Top Causes for Light-Colored Stool

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Light, grey, or clay-colored stool is not normal, and may be a sign of a problem with your bile duct system.

Written by

Adam Pont, MD, PhD.

Gastroenterology Fellow, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia

Last updated April 26, 2021

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Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

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Written by

Adam Pont, MD, PhD.

Gastroenterology Fellow, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia

Last updated April 26, 2021

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2 most common causes

Gallstones

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Obstructed bile duct from tumor

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Light-colored stool

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. 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 or clay/grey-colored stool.

Conditions causing light-colored stool

1. Obstructed bile duct from tumor

Pro Tip

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

Symptoms

• Painless jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes)
• Pale or clay/grey colored stools
• Sudden fever and abdominal pain (from infection of the obstructed bile)

Once bile is produced in the liver, it travels by a tube (duct) to your gallbladder, where it is stored until ready to be released into your intestines. Blockages by a tumor along the duct or the surrounding area (including the gallbladder or pancreas) will keep bile from flowing to the intestine, which can cause stool to become pale or grey (and also cause jaundice).

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. Cholangitis is a medical emergency and requires prompt treatment.

If you notice pale/grey colored stools and yellowing of your skin, you should call your doctor for an urgent (within the next couple days) appointment. They will likely do blood tests and get you an urgent appointment with a biliary disease specialist (interventional gastroenterologist).

The specialist will order an imaging test (ultrasound, CT, or MRI) and perform a procedure to view the inside of your intestines and bile ducts, called ERCP, which is done under sedation. Treatment depends on what is found in the tests.

2. Obstructed bile duct from gallstones

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes)
• Pale or clay/grey colored stools
• Often will have no symptoms

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).

If the stone passes quickly through the duct into your intestine, you may have no symptoms at all. But if the stone becomes stuck, you may experience abdominal pain, jaundice, and pale/grey colored stools. A blockage may also cause an infection (cholangitis). 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. You may need a gastroenterologist to perform an imaging test and procedure to clear the stones.

Other possible causes of pale/grey stool

Much less common causes of pale/grey stool or causes where pale/grey stool is not a main symptom include certain medications and acute hepatitis.

When to call the doctor

Call your primary care physician for an urgent appointment (within a couple days) if you have pale/grey stool and jaundice.

Dr. Rx

One recent technological innovation is the use of a very small flexible camera to directly visualize the inside of the duct itself—called cholangioscopy. This allows the gastroenterologist to see the ducts and any stones or tumors on a live video feed,  potentially allowing for more tailored and precise treatments during the procedure. —Dr. Pont

Should I go to the ER for pale or grey stool?

Yes, if you have persistent pale/grey stool or jaundice and any of the following:

• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness/lightheadedness, especially when sitting up or standing up
• Confusion or lethargy

Treating light-colored stool

Pro Tip

In many cases where an ERCP is done, a small plastic or metal stent will be left in your bile ducts to keep them open and allow bile to drain into your intestines. Make sure to ask if or when the stent needs to come out, which will involve a second endoscopic procedure at a later date. —Dr. Pont

Treatment of light-colored stool will be dependent on the specific cause of symptoms. Since there are multiple causes for pale stool, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment options. These may include:

• ERCP: A procedure that is performed by an interventional gastroenterologist where a flexible scope is passed through your mouth, esophagus, and stomach to your small intestine and then used to view your bile ducts. The doctor can also try to clear out obstructing gallstones during this procedure.
• 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. In some cases, surgery is required to remove gallstones if ERCP is unsuccessful or unavailable.
• Cancer treatment: If your symptoms are because of cancer, your physician will discuss treatment options that may include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.

Adam Pont, MD, PhD.

Gastroenterology Fellow, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia

Dr. Pont is currently a fellow in Gastroenterology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia, where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine. Dr. Pont received his medical degree and PhD at the New York University School of Medicine. He earned his BS in Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Sclerosing cholangitis Information | Mount Sinai

Primary sclerosing cholangitis; PSC

Sclerosing cholangitis refers to swelling (inflammation), scarring, and destruction of the bile ducts inside and outside of the liver.

The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

The biliary system is comprised of the organs and duct system that create, transport, store and release bile into the duodenum for digestion. Includes the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts (named the cystic, hepatic, common, and pancreatic duct).

Causes

The cause of this condition is unknown in most cases.

The disease may be seen in people who have:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease
• Autoimmune disorders
• Chronic pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas)
• Sarcoidosis (a disease that causes inflammation in various parts of the body)

Genetic factors may also be responsible. Sclerosing cholangitis occurs more often in men than women. This disorder is rare in children.

Sclerosing cholangitis may also be caused by:

• Choledocholithiasis (gallstones in the bile duct)
• Infections in the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts

Symptoms

The first symptoms are usually:

• Fatigue
• Itching
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

However, some people have no symptoms.

Other symptoms may include:

• Enlarged liver
• Enlarged spleen
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Repeat episodes of cholangitis

Exams and Tests

Even though some people do not have symptoms, blood tests shows that they have abnormal liver function. Your health care provider will look for:

• Diseases that cause similar problems
• Diseases that often occur with this condition (especially IBD)
• Gallstones

Tests that show cholangitis include:

• Abdominal CT scan
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Liver biopsy
• Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
• Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC)
• Blood tests for liver enzymes (liver function tests)

Treatment

Medicines that may be used include:

• Cholestyramine (such as Prevalite) to treat itching
• Ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol) to improve liver function
• Fat-soluble vitamins (D, E, A, K) to replace what is lost from the disease itself
• Antibiotics to treat infections in the bile ducts

These surgical procedures may be done:

• Inserting a long, thin tube with a balloon at the end to open up narrowing (endoscopic balloon dilation of strictures)
• Placement of a drain or tube for major narrowing (strictures) of bile ducts
• Proctocolectomy (removal of colon and rectum, for those who have both ulcerative colitis and sclerosing cholangitis) does not affect the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
• Liver transplant

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well people do varies. The disease tends to get worse over time. Sometimes people develop:

• Ascites (buildup of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs) and varices (enlarged veins)
• Biliary cirrhosis (inflammation of the bile ducts)
• Liver failure
• Persistent jaundice

Some people develop infections of the bile ducts that keep returning.

People with this condition have a high risk for developing cancer of the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma). They should be checked regularly with a liver imaging test and blood tests. People who also have IBD may have an increased risk for developing cancer of the colon or rectum and should have periodic colonoscopy.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

• Bleeding esophageal varices
• Cancer in the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma)
• Cirrhosis and liver failure
• Infection of the biliary system (cholangitis)
• Narrowing of the bile ducts
• Vitamin deficiencies

Bowlus C, Assis DN, Goldberg D. Primary and secondary sclerosing cholangitis. In: Sanyal AJ, Boyer TD, Lindor KD, Terrault NA, eds. Zakim and Boyer’s Hepatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 43.

Goussous N, Cunningham SC. The management of primary sclerosing cholangitis. In: Cameron AM, Cameron JL, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:469-473.

Levy C, Bowlus CL. Primary and secondary sclerosing cholangitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 68.

Last reviewed on: 4/20/2021

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

White feces in a cat – why a pet has light-colored poop and what to do

Article checked by the chief veterinarian
Konchevoi Elizaveta Sergeevna

Contents

1. Causes of light stool in cats
   • Non-dangerous causes
   • Dangerous causes
2. Possible additional symptoms
3. What can you do yourself?
4. Diagnosis of causes of white feces in cats
5. Treatment
   • Diet
6. White stools in kittens
7. Light-colored stools in cats – the main thing
8. Answers to frequently asked questions

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Causes of light stool in cats

The most common color of stool in cats is different shades of brown. In the intestines, food is digested, including with the help of bile, as a result of which the substance stercobelin is formed. It gives the feces a brown tint.

The color of the stool sometimes simply reflects the characteristics of what has been eaten. If the food contains a large amount of dyes – pigments or a lot of indigestible inclusions – this will invariably affect the contents of the tray.

White feces in a cat may be the result of diet, but there are a number of pathologies, including quite dangerous ones, in which such changes are observed.

Non-dangerous causes

Dairy products

An excess of dairy products in the diet often leads to fermentation processes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), especially in adult animals. As a result, the cat may have light-colored stools (yellowish to ocher), excessive gas, and diarrhea.

Fatty food

A large amount of fat in the diet will lead to steatorrhea – faeces high in undigested fat. This is due to the fact that bile and pancreatic enzymes are simply not enough to digest excess fat. In this case, the cat’s feces become light, oily, soft, and diarrhea may begin. When feeding fatty foods, the risk of developing pancreatitis is high.

Wool

The cat repeatedly licks itself with its tongue every day, taking care of the hair, and swallows a significant amount of it. Most often, hairballs come out of the stomach with vomiting or daily with feces in small quantities and are invisible.

But in rare cases, they can accumulate and pass into the faeces in large quantities. The feces will then be dry, dense, whitish, fibrous due to inclusions of wool. Sometimes there is mucus, which also makes the feces lighter, and blood inclusions due to damage to the intestinal mucosa.

Dangerous causes

Adding bones to the diet

Spongy raw bones are partially digested in the gastrointestinal tract, but most of them are excreted in the faeces. And if the diet consists of raw chicken necks or heads, then the cat will regularly have white poop.

Feces with inclusions of bone fragments dry, crumbly, white. This reason is classified as dangerous, because the bones can damage the stomach and intestines, as well as get stuck in their lumen or walls, causing blockage, and sometimes perforation – through damage to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.

Obstruction of the biliary tract

Bile enters the intestine from the liver through the biliary tract. Gallstones (choleliths), mucus, bile clots (sludges), parasites, and tumors can block the bile ducts. Also, a decrease in patency may be associated with swelling of the walls of the ducts due to inflammation. This is an extremely dangerous situation that requires immediate medical attention.

The cat’s feces in this case may be gray, clayey, white. The consistency varies from thin to very dry and hard, especially if the animal is dehydrated due to vomiting or high fever.

Liver diseases

In case of serious liver pathologies – hepatitis, cholangiohepatitis, lipidosis – the cat’s feces can also become gray or white.

This is due to the fact that liver cells cannot function properly during inflammation, and the bile ducts become narrowed or blocked. Because of what, there is no normal production (formation) of bile and its outflow.

Pancreatitis

The pancreas produces important enzymes, without which proper digestion is impossible. With inflammation, it cannot produce them in the right amount, and the cat’s feces will acquire a grayish, sometimes almost white hue due to undigested inclusions, including fat.

Intestinal diseases

Colitis or enterocolitis – inflammation of only the large or large and small intestines. They are often accompanied by diarrhea and mucus in the feces.

There are many reasons for these diseases: protozoa, helminths, eating disorders, etc. Feces move too quickly through the intestines due to inflammation, and are also covered with mucus, acquiring a whitish, grayish tint. Sometimes they can almost entirely consist of mucus.

Possible additional symptoms

In case of dietary errors, no additional symptoms are usually observed. Sometimes the stool can become very soft, even liquid. Increased gas production and more frequent bowel movements are also possible. After the diet is corrected, these symptoms disappear.

A large amount of wool in the stool can lead to constipation and the appearance of blood and mucus in the feces. At risk are long-haired breeds and breeds with a thick undercoat: Persian, Maine Coon, Exotic Shorthair, Highland Fold, British Shorthair, etc. shells acquire a yellow tint.

The animal may also present with vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, depression, food refusal and fever. The same symptoms will accompany liver disease.

With pancreatitis, the pain in the abdomen is very severe, the cat can hide, take a hunched posture with legs and tail tucked in. Also, pancreatitis is often accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to feed.

Bone fragments in the diet not only make the cat’s feces white, but also can injure the intestines, leading to painful defecation. Sometimes the animal pushes hard and even meows when visiting the tray.

In colitis and enterocolitis, diarrhea and increased stool frequency are common symptoms. Sometimes the animal suffers from constant tenesmus – straining and the urge to defecate without result.

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What can you do yourself?

If the color of the stool changes, it is important to assess the condition of the cat. If it is good, the pet’s appetite and activity are not changed, then the probable cause is an error in the diet. It is worth evaluating it and adjusting it: for example, stop giving dairy, fatty foods, and bones in any form. In some cases, dietary deficiencies can lead not only to light-colored feces in a cat, but also to diarrhea. Sorbents will help to cope with it: Enterozoo, Smecta, Polysorb, Enterosgel.

It is useful to regularly give your pet a de-hairing paste, especially for cats with long or thick hair.

In colitis and enterocolitis, the general condition of the cat may remain good. However, it is important to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause of the pathology. Before contacting the clinic, you can give the cat sorbents and carry out treatment for helminths, especially if it has not been carried out for a long time.

If, in addition to white feces, the cat has other symptoms (decreased or no appetite, there are signs of pain, vomiting, diarrhea), then an immediate visit to the veterinary clinic is required.

Diagnosis of causes of white feces in cats

In most cases, the pet will have an abdominal ultrasound. It will help assess the condition of the liver, intestines, pancreas, as well as evaluate the gallbladder and the patency of the common bile duct.

In addition to ultrasound, general clinical and biochemical blood tests will be required. They will show the degree of inflammation, signs of anemia, abnormal liver function, signs of bile stasis – cholestasis.

If pancreatitis is suspected, a blood test for specific feline pancreatic lipase may be done. It helps to assess the degree of damage to the cells of the pancreas.

For colitis and enterocolitis, it may be necessary to examine faeces for viruses, helminths, and protozoa.

Treatment

Liver diseases require complex treatment. The animal is replenished with fluid and electrolytes using infusions (droppers) with special solutions, nausea and vomiting are relieved. Antibiotics, gastroprotective and choleretic agents, B vitamins are often used.

Therapy may also include: vitamin E, silymarin (milk thistle extract), L-carnitine.

In the case of lymphoplasmacytic cholangiohepatitis, steroids are used.

When a complete blockage of the common bile duct is suspected, an exploratory laparotomy is required, an operation to evaluate and restore its patency.

In the case of cholelithiasis – gallstones (rare in cats) – the gallbladder may need to be removed.

In pancreatitis, an important component of complex treatment, in addition to fluid replacement and antiemetic therapy, will be pain relief.

In colitis and enterocolitis, antiparasitics are often required, for example, when helminths or protozoa are the cause of the pathology.

Diet

None of the considered pathologies provides cats with a starvation diet, especially a long one. On the contrary, it can significantly worsen the condition.

Proper diet is an important part of treatment.

Cats with liver disease and pancreatitis need a nutritious but easily digestible diet. The sooner the animal begins to receive food, the better.

It is better to start feeding with small portions of wet food, as it is digested easier and faster.

Sometimes, with severe liver disease, a cat may require prolonged force-feeding, and in this case it is more rational to put a special tube into the esophagus – an esophagostomy. This will help to establish a regular full feeding of the cat without the stress of force-feeding food.

For enterocolitis and colitis, an increased amount of fiber can be added to the feed. It helps to stop diarrhea, stabilizes peristalsis and is a substrate for beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

White stools in kittens

In kittens, discoloration of the feces will most often be associated with colitis, enterocolitis or a dietary disorder. When feeding a kitten a large amount of dairy products, the stool becomes light. Sometimes foamy diarrhea can begin due to excess gas due to fermentation processes in the intestines.

Kittens may also eat foreign objects such as litter. In this case, the feces will be dry, crumbly, whitish.

Colitis and enterocolitis in kittens are often caused by parasites: helminths and protozoa. With colitis, mucus in the feces can be present in very large quantities, completely covering them with a whitish coating. Sometimes a kitten poops only lumps or drops of mucus.

Pathologies associated with impaired production and outflow of bile are rare in kittens. However, they may have hepatitis, cholecystitis, and cholangiohepatitis. For example, as a complication of infections: panleukopenia, infectious peritonitis of cats, toxoplasmosis, viral leukemia, viral immunodeficiency.

Light feces in cats – the main thing

• It is important for the owner to pay attention to the color and consistency of the pet’s feces, as this is an important diagnostic sign.

• The color of the feces is determined primarily by the bile involved in digestion.

• Diet can change the color of feces: partially digested bones, large amounts of dairy products, excess fiber, very fatty foods. If the cat’s light stool is not accompanied by any other symptoms, it is enough to evaluate the diet and, if necessary, adjust it.

• Discoloration of feces can also be caused by foreign matter: wool, filler.

• Acholic (i.e. colorless, greyish or white) feces may be a symptom of impaired bile production or flow, biliary obstruction or liver disease. Also, feces can become lighter with pancreatitis, enterocolitis and colitis. In such cases, the pet will have other symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fever.

• Obstruction of the biliary tract, liver disease and pancreatitis require urgent diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Sources:

1. Edited by Gary D. Norsworthy. The feline patient, fifth edition, 2018

2. Chandler E.A., Gaskell R.M., Gaskell K.J. Cat Diseases 2011

3. K. W. Simpson. Pancreatitis and triaditis in cats. Review, 2016 // https://zooinform.ru/vete/articles/pankreatit_i_triadit_u_koshek_obzor/

4. E.D. Hall, D.W. Simpson, D.A. Williams. Gastroenterology of dogs and cats, 2010

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Stool color: normal, grey, red stools

Many people think that feces are only one color – brown, but this is far from the case. Its tone changes in the palette from green to brown. Each option can inform about violations in the body. In this article, you will learn what problems the color of stool can tell about, and why it sometimes changes.

Normal chair parameters

Human stool is normally brown. With unexpected changes in the color of feces, it is worth asking the question – what is the reason for these changes?

The substance bilirubin and some bile pigments act on the color of poop. When the content of bilirubin changes, the stool may take on a different color (yellowish to dark brown).

Most often, feces crumble into an unusual color due to the peculiarities of the diet. But there are times when this phenomenon is a symptom of a specific deviation in the normal functioning of the body. In gastroenterology, determining the disease by the color of feces is a very common practice.

For the first few days after the birth of a baby, he does not exude poop in the usual way, but a thick, viscous mass of a dark olive hue. She doesn’t smell like anything. This is what has accumulated in the intestines during the period of being in the womb and before the first breastfeeding.

Reasons for deviations

Consider the main causes of discoloration of feces.

Data from the table is not always pathological. It is important to know what the color of feces means. There are other reasons why the color of the excrement may change. First, there is food that contains a lot of natural dyes. A reddish tint often appears from consumed beets and red berries; orange – from sea buckthorn and carrots; green – after broccoli, sorrel and spinach. Even a small amount can be reflected in the appearance of an uncharacteristic color of feces. In addition, artificial dyes from store goods can also be included here.

If you have to take a stool test in the coming days, it is better to exclude food with dyes from your diet, as they can misinform laboratory workers.

What causes the gray tint?

It is not uncommon for people to notice gray colored stools. Often this happens due to the fact that a person ate a lot of rice, potatoes or tapioca. These products have a high content of starch, which provides such effects. For the same reason, gray feces in a child may be noted.

The following examples can also be given. For a few days after undergoing an X-ray examination using barium sulfate, there will be gray poop. Some medicines that are aimed at getting rid of diarrhea include a lot of calcium and antacids, which will make the stool gray.

If you look at the situation from the point of view of medicine, then dark gray feces is the absence of bile in it, which should go to the intestines from the gallbladder. And here it is already worth alerting, because problems with the gallbladder are often associated with pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, tumors, stones in the bladder or ducts, cancer or cirrhosis of the liver.

Why can feces turn black?

If there are no pathologies, people have a short-term change in the color of feces from natural to black. Most often, the following factors contribute to this. For example, the day before you ate porridge with prunes, a blueberry pie, or ate bird cherry; or were in a restaurant where they washed down a steak with blood with red wine. Treatment with activated charcoal, iron supplements, and multivitamins often results in a change in the color of the stool. These examples do not require anxiety and a trip to specialists. The phenomenon will pass after a couple of days or after the completion of the course.

However, black or dark gray stools that appear for no apparent reason may present with upper GI bleeding. If at the same time cold sweat, pallor of the skin, frequent pulse are added, then it is worth calling an ambulance. This condition can be called critical for human life. Bleeding can be triggered by exacerbation of stomach ulcers, severe trauma to the abdominal cavity, infections, malignancy, varicose veins of the esophagus with problems with the liver.

Other factors for the appearance of dark poop are: trauma to the oral cavity, severe bleeding from the nose, an extracted tooth. In a word, those processes when a certain amount of blood enters the human stomach.

Pregnant women should not be afraid of black feces. If none of the listed signs is suitable, then most often it is the body’s reaction to taking vitamins with iron content.

When should red alert?

The causes of red stools have already been explained. This is the use of food that has the appropriate color. Many, faced with such a problem, ask themselves the question “red feces is a sign of what and is it dangerous?” However, there is a risk of colon cancer. These additional features can confirm the diagnosis:

• Dark red or scarlet faeces, with visible streaks or blood clots;
• Pain before, after and during stool;
• Poop has changed its consistency and is covered with mucus,
• Overtemperature and low pressure,
• Abdominal pain and intoxication.

It is not uncommon for feces of this color to be symptoms of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. These are inflammatory lesions of the intestine, which tend to develop into a chronic form.

Insufficient chewing of coarse foods may result in red-brown stools. Not all pieces of food are completely digested in the stomach. In this form, they pass their way through the intestines. Sharp parts can injure the thin walls of the internal organs, which provokes a change in the normal color of the feces.

Some differences between men and women

Red stool in a woman may be caused by rectal injury. Often the reason is poor preparation before anal sex or foreign objects in the anus. In the postpartum period, this phenomenon does not pose any serious threat and will soon pass.

In both women and men, red stools are a sign of hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

Other color variations

Consider other examples of discoloration of excrement and the causes of these phenomena. So, for example, the color of feces in an adult and a child can become a golden hue, but this is due to various factors.

Yellow

Faeces may turn yellowish or golden if carbohydrate digestion is disturbed. The main reasons for this phenomenon are considered pancreatic insufficiency and poor digestion of food in the colon.

For babies during breastfeeding, pale yellow, yellow-green or bright yellow is considered normal. Young organs are at the stage of adaptation to a variety of foods.

Green

Green feces can indicate gastrointestinal diseases. In most cases, these are pathological processes of the small intestine or developing dysbacteriosis. Eaten food begins to ferment and rot, which affects the shade of poop.

Some antibiotics may stain stools abnormally. This is facilitated by the accumulation of dead white blood cells in the intestine.

Many intestinal infections, especially dysentery, produce green feces. They are accompanied by these signs:

1. Temperature 38 and above,
2. Abdominal pain,
3. Nausea and severe vomiting,
4. Weakness and body aches.

If there are ulcers or malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, and a complication has begun in them, then the feces become of a similar shade.

Babies aged 6 months to 1 year have greenish gray stools. If the temperature does not rise, the stomach does not hurt, and there are no blood impurities in the feces, then all this is natural. So bilirubin in unchanged form enters the children’s intestines. Therefore, you should not worry when you see green or gray feces in a baby.

Discoloration of feces may be accompanied by diarrhoea, flatulence, abdominal pain, general malaise, shortness of breath, dizziness and yellowing of the face.

When do you need a doctor’s consultation?

It is necessary to go to the doctor in cases where the feces of a healthy person change under normal conditions. Those. coloring foods, new foods and medications are excluded. It is important to immediately visit the clinic or call 03 at:

• Diarrhea,
• Abdominal pains,
• Increase in body temperature,
• Dry mouth,
• Vomit,
• Weakness in the body,
• Yellowing or graying of the skin.

Also, specialist help is needed if the stool changes in color after constipation.

Diagnostic measures

If you do not want to start some kind of disease, you should be more attentive to your health. First of all, you need to check the color of your feces every time and know what color feces should be under normal conditions. Remember, a disease diagnosed in time can save you from disastrous results.

If changes are found, try to remember what you have eaten recently and what drugs may have affected the color of the excrement.

If you know what the stool should be and at the same time there is an unhealthy shade of poop for several days – a reason to visit a doctor. Usually, after anamnesis, the doctor directs the patient to take tests.

The normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract requires bowel movements 1-2 times daily.