What causes yellow stool. How is yellow poop related to abdominal pain and gas. When should you be concerned about yellow bowel movements. What diseases can cause yellow stools.

The Digestive Process and Stool Color

The digestive system is a complex network of organs working in harmony to process the food we consume. As food travels through this intricate system, various factors influence the color, consistency, and composition of our stool. Understanding these variations can provide valuable insights into our overall health and potential digestive issues.

Why is Stool Usually Brown?

Typically, healthy stool appears brown due to a combination of factors:

• Waste products from food digestion
• Secretions from digestive organs
• Bacteria present in the gut
• Byproducts of old red blood cells

The brown color primarily comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. This process occurs in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. As these cells are processed, they can appear green, yellow, or brown, similar to how a bruise changes color as it heals.

Yellow Stool: Causes and Concerns

While brown is the usual color for stool, yellow bowel movements can occur and may indicate various underlying factors. Is yellow stool normal? In many cases, it’s not a cause for immediate concern, but persistent changes should be evaluated.

Common Causes of Yellow Stool

Several factors can contribute to yellow stools:

1. Diet high in yellow pigments or artificial food coloring
2. Antibiotic use
3. Digestive disorders affecting fat absorption
4. Liver or gallbladder issues
5. Pancreatic problems

When should you be concerned about yellow stools? If yellow bowel movements persist for several weeks, are accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or fever, or if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), it’s important to consult a healthcare provider.

Abdominal Pain and Yellow Stool: A Potential Connection

When yellow stools are accompanied by abdominal pain, it could indicate a more serious underlying condition. This combination of symptoms may suggest issues with bile production or drainage.

Bile Drainage Disorders

Bile is a crucial component in the digestive process, aiding in fat breakdown and absorption. When bile production or flow is impaired, it can lead to:

• Light-colored or yellow stools
• Abdominal pain, often on the right side
• Dark urine
• Jaundice
• Itching (pruritus)

These symptoms may indicate problems with the liver, bile ducts, or pancreas.

Liver-Related Causes of Yellow Stool

The liver plays a crucial role in digestion and bile production. Various liver diseases can impact its function, potentially leading to yellow stools and associated symptoms.

Chronic Liver Diseases

Several chronic liver conditions can impair bile production and excretion:

• Alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Cirrhosis
• Viral hepatitis

In severe cases, these conditions may cause fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and epigastric pain in addition to yellow stools.

Biliary Tract Issues and Yellow Stool

The biliary tract, which includes the gallbladder and bile ducts, is essential for proper bile flow. Problems in this system can lead to yellow stools and other digestive symptoms.

Gallstones: A Common Culprit

Gallstones are a prevalent issue, affecting 10 to 15 percent of adults in the United States. These hard, stone-like formations of cholesterol and bilirubin can obstruct bile ducts, leading to:

• Severe abdominal pain, often on the right side
• Yellow stools
• Bile duct blockage
• Potential gallbladder inflammation

How are gallstones diagnosed and treated? Diagnosis typically involves imaging tests such as ultrasound or CT scans. Treatment options range from medication to dissolve small stones to surgical removal of the gallbladder for more severe cases.

Pancreatic Issues and Yellow Stool

The pancreas produces enzymes crucial for fat digestion. When pancreatic function is impaired, it can lead to yellow, fatty stools (steatorrhea) and other digestive issues.

Pancreatic Disorders

Several pancreatic conditions can cause yellow stools:

• Chronic pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cancer
• Cystic fibrosis

These disorders often lead to inadequate production of digestive enzymes, resulting in poor fat absorption and yellow, oily stools.

Gas and Yellow Stool: Is There a Connection?

While gas is a normal part of digestion, excessive gas accompanied by yellow stools might indicate digestive issues. This combination can occur due to various factors:

Malabsorption Syndromes

Conditions that interfere with nutrient absorption can lead to both gas and yellow stools. These include:

• Celiac disease
• Lactose intolerance
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

How do malabsorption syndromes cause yellow stools and gas? When the body can’t properly absorb nutrients, especially fats, it can result in yellow, fatty stools. Undigested food particles can also ferment in the colon, producing excess gas.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While occasional changes in stool color are often harmless, certain symptoms warrant medical evaluation:

• Persistent yellow stools (lasting more than a few days)
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
• Changes in bowel habits

What diagnostic tests might a doctor order for yellow stools? Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your healthcare provider may recommend:

1. Blood tests to check liver and pancreatic function
2. Stool analysis
3. Imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI)
4. Endoscopic procedures to examine the digestive tract

Dietary Considerations and Yellow Stool

Sometimes, yellow stools can be attributed to dietary factors rather than underlying health issues. Understanding these connections can help differentiate between benign causes and more serious concerns.

Foods That Can Cause Yellow Stool

Certain foods and supplements may lead to yellow bowel movements:

• Carrots, sweet potatoes, and other yellow or orange vegetables
• Foods with yellow food coloring
• Gluten-containing foods (in people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity)
• Fatty or greasy foods (in large quantities)
• Certain supplements, especially those containing carotenoids

How long do dietary-induced yellow stools typically last? In most cases, stools should return to their normal color within a day or two after eliminating the causative food or supplement.

Preventing and Managing Yellow Stools

While not all causes of yellow stools are preventable, there are steps you can take to promote digestive health and potentially reduce the occurrence of abnormal stools:

Lifestyle and Dietary Changes

1. Maintain a balanced diet rich in fiber
2. Stay hydrated
3. Limit alcohol consumption
4. Exercise regularly
5. Manage stress through relaxation techniques

Can probiotics help with yellow stools? While research is ongoing, some studies suggest that probiotics may help improve digestive function and overall gut health. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.

Understanding Stool Changes: Beyond Color

While color is an important indicator of digestive health, other stool characteristics can provide valuable information:

Stool Consistency and Frequency

Normal stool consistency can vary, but generally should be soft and easy to pass. The Bristol Stool Scale is a helpful tool for assessing stool consistency:

• Type 1-2: Hard and difficult to pass (constipation)
• Type 3-4: Ideal consistency
• Type 5-7: Soft to liquid (potential diarrhea)

What is considered a normal frequency for bowel movements? While this can vary among individuals, having anywhere from three bowel movements per day to three per week is generally considered normal.

Odor and Other Characteristics

Changes in stool odor, presence of mucus, or visible food particles can also indicate digestive issues. Persistent changes in these characteristics should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

The Role of Gut Microbiome in Digestive Health

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall health. Imbalances in gut bacteria can contribute to various digestive issues, potentially including changes in stool color and consistency.

Factors Affecting Gut Microbiome

• Diet
• Antibiotic use
• Stress
• Sleep patterns
• Environmental factors

How can you support a healthy gut microbiome? Consuming a diverse diet rich in fiber, fermented foods, and prebiotics can help promote a balanced gut ecosystem. Regular exercise and stress management can also contribute to a healthy gut microbiome.

Yellow Stool in Children: Special Considerations

While many causes of yellow stool in adults also apply to children, there are some special considerations for pediatric cases:

Common Causes in Infants and Young Children

• Breast milk or formula diet (normal in young infants)
• Introducing new foods
• Gastrointestinal infections
• Celiac disease
• Cystic fibrosis

When should parents be concerned about yellow stools in children? If yellow stools persist beyond infancy, are accompanied by other symptoms like failure to thrive, or occur alongside abdominal pain or fever, it’s important to consult a pediatrician.

Emerging Research on Digestive Health

The field of gastroenterology is constantly evolving, with new research shedding light on digestive processes and potential treatments for various conditions.

Recent Advancements

• Microbiome-based therapies
• Personalized nutrition approaches
• Novel diagnostic techniques for gastrointestinal disorders
• Targeted treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases

How might these advancements impact the diagnosis and treatment of conditions causing yellow stools? As our understanding of digestive health grows, we may see more precise diagnostic tools and tailored treatment strategies for various gastrointestinal issues, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients experiencing persistent yellow stools or other digestive symptoms.

In conclusion, while yellow stools can be alarming, they often have benign causes related to diet or temporary digestive issues. However, persistent yellow stools, especially when accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or gas, warrant medical attention. By understanding the various factors that can influence stool color and consistency, individuals can better monitor their digestive health and seek appropriate care when needed. As research in gastroenterology continues to advance, we can look forward to improved diagnostic methods and treatment options for a wide range of digestive disorders.

Yellow Stool: What Causes Yellow Poop?

Digestive Disorders > Symptoms

Table of contents

The digestive process begins when you eat and continues as your body pulls the nutrients it needs from food. The end product is a bowel movement that can vary in color, odor, size and consistency each time. These variations can provide clues about your body’s processes, organs, and overall health. Yellow bowel movements might give you a hint that something is going on with your diet or your body.

Why is stool usually brown?

Bowel movements are usually a shade of brown. The contents of a bowel movement are waste products from your body, including food residue, digestive organ secretions, bacteria, and byproducts of old red blood cells. These old red blood cells are broken down in spleen, liver, and bone marrow. These cells can look green, yellow, or brown as your body processes them. (Think of how a bruise transitions from brown, to green, to yellow as your body heals. ) Bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cells, ends up giving bowel movements the characteristic brown.

What causes yellow stool? Is yellowish stool normal?

Yellowish brown or yellow bowel movements may be alarming, but in many cases changes in color can be attributed to diet. Food that is high in yellow pigment or containing artificial food coloring can cause yellow bowel movements. Taking antibiotics can also make bowel movements yellow.

If you’ve eaten something or taken medication that affected the color of your bowel movement, you’ll notice your next bowel movement will look more normal. The discoloration should fully resolve in a day or two after discontinuing medication.

If yellow bowel movements are infrequent, there probably isn’t much cause for concern. If yellow bowel movements become the new normal or are accompanied by other symptoms, there may be an underlying pathology that can be addressed with treatment or medication. Yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes (called jaundice), pain, or fever, accompanied by yellow stool should always be followed up by a healthcare provider.

Color	Potential symptoms	Possible causes	Should you see a gastrointestinal care provider?
Yellow-brown / yellow-whitish		Foods rich in yellow pigments or artificial yellow coloring; taking antibiotics	Yes, if changes persist for several weeks or can’t be explained by food or medication.
Light yellow, gray, or pale	Fatty stool (shiny, foul smelling), weight loss, abdominal pain	Inability to digest or absorb fat, as with conditions affecting the small intestine: celiac disease, short bowel syndrome (occurs after surgical removal of a section of the intestine), giardiasis (a parasite infection), conditions affecting the pancreas or bile salts	Yes.
Light yellow, clay-colored to white	Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), dark urine, itching, abdominal pain	Inability to process bilirubin from red blood cells. May be related to diseases of the biliary tract, the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, or the pancreas	Yes.
Ocher yellow, yellowish green, yellow slime	Diarrhea	Abdominal influenza (gastroenteritis), other diarrheal diseases	Most digestive tract infections will resolve without treatment. If you experience severe symptoms like fever, dizziness, or persistent diarrhea, seek care.

What diseases or conditions cause yellow stool?

Yellowish bowel movements can be caused by a variety of processes in the abdominal organs.

Most people experience abdominal or stomach pain from time to time, but when abdominal pain is accompanied by yellow bowel movements, this can indicate a bile drainage disorder.

Diseases of the liver, the bile ducts, or the pancreas can cause these symptoms:

• Light, clay-colored stool
• Dark urine
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Itching (pruritus)
• Less common: Fatty stool (steatorrhea) / weight loss with fat malabsorption

Liver-related causes of yellow stool

Chronic liver diseases including alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, viral, hepatitis, and other diseases impact liver function.

These diseases can impair bile production and delivery (excretion). In severe episodes, a person might experience fatigue, flu symptoms, and epigastric pain.

Biliary tract-related causes of yellow stool

Gallstones are hard, stone-like pieces of cholesterol and bilirubin that form in your gallbladder and can clog bile ducts.

Around 10 to 15 percent of adults in the United States have gallstones, although many people with gallstones don’t experience symptoms. When gallstones block the bile ducts, people can experience severe abdominal pain on their right side. The bile duct blockage might lead to a build-up of bile in the gallbladder. The gallbladder and bile ducts can become inflamed. This is called cholecystitis and cholangitis.

During acute episodes, in addition to upper abdominal pain, fever, and chills can occur. Jaundice, dark urine and light or fatty stool may occur under some circumstances.

Other conditions that can affect the biliary tract include non-bacterial inflammation with autoimmune diseases, like primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). About 75 percent of people with PSC also have ulcerative colitis and 13 percent have Crohn’s disease. Symptoms are often absent, but persistent itching may occur.

Pancreas-related causes of yellow stool

Diseases of the pancreas, like the chronic inflammation of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis), can lead to build up of bile, e.g. because of a bile duct compression or narrowing. This can be related to excessive alcohol consumption, autoimmune disorders, too much calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). The main symptom is recurrent, belt-shaped upper abdominal pain. Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, weight loss, jaundice, light and fatty stool, and jaundice may occur under some circumstances. This happens because the pancreas is damaged and can no longer produce the fat-splitting enzyme lipase.

Tumors that might cause yellow stool

Tumors that narrow the bile ducts are usually painless. Masses can occur in the bile ducts inside and outside the liver, the liver, and the pancreas. Painless jaundice may be a warning sign. Weight loss, night sweats, and unexplained fever can also occur.

What is fatty stool (

steatorrhea)?

Bile works by digesting fat in the intestine. If the body cannot digest or absorb enough fats, for example—due to a lack of bile salts or of the enzyme lipase—it excretes them instead in stool. This might manifest as a greasy, shiny bowel movement with a distinct, pungent smell. Fatty bowel movements often float in the toilet. If this problem persists for an extended period of time, it may lead to weight loss.

In case of fatty stools, the underlying condition should be treated. Dietary intake of fat-soluble vitamins can be increased by taking nutritional supplements.The absorption of fats is completed in the last part of the small intestine. Bowel diseases like celiac disease can lead to indigestion with fatty stool, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Yellow diarrhea

A particularly common cause of abdominal pain are infections of the gastrointestinal tract, which cause pulpy, liquid bowel movements. Here, diarrhea occurs when the brown stool is thinned and can appear lighter in color.

There may also be mucus in the stool. Mucus acts as lubricant and keeps the intestinal inner lining moist. A small amount in bowel movements is normal. However, if you notice an increased amount or it is accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, or headache, seek evaluation from a primary care or gastroenterology provider.

Infants and yellow stool

Breastfed infants will have yellow, crumbly bowel movements. This is normal for infants. Bowel movement color should remain consistently yellow until a baby begins eating table foods. Any changes in bowel movement color in an exclusively breastfed infant should be followed up with a pediatric care provider.

What to do if you have yellow stool

Occasional yellow bowel movements are likely to be caused by diet. If yellow bowel movements become frequent, there may be an underlying condition responsible. A primary care provider or gastroenterologist can evaluate your symptoms and run lab tests to identify the cause of yellow bowel movements. If yellow bowel movements are accompanied by pain, fever, or jaundice, seek health care promptly.

Sources

Behrends, J., Bischofberger, J., Deutzmann, R. and Ehmke, H. (2010). Physiologie. Thieme. https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ebooks/book/10.1055/b-002-23567

Herold, G. (2011). Innere Medizin 2011. Cologne: Selbstverl.

Yellow Poop: Causes, Meaning, and Treatment

It’s common for your stool to change color. You likely have a varied diet, and changes in your diet impact your stool. But yellow stool could also mean one of a number of health conditions.

Bilirubin and bile give poop its brown color. Bilirubin is a byproduct of your red blood cells. It’s produced in the liver and then moves to the gallbladder, where it mixes with bile.

From there, most of the bilirubin passes into your intestines, where it’s broken down by bacteria and discarded in your feces or urine.

Several health conditions can cause yellow stool, also called pale stool.

1. Liver and gallbladder disorders

Cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis reduce or eliminate bile salts that help the body digest food and absorb nutrients. Gallstones or sludge in the gallbladder can reduce the amount of bile that reaches your intestines. Not only may this cause pain, but it can also turn your stool yellow.

2. 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 can cause steatorrhea, which means that your pancreas isn’t providing enough of the enzymes your intestines need to digest fat in food. The undigested fat can give the stool a yellow, greasy appearance causing it to float or appear frothy.

3. Celiac disease

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. If you have celiac disease and eat gluten, your body’s immune system responds by attacking and damaging the tissues of your small intestine. When this happens, your intestines aren’t able to absorb the nutrients your body needs. Celiac disease commonly runs in families.

According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, more than 250 symptoms are associated with celiac disease. This can make it difficult to diagnose the condition. The most common symptoms include:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• nausea
• bloating
• fatigue
• headache
• skin rash
• loss of bone density
• depression

Although there is no cure for celiac disease, it can be treated effectively by eliminating gluten from your diet.

4. Gilbert’s syndrome

Gilbert’s syndrome is a genetic liver disorder characterized by periods when bilirubin levels are too high. The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that Gilbert’s syndrome affects 3% to 7% of Americans. Symptoms of the disorder, primarily mild jaundice, are so mild that many people don’t know they have it. Gilbert’s syndrome is usually left untreated.

5. Giardiasis

Giardiasis is an infection of the intestinal tract by a microscopic parasite called giardia. You get giardiasis by ingesting giardia cysts. These are typically ingested with your food or water.

Symptoms of giardiasis may include:

• foul-smelling diarrhea that is often yellow
• stomach cramps
• nausea
• headache
• Low grade fever
• weight loss

Giardiasis is diagnosed by testing a stool sample. Although some people don’t require treatment, most are given antibiotics. Giardiasis often lasts several weeks. Giardiasis may become chronic, though this is rare.

Giardiasis is a common disorder worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), giardiasis is the most widespread intestinal parasitic infection in the United States.

Q:

When changing my baby’s diaper, sometimes his stool is yellow. Is this normal? If not, how should I treat it?

A Healthline reader

A:

Yes, yellow stool can indicate a shorter transit time of food through the intestinal tract. Different colors (darker) can indicate that transit time is slowing. It is not uncommon for stool to change colors. If you notice blood or diarrhea, you should notify your doctor immediately, as these may herald a serious health issue.

Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNPAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Was this helpful?

If you are older and have a yellow stool, it may be a sign of another health condition. These can include:

• diarrhea
• GERD
• cholestasis
• pancreatic, liver, or gallbladder disease
• abdominal tumor

Some of the complications of untreated yellow stool include low red blood counts, dehydration, poor nutrition, growth trouble in children, and the potential to spread cancers or infections.

Some symptoms are warning signs of a digestive tract problem, such as:

• diarrhea
• nausea and vomiting
• indigestion and gas
• severely bad-smelling stool
• swelling and bloating in the abdomen
• cramping in the abdomen

Other complications that may occur with yellow stool are jaundice, fever and fatigue, skin itching, and bone or joint pain.

If your stool turns yellow, it’s most often due to changes in your diet. If the color persists for several days or is accompanied by other symptoms, you may want to contact your doctor.

You should see your doctor if your yellow stool is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

• passing out
• lack of awareness
• confusion or mental changes
• fever
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• trouble breathing
• pus-filled stool
• lack of urine

You can connect with a primary care doctor in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.

Is yellow poop normal?

Yellow poop can be your body’s typical reaction to what you eat. Some causes of this are eating foods high in food coloring, carrots, or sweet potatoes. It may also be from certain gluten products or a diet high in fats. That said, if it’s happening chronically, you may want to see a doctor to exclude an underlying medical cause.

Does yellow poop mean infection?

Yellow poop can be caused by giardiasis, which is a bacterial infection. However, it’s not the only possible cause.

Can Covid-19 cause yellow poop?

Research shows that people who experience diarrhea as a symptom of Covid-19 can have yellow stool. This is likely due to your body not having enough time to digest your food.

Your bowel movements may differ in color, depending on what you’ve eaten recently. But if your stool is yellow, it could be indicative of a medical condition.

If you are having yellow poop, especially if you are noticing it frequently, see your doctor for an evaluation. Many things can cause yellow stool, and it’s a good idea to find the cause in case you need treatment.

Yellow diarrhea: causes, methods of treatment and prevention in adults

Co-author, editor and medical expert – Klimovich Elina Valerievna.

Editor and medical expert – Harutyunyan Mariam Harutyunovna.

Number of views: 1 320 410

Date last updated: 2 Contents:

Causes of yellow diarrhea
Associated symptoms
Necessary measures
Treatment
IMODIUM ^® Diarrhea Express
Diarrhea treatment

Yellow diarrhea as well as diarrhea a different color, does not apply to independent diseases. But this condition may indicate a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract, problems with the liver and gallbladder, infectious diseases, intoxication, or other health problems that require timely and proper treatment.

Causes of yellow diarrhea

Loose stools that are bright yellow or mustard in color can be caused by the following diseases and conditions.

Intestinal infection . The causative agents of infectious diseases of the intestine can be viruses (with enterovirus, rotavirus infection, etc.), bacteria (with cholera, salmonellosis, dysentery), bacterial toxins (with toxic infections), as well as fungi and protozoa. They enter the body along with contaminated food, water, or if personal hygiene requirements are not observed. Also, the source can be poorly washed or long-term stored food, toys, household items, food products that have not undergone heat treatment. The disease can develop rapidly and be quite difficult (frequent urination and loose stools quickly lead to dehydration and other complications).

Food poisoning . It can occur when eating inedible or poisonous mushrooms, spoiled dishes. With improper storage of products (especially fermented milk), non-compliance with sanitary requirements during the preparation of various dishes, staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and other pathogenic microorganisms can multiply in them. In the course of their life activity, pathogenic microorganisms release many toxins, which poison the human body, having entered it with contaminated food.

Food allergy . Food allergies are often accompanied by digestive disorders. Gastrointestinal manifestations of such a reaction in a child or adult may include pale yellow diarrhea, severe flatulence, nausea, etc.

Other causes. Light yellow diarrhea can occur with problems with the gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and gallbladder, enzymatic pancreatic insufficiency. It also appears with excessive consumption of dairy products, especially if a person suffers from lactose intolerance. Also, such a chair is sometimes found in infants whose diet is represented mainly by breast milk or milk mixtures.

Associated symptoms

Diarrhea rarely develops as the only symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder or disease. In addition to diarrhea, the following manifestations of the underlying pathology may also be observed.

Necessary measures

What to do with yellow diarrhea should be decided by the doctor after a preliminary examination and a complete examination.

Treatment

In the treatment of diarrhea, it is important to eliminate the cause of this symptom and normalize bowel function in order to stop the loss of water and electrolytes and the development of other negative consequences. To understand the overall clinical picture and key aspects of the patient’s health, a medical examination is carried out, based on the results of which the doctor prescribes treatment. It may include taking various groups of drugs, including antibiotics, antidiarrheal drugs, lacto- and bifidobacteria, rehydrating solutions, enterosorbents, etc. The specific names of the drugs, their combination as part of complex treatment, the dosage and duration of the course of therapy are prescribed by the doctor.

IMODIUM

^® Express in the fight against diarrhea

Antidiarrheal agent IMODIUM ^® Express is intended for the symptomatic treatment of diseases that are accompanied by diarrhea. It contributes to the onset of antidiarrheal effect an hour after taking the pill. The drug helps to slow down peristalsis and increase the time it takes for the contents to pass through the intestines. As a result, the frequency of the urge to defecate and the release of water into the intestinal lumen are reduced, the absorption of water and salts by the intestinal walls is normalized. The action of the product does not violate the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora.

Treatment of diarrhea

Before taking the drug, carefully read the instructions for its use.

This material is for guidance only and does not replace medical advice.

* Among products based on Loperamide. According to sales in money for February 2018 – January 2019, according to IQVIA.

Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract – Services

Digestive diseases are by far the most common of all diseases of the internal organs. The “field of responsibility” of gastroenterology is the treatment of diseases of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, intestines, gallbladder and liver.

Digestion is the process of mechanical and chemical processing of food, as a result of which nutrients are absorbed and assimilated by the body, and decay products and undigested products are removed from it.

Digestion is the initial stage of metabolism. With food, a person receives energy and all the necessary substances for the renewal and growth of tissues. However, the proteins, fats and carbohydrates contained in food, as well as vitamins and mineral salts, are foreign substances for the body and cannot be absorbed by its cells. First, these substances must be converted into smaller molecules that are soluble in water and lack specificity. This process takes place in the digestive tract and is called digestion. The causes of indigestion are insufficient secretion of gastric juice or a violation of the evacuation of contents due to a pathological process in any organ of the digestive system.

Manifestations of indigestion: loss of appetite, feeling of heaviness, fullness in the epigastric region, nausea, sometimes vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, bloating.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases:

• colicky or aching girdle pain, headaches, irritability;
• dyspeptic disorders:
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • belching
  • heartburn
  • appetite disorder
  • bad taste in the mouth
  • stool retention
  • frequent loose stools
  • flatulence
• jaundice.

Causes of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The modern rhythm of life, constant stress, unhealthy diet, unfavorable environmental conditions – all this has an extremely negative impact on the state of the human body, including the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The number of patients with chronic gastroenterological diseases is growing every year. And often the cause of the flow of the disease into a chronic form is self-medication.

Please note

Do not self-medicate! This will only aggravate the course of the disease, bringing only a temporary improvement in the condition.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is a collective term for digestive disorders of a functional nature arising from insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes or poor nutrition.

Dyspepsia is distinguished:

• fermentative
• putrid
• fatty.

Fermentative dyspepsia is associated with excessive consumption of carbohydrates (sugar, honey, flour products, fruits, grapes, peas, beans, cabbage, etc.), as well as fermentation drinks (kvass). As a result, conditions are created in the intestine for the development of fermentative flora.

The cause of putrefactive dyspepsia is the consumption of predominantly protein foods, especially lamb, pork meat, which is digested more slowly in the intestines. Sometimes putrefactive dyspepsia occurs due to the use of stale meat products in food.

Fatty dyspepsia occurs as a result of excessive consumption of slowly digested, especially refractory, fats (pork, lamb). Dyspepsia may accompany gastritis, pancreatitis.

Symptoms of dyspepsia

• Fermentative dyspepsia – bloating, rumbling in the intestines, release of a large amount of gases; frequent, faintly colored loose, frothy, sour-smelling stools.
• Putrid dyspepsia – diarrhea with a rich dark color of feces and a putrid odor. Against the background of general intoxication with decay products, patients often complain of a deterioration in appetite, weakness, and a decrease in efficiency.
• With fatty dyspepsia, stools are light, copious, with a greasy sheen.

Treatment of dyspepsia

Drug therapy includes enzyme preparations.

As a symptomatic treatment of dyspepsia, the following drugs can be used: Almagel, Maalox and other acid-reducing agents; drugs that reduce gastric secretion – omeprazole, ranitidine, famotidine, etc. ; enzyme preparations – acidinpepsin, abomin, pancreatin, etc.; prokinetics – motilium, etc.; preparations for the restoration of microflora – bifikol, colibacterin and a number of other groups.

Normalization of nutrition plays a very important role in the treatment of dyspepsia.

Fasting is usually prescribed for 1–1.5 days, then:

Pay attention

It is necessary to identify and treat the underlying disease that caused dyspepsia! All kinds of folk remedies can relieve the symptoms, but the reason why they arose will not be removed! The disease will manifest itself again and again, and the disease that caused it will go into a chronic stage, in which the treatment will be much more difficult or not beneficial at all.