Why feces white color, accompanying signs: lumps, mucus, grits, worms

A change in the color of a person's stool is a reflection of certain processes in the body. Normal feces can have different shades, from yellowish to dark brown. Variations within the norm do not pose a danger, but if the color changes significantly, you should be wary. Light-colored stool can be the first sign of some diseases that are best detected in the early stages.

Causes of white stool

The light color of feces is associated with the lack of bilirubin entering the intestines, which is synthesized into stercobilin, a pigment substance that colors the stool in its usual brown hue.

The appearance of light-colored stool may be a consequence of eating certain foods. White feces after milk indicate that the product was high in fat. There may also be white feces after kefir, sour cream, butter or lard. In this case, you should adjust your diet. Light-colored stool is also associated with alcohol, the use of which is a risk factor for the development of liver pathologies.

Various medications can also cause white stool. Among them are:

• antibacterial drugs;
• antifungal agents;
• oral contraceptives;
• medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis;
• anti-epileptic drugs;
• medications for gout;
• drugs that contain acetylsalicylic acid;
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• in particular, the pathogenesis of light-colored feces may be a consequence of an overdose of Paracetamol;
• white stool is not uncommon after suppositories;
• after tramadol, white stool may be a consequence of the fact that 10% of this drug is excreted from the body through the intestines;
• In some cases, white feces are observed after smecta.

After stopping the use of the above medications, the color of the stool should return to normal. If the patient's condition remains unchanged, it makes sense to consult a specialist, since this symptom may indicate the development of certain diseases. White feces, as a symptom of a disease, may indicate the following pathologies:

• hepatitis (white feces in hepatitis are combined with dark urine and yellowish skin)
• pancreatitis (this disease is indicated by pain mainly in the left hypochondrium; the cause may be poor nutrition, frequent consumption of fatty foods and alcoholic beverages, which provokes white feces with pancreatitis)
• cholecystitis (white stool and nausea combined with high temperature and vomiting, pain in the stomach area and poor appetite)
• oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (initially, cancer proceeds without any symptoms; as the tumor grows, painful conditions, changes in stool consistency, weight loss, aversion to food and, in fact, white feces may be observed)
• Crohn's disease (a chronic gastrointestinal disease, the pathogenesis of which is associated with allergies, infections or psychosomatics; symptoms include high temperature, white stool with blood, vomiting)
• rotavirus infection (white stool and vomiting combined with high temperature)
• cirrhosis of the liver (white feces in cirrhosis of the liver are observed at the stage of subcompensation or decompensation).

Other reasons include:

• white feces during pregnancy and after childbirth (associated with both the consumption of certain foods and with pathologies in the form of gastrointestinal or liver dysfunction);
• white stool after surgery, most often after gallbladder removal;
• after X-ray examination using barium sulfate;
• white feces after poisoning.

According to statistics, white feces in young children are most often not associated with any diseases. Stool can be colored light-colored by milk formula, products from introduced complementary feeding (especially dairy products). The stool of a child under one year of age on exclusive breastfeeding can be of any color. Light-colored feces may be evidence of excessive intake of carbohydrates into the body.

White feces in an adult should be a warning sign and a reason to review the menu and contact the attending physician. White feces in the elderly can be a sign of serious diseases.

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Associated symptoms of light colored stool

Often, light-colored stool has accompanying symptoms. Their combination can be an indicator of the development of various pathologies.

1. White worms in feces indicate that the human body contains parasites, such as roundworms, cat flukes or helminths. If a white worm comes out with feces, you should immediately contact a parasitologist for appropriate drug therapy.
2. White lumps in the stool may indicate that the intestines are leaving the remains of undigested food, mainly of plant origin. These also include white inclusions, streaks in the stool. Most often, white clots in the stool do not require a visit to a specialist or drug treatment. However, if undigested white lumps in the stool are combined with white liquid stool, this may indicate cholecystitis and serve as a reason to see a doctor. It is also worth paying attention to stool in white fibers.
3. White liquid feces may indicate a problem with the pancreas and liver (chronic pancreatitis, hepatitis, biliary dyskinesia ).
4. White feces and dark urine are a direct indication for immediate diagnosis of hepatitis. It is especially worth paying attention if dark urine and white feces are combined with jaundice.
5. Pain in the right hypochondrium and white stool may indicate liver or gallbladder pathologies. If the right side is pulling and the white stool has a normal consistency, this is still a reason to contact a specialist.
6. White stool and temperature may indicate the development of inflammatory processes in the body. If temperature, white stool and vomiting in a child are combined, this may be a sign of the development of a rotavirus infectious disease. It should be noted that white stool with rotavirus is very often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
7. White mucus in the stool or stool with a white coating may indicate internal fistulas in the intestine. In the case when white mucus balls come out with the stool or the stool comes out in a white coating, there is a possibility of the current development of proctitis. The presence of white dots in the stool, similar to mucus, may indicate that pus from the inflamed intestine gets into the feces. In addition to the fact that the mucus in this case looks like lumps of white fat in the stool, the patient may feel pain in the anus and other symptoms, up to an increase in temperature. In this case, there may be almost white stool or feces with a normal color. Blood and white mucus in the stool may indicate concomitant cracks in the anus.
8. A foul odor and frequently appearing almost white feces can be an indicator of various pathologies. Sometimes white feces are noted in liver cancer, pancreas or gall bladder cancer. Foul-smelling white feces in pancreatitis can indicate the transition of the disease of the hepatobiliary system to a chronic form.
9. Constipation and white stool may indicate liver or gallbladder dysfunction.
10. White foamy stool indicates gastrointestinal pathologies, such as ulcers or enterocolitis. If there is white foam instead of stool, you need to urgently contact a gastroenterologist to avoid further consequences.
11. White feces with dysbacteriosis have a color close to green. In this case, white feces and bloating can be combined.

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Diagnosis of light colored stool

Light-colored feces are a symptom of many conditions. What white feces indicate can have harmful consequences and complications. Since this symptom can indicate the development of some serious diseases, including cancer and chronic diseases, it is necessary to conduct a timely diagnosis of light-colored stool.

First of all, you should take stool and urine tests, complete general and biochemical blood tests.

Further instrumental diagnostics depend on the test results.

Differential diagnostics

Differential diagnosis involves distinguishing between the above-mentioned diseases and conditions.

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What to do if the stool is white?

First of all, it is necessary to establish the cause and treat it, and not to carry out symptomatic treatment of white feces. Medicines are prescribed depending on the identified diagnosis. Self-medication is strictly prohibited. As prescribed by a doctor, you can resort to symptomatic treatment.

In case of diarrhea, vomiting and light-colored stool, dehydration should be prevented and oral rehydration medication should be taken. Regidron can be used, which should be diluted in water at a rate of 1 sachet per 1 liter of water. In therapeutic doses, this drug is harmless, but in case of overdose, general fatigue and drowsiness, arrhythmia may be observed. In case of a large overdose, respiratory arrest may occur.

The remedy for diarrhea is Smecta, which is used up to three times a day, dissolving one dose of one sachet in half a glass of water. This drug should not be used in case of intestinal obstruction, as well as in case of hypersensitivity to the components. It should be noted that Smecta can lead to constipation and color the stool light-colored, so you should not take this medicine if it previously caused light-colored stool.

Treatment of diseases such as hepatitis, pancreatitis or cholecystitis requires complex therapy. Hepatoprotectors such as Essentiale are usually prescribed for hepatitis. This drug is usually prescribed 2 capsules no more than three times in 24 hours. This drug is also administered intravenously in an amount of approximately 10 ml per day. Essentiale is prohibited in case of individual hypersensitivity; it is not allowed to administer it intravenously to newborns and premature babies. Diarrhea is very rarely observed as a side effect.

In case of chronic pancreatitis and disorders of the pancreas, Pancreatin is taken. This drug is not used in acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, as well as in pediatric practice for children under 6 years of age. Only a doctor can prescribe Pancreatin according to the indications. Usually 1-2 tablets of the drug are prescribed during or after meals. In case of overdose, constipation (mainly in children) and hyperuricemia are possible. Side effects in the form of gastrointestinal disorders or allergic reactions are possible.

Traditional medicine is used as an adjuvant therapy.

If light-colored stool indicates hepatitis, it is recommended to brew a spoonful of raw corn silk in 200 ml of boiling water and drink this decoction throughout the day.

Also, for hepatitis, you can take honey by dissolving a tablespoon of the product in 200 ml of water.

Research has also shown that black cumin should be taken for pancreatic diseases. Another effective recipe is considered to be a tincture of walnut leaves (100 g of leaves and 600 ml of vodka), which is infused for 7 days.

Herbal treatment is additional and cannot be used as the main therapy. However, depending on the etiology of light stool, it is recommended to drink decoctions of different herbs. Thus, for hepatitis, it is recommended to drink a decoction of sage or milk thistle seeds. For problems with the pancreas, so-called “Tibetan tea” is used, consisting of a collection of St. John's wort, birch buds, chamomile and immortelle.

Depending on the pathogenesis, homeopathy may be prescribed.

For hepatitis and cholecystitis, Pyrogenium (6 to 200 doses per week), Selenium (6 to 30 dilutions), Phosphorus (3 to 30 dilutions), Dogwood (from tincture to 6 dilutions) are prescribed. Contraindication is hypersensitivity to the components.

Since light-colored stool can be a manifestation of various pathologies, physical therapy may be prescribed when making a diagnosis. In case of a particularly complex diagnosis, surgical treatment may be performed.

Prevention

Prevention of light-colored stool is prevention of diseases of which it is a symptom. It is advisable to minimize alcohol consumption, fatty foods, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Forecast

The prognosis of this symptom depends on the disease, its form and stage. In most cases, if the patient properly follows the doctor's instructions regarding adequate drug treatment, the prognosis can be comforting. However, in cases of oncological pathologies or chronic diseases, different scenarios are possible.