function
• Reduces stress, which can positively impact gut health
• Supports a healthy gut microbiome

What types of exercise are best for digestive health? Any form of regular physical activity can be beneficial. This includes walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, or strength training. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week, as recommended by health authorities.

The Potential Link Between Hormonal Changes and Digestive Symptoms

Hormonal fluctuations can impact various aspects of digestive function, potentially contributing to changes in stool consistency. Some hormonal factors that may influence digestion include:

• Menstrual cycle variations
• Pregnancy and postpartum changes
• Menopause and perimenopause
• Thyroid hormone imbalances
• Stress-related hormonal changes

How can you manage hormone-related digestive issues? If you suspect hormonal changes are affecting your digestive health, consult with your healthcare provider. They may recommend hormone testing or refer you to an endocrinologist for further evaluation. In some cases, hormone replacement therapy or other treatments may be suggested to address underlying imbalances.

The Importance of Regular Health Check-ups for Digestive Wellness

Regular health check-ups play a crucial role in maintaining digestive health and catching potential issues early. Here’s why routine medical visits are important:

• Allow for early detection of digestive disorders
• Provide an opportunity to discuss changes in bowel habits
• Enable monitoring of overall health and nutrition status
• Facilitate age-appropriate cancer screenings, such as colonoscopies
• Offer a chance to review medications and their potential digestive side effects

How often should you have a health check-up? The frequency of check-ups depends on various factors, including age, overall health, and family history. Generally, adults should aim for a comprehensive health examination every 1-3 years, with more frequent visits as recommended by their healthcare provider.

Stools – floating Information | Mount Sinai

Floating stools

Stools that float are most often due to poor absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) or too much gas (flatulence).

Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs. Whatever has not been absorbed by the small intestine passes into the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed from the food residue. The residue is then eliminated from the body as feces.

Considerations

Most causes of floating stools are harmless. In most cases, floating stools will go away without treatment.

Floating stools alone are not a sign of an illness or other health problem.

Causes

Many things can cause floating stools. Most of the time, floating stools are due to what you eat. A change in your diet may cause an increase in gas. Increased gas in the stool allows it to float.

Floating stools may also happen if you have a gastrointestinal infection.

Floating, greasy stools that are foul smelling may be due to severe malabsorption, particularly if you are losing weight. Malabsorption means your body is not properly absorbing nutrients.

Most floating stools are not caused by an increase in the fat content of the stool. However, in some conditions, such as long-term (chronic) pancreatitis, the fat content is increased.

Home Care

If a change in diet has caused floating stools or other health problems, try to find which food is to blame. Avoiding this food may be helpful.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Tell your health care provider if you have changes in your stools or bowel movements. Contact your provider right away if you have bloody stools with weight loss, dizziness, and fever.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:

• When did you first notice the floating stools?
• Does it happen all the time or from time to time?
• What is your usual diet?
• Does a change in your diet change your stools?
• Do you have other symptoms?
• Are the stools foul smelling?
• Are the stools an abnormal color (such as pale or clay-colored stools)?

A stool sample may be needed. Blood tests may be done. In most cases, however, these tests will not be needed.

Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis.

Höegenauer C, Hammer HF. Maldigestion and malabsorption. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 104.

Schiller LR, Sellin JH. Diarrhea. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 16.

Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 131.

Last reviewed on: 5/4/2022

Reviewed by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Why Do Stools Float Sometimes?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Are Floating Stools?
• Why Would Stools Float?
• When To See a Doctor
• Treatment
• Prevention

Stools, or poop, usually sink to the bottom of the toilet, but sometimes, they can float. If your poop never sinks to the bottom of the toilet bowl, you may have too much gas in your intestines.‌

Normally, floating stools aren’t a cause for concern. Read on to learn more about why stools float, what floating stools say about your health, and more.

When stools float, it means the poop stays on the surface of the toilet water instead of sinking. Normally, poop sinks to the bottom of the toilet bowl.‌

Floating poop doesn’t mean you’re sick, but it can be a symptom of various conditions.

There are several reasons why poop floats and never seems to sink.

Too much gas. You may have too much gas in you due to your diet, which can make your stools float. 

Some people think that floating poop is caused by fat, but it’s usually caused by gas. Research has indicated that once floating stools were degassed, they weighed the same as sinking poop. This indicates that gas was responsible for making floating stools float, rather than fat inside the poop.

Gas in your digestive system is usually caused when you swallow air or eat certain types of foods that break down into gas. 

If you eat a high-fiber diet with a lot of vegetables and fruits, you may get floating stools because digesting high-fiber foods releases more air during digestion. This leads to air or gas being trapped in the stool, making it float in the toilet bowl.

Medical conditions. If your poop floats, there’s a slight chance you have steatorrhea, which means you have too much fat in your poop. Steatorrhea indicates you can’t absorb fat properly, and it can be a symptom of the following conditions:

• Celiac disease
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis
• Diseases affecting small intestines such as tropical sprue, Whipple disease, and lymphoma
• Bile acid deficiency

You may also have the following conditions if you have floating poop:

• Gastrointestinal infection
• Malabsorption, which means you’re not absorbing nutrients as well as you should

Floating stools don’t necessarily mean you have an underlying health condition. To determine if a health condition is causing this, you should be on the lookout for other indicators. 

If your floating stools are smelly, sticky, or bloody, for example, you should see a doctor. Your doctor will give you a proper diagnosis and walk you through the process of understanding your condition if you have one. Here’s a closer look at what might cause these symptoms. ‌

Smelly and sticky stools. Smelly and sticky stools are typically a symptom of nutrient malabsorption. This means your body isn’t able to completely absorb and digest nutrients from your gastrointestinal tract due to damage to the small intestine, not having enough pancreatic enzymes, liver disease, HIV/AIDs, or other conditions.

If your floating stools are smelly and appear sticky, you should contact your doctor.

Blood in your stool. If your floating poop is accompanied by blood, it could be caused by:

• Bleeding in your anus or rectum
• Cancer of your digestive system
• Blood vessel abnormalities
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis
• Ulcers in the stomach or small intestine
• Polyps
• Diverticulitis ‌

If you find blood in your stools, you should see a doctor. If you’re experiencing weight loss, dizziness, or fever in addition to finding blood in your stools, you should talk to your doctor immediately. You should also get emergency medical help if there is a lot of blood in your poop, or if it is maroon or black and tarry.‌

Your doctor will be able to determine what is the exact cause of bloody poop through imaging tests and physical exams.

When you visit your doctor, they will likely ask you several questions about your medical history and your current health to determine why you have floating stools. They will also ask you about your diet and how long you’ve been having this issue so they can make any needed diet and medication recommendations.

Unless there is a medical condition causing you to have floating poops, there is no need to do anything to treat or prevent them.

Monitor your pooping habits. Always be aware of any changes to your stool and bowel movements. If you’re suddenly pooping more or less, or your poop looks very different, you should report these changes to your doctor. Your doctor will find it easier to diagnose any health conditions you may have if you keep an organized record about your pooping habits.

Changing your diet. Sometimes, preventing floating poop can be as easy as changing your diet, since floating poop can be caused by eating foods that cause you to have more gas.

You should avoid the following foods if you have a problem with too much gas:

• Hard candy
• Fizzy or carbonated drinks
• Gum‌

Keep a food diary so you can keep track of what you eat and narrow down what foods are giving you gas. You should bring this diary to your doctor so you can talk to them about how you can change your diet.

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Feces buoyancy linked to intestinal microbiota

American researchers figured out why some feces sink in water while others float on the surface. According to experiments on mice, the composition of the intestinal microbiota is solely responsible for this. The report on the work was published in the journal Scientific Reports .

Feces 10-15 percent of people float on the surface of the water, and this is not associated with any pathological condition. Among people with functional bowel disorders, this proportion rises to about one in four. Historically, it was believed that the buoyancy of feces is due to the high content of fat in it, but in 19In 1972, Michael Levitt, a gastroenterologist from the University of Minnesota, and his student William Duane, in experiments with the stool of 39 people (including six patients with steatorrhea), showed that even fatty feces sink when gas is removed. The researchers did not specify the origin of the gas component, and this question, which has the potential for clinical application, has remained open until now.

To understand it, staff at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under the direction of Nagarajan Kannan, used conventional C57BL/6 (B6) and gnotobiotic (born and reared in aseptic conditions that do not have a microbiome) mice. Some of the latter have been colonized with microbiota in their intestines by a single intragastric injection of the drug, either in the faeces of normal mice or one of two healthy women, or by allowing contact with environmental bacteria. Fecal sterility of germ-free mice and successful colonization of the intestines of the rest were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, scanning electron microscopy, and measurement of bacterial DNA concentration (a measure of microbiota density).

Flow cytometry showed that the number of undigested particles of food biomass is inversely related to the density of the intestinal microbiota. In thermogravimetry, the feces of germ-free mice differed from the rest of the samples in at least three temperature ranges; pycnometry revealed its significant superiority in relative density. The shape, size and color of the stool in all groups of animals did not differ.

To assess the buoyancy of faeces, the researchers used a simple LIFT test they had previously developed – levô in fimo (literally translated from Latin as “raising in dung”) test. It consists in placing stool fragments in water and a Trump fixer solution (10 percent formaldehyde and one percent glutaraldehyde) in phosphate buffer (TFS), followed by recording their position (at the bottom or surface) after a minute, hour and day. It turned out that all samples from germ-free mice sink in water and TFS in less than a minute, while about half of the bacteria-colonized samples remain on the surface of the water and all of them continue to swim in TFS after a day.

Also, the authors of the work performed simultaneously LIFT and microbiota density determination in gnotobiotic mice before intragastric colonization (all faeces were drowned, bacterial DNA was practically not determined) and after it weekly for 12 weeks. By the third week, with all methods of microbiota formation (transplantation from mice and humans, from a non-sterile environment), the DNA concentration in the whole stool began to stabilize at a level of more than 10 thousand nanograms per milligram, from that time all biosamples floated.

Metagenomic analysis of the intestinal microbiota of conventional, artificially colonized gnotobiotic and their donor mice revealed 13 dominant species of gasogenic bacteria from 11 genera, and their composition in different animals was extremely heterogeneous. The most common was methane-producing Bacteroides ovatus , associated, as previously shown, with an increased risk of flatulence in humans.

Thus, the buoyancy of feces depends solely on the gases produced by the microbiota; Swallowed air and the chemical composition of the dense matter of the stool do not play a role in this, Kannan concluded.

In 2019, Tufts University researchers reported that fecal transplants from physically fit older adults significantly increased the grip strength of mice. At the same time, a Belgian-Dutch scientific group showed that the intestinal microbiota affects the quality of life and the risk of developing depression. In turn, the species composition of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract depends on at least 69 main factors, including such non-obvious ones as the opinion of one’s own body weight and plans to reduce it, preferences for chocolate varieties and taking antidepressants – the Dutch, Belgian, Russian and British scientists.

You can read about the various uses of excrement in wildlife in the blog “It’s the norm: about the instrumental use of feces.” Issues related to fecal transplantation are analyzed in detail by Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Mikhail Gelfand.

On mice

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Flakes in the urine – the causes of occurrence, in what diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment

Fungus

Cystitis

Thrush

Colpitis

75903

27th of December

Flakes in the urine: the causes of occurrence, in which diseases they occur, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Definition

Urine is a waste product produced by the complex process of blood filtration by the kidneys. Urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters to the bladder, then through the urethra it is excreted.

By producing urine, the kidneys remove protein breakdown products, food additives, processed drugs from the body, and also regulate the amount of water and electrolytes in the body. Normal urine is more than 90% water, it can detect urea, uric acid, ammonia, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium ions. In minimal amounts, protein and blood cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes), epithelium (cells lining the urinary tract) enter the urine. Urine color is determined by the pigments urobilin and urochrome. Normally, and subject to the technique of collecting urine, glucose, hemoglobin, bilirubin pigment, ketone bodies (a product of carbohydrate and fat metabolism), lipids, salts, bacteria, fungi, and mucus are not detected in it. There are no cylinders – casts of protein, epithelium, leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin and fats.

With the proper functioning of the internal organs, a balanced diet, a normal drinking regime and the absence of coloring substances in food, urine is formed in the amount of 1–1. 5 liters per day, it is yellow or straw-yellow in color, without a strong odor, does not foam, is transparent, has no suspension and sediment.

In case of pathology of the urinary system or in case of incorrect collection of biomaterial, substances appear in the urine that should not be in it.

Urine flakes are visible clots, usually white, yellow, or red, floating in the collected urine.

Varieties of flakes in urine

Flakes in urine vary in composition. In the form of flakes, there may be protein, leukocytes, erythrocytes, pus, accumulation of bacteria, fungi, mucus, epithelium (the surface layer of the skin and mucous membranes), etc.

Possible causes of flakes in the urine

The most common causes of flakes in the urine include inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.

A precipitate in the form of flakes is detected when the rules for collecting urine are not followed, because of which vaginal discharge, the secret of the glands of the external genital organs, the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes, etc. , get into it.

What diseases cause flakes in the urine

Urethritis – inflammation of the mucous membrane (inner lining) of the urethra. The disease is usually infectious, caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or protozoa. Less commonly, urethritis is allergic or traumatic. Symptoms of urethritis are pain, burning, cramps when urinating. With bacterial urethritis, the amount of protein in the urine increases, mucus, pus appear, the number of leukocytes increases, bacteria are present, sometimes epithelial cells of the urethra and blood. With candidal urethritis, accumulations of yeast-like fungi are found in the urine.

With cystitis – inflammation of the bladder – frequent painful urination, pain above the womb, radiating to the perineum, anus, in men – to the penis.

The disease is infectious in nature and is manifested by the same changes in the urine as urethritis.

With pyelonephritis – bacterial inflammation of the kidney tissue – the temperature rises sharply (up to 40 ° C), chills, increased sweating, weakness, pain in the lumbar region occur. Urine becomes cloudy, a large number of bacteria, leukocytes are found in it, pus appears, the level of protein and erythrocytes increases.

Pyelonephritis often occurs against the background of obstruction of urine output, for example, when the ureters are compressed by the uterus in pregnant women, prostate enlargement, with urolithiasis, and prolonged urinary retention.

Prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate gland. The disease is usually bacterial in nature. In addition to the possible appearance of epithelium, leukocytes, erythrocytes, mucus, bacteria, pus in the urine, with prostatitis, there are impaired urination with frequent urges, pain in the sacrum, perineum and anus, and fever.

Candidiasis (fungal colonization) of the vagina is accompanied by itching and discomfort in the vagina and in the vulva, as well as cheesy secretions, which, together with mucus and epithelium, can enter the urine.

Bacteria, leukocytes, mucus, epithelium may appear in the urine in the form of flakes with bacterial vaginosis – imbalance of the vaginal microflora in favor of opportunistic microorganisms (living in the vagina permanently and capable of causing disease under certain circumstances), as well as with colpitis or vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina infected with Trichomonas, gonococci, streptococci, staphylococci, etc. ).

Another disease that causes the appearance of flakes in the urine is bladder leukoplakia , in which the epithelium of the bladder mucosa thickens (keratinizes), becomes similar in structure to the skin, and when rejected appears in the urine in the form of flakes.

Symptoms are frequent painful urination with frequent urges, frequent nighttime urination, pain over the womb, blood and flakes in the urine. The disease can lead to the development of bladder cancer.

Which doctors to contact

If flakes appear in the urine, contact
general practitioner or
therapist. If necessary, a consultation can be scheduled
urologist,
gynecologist.

Diagnosis and examination in the presence of flakes in the urine

If flakes are found in the urine, the doctor will conduct a thorough questioning and examination of the patient, identify additional symptoms, if any.

To clarify the diagnosis, you may need:

• complete blood count;

Clinical blood test: general analysis, leukoformula, ESR (with microscopy of a blood smear in the presence of pathological changes)

Synonyms: Complete blood count, UAC. Full blood count, FBC, Complete blood count (CBC) with differential white blood cell count (CBC with diff), Hemogram.
Brief description of the study CBC: general a…

Up to 1 business day

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RUB 810

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General urinalysis (Urine analysis with sediment microscopy)

Method of determination

Determination of physical and chemical parameters is carried out on an automatic analyzer using the “dry chemistry” method.

Hardware microscope…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

410 RUB

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Nechiporenko Urine Test

Synonyms: Determination of the amount of blood cells in the urine sediment; Sample of Nechiporenko; Urinalysis by the Nechiporenko method.

Analysis of urine Nechiporenko; Urinalysis; Urine…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

475 RUB

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Urinalysis

Material for research:

smears prepared in the laboratory from the sediment of transudates, exudates, secrets, excreta and urine;

smears prepared from …

Up to 2 business days

Available with home visit

RUB 1,030

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Detection of STI pathogens (7+KVM*), scraping of epithelial cells of the urogenital tract

Determination of the DNA of microorganisms that cause the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the vaginal, cervical and urethral nipples. ..

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

RUB 3,185

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Ultrasound of the prostate

Ultrasound scan of the prostate, giving an idea of ​​the condition of the prostate and the presence of pathology.

RUB 2,190

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Treatment for flakes in the urine

Treatment for flakes in the urine is to eliminate the cause of the flakes.

In case of inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract and organs of the reproductive system, the doctor may recommend antibacterial, antifungal therapy, as well as prescribe anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antispasmodic drugs. In women, after the main treatment, the normal microflora of the vagina is restored.

A sparing diet is recommended with the exception of fried, spicy, salty, floury, sweet, alcohol, drinking plenty of water, as well as sexual abstinence for the duration of treatment.

What to do if flakes are found in the urine

If you notice flakes in the urine, you need to make sure that all the rules for collecting urine have been observed: urine should be collected in a special sterile container about two hours before delivery, after having carried out hygiene procedures (with water, without use of soap and intimate hygiene products). You need to collect an average portion of urine, during urination, cover the entrance to the vagina with a sterile napkin.

If all the conditions are met, and there are still flakes in the urine, it is this urine that needs to be taken for analysis.

To confirm the detected changes, the doctor may recommend a second urine test. You should not leave this symptom unattended or self-medicate, this can lead to unpredictable consequences.