If light-colored feces appear, then in the near future it is necessary to make an appointment with a doctor to find out the reasons for this phenomenon. In a healthy person, the stool should have a brown tint. This color is due to the presence of undigested food particles that have entered the human body over the past 2 to 3 days, and the presence of bile processed in the intestines. Babies under 1 year old, who, as a rule, eat only mother's milk, have stools of a different color. They may be yellow-brown, light yellow or greenish in color.

A change in the color of feces can indicate both malnutrition and the presence of any serious ailments in the body. That is why it is important to sign up for a consultation with a specialist in time.

1 Non-disease causes of white stools

As mentioned above, a change in the color of the stool can be associated with quite serious diseases. Fortunately, things are not always so serious. Other factors that do not pose a serious threat to health can affect the color and consistency of feces.

• Long-term use of certain medications.

As practice shows, some drugs can cause the above phenomenon. These drugs include antibiotics, antifungal and anti-inflammatory drugs, contraceptives, drugs for tuberculosis, epilepsy and gout. Often light feces appear after an overdose of Paracetamol. In most cases, the stool returns to normal almost immediately after stopping the drug.

• Wrong nutrition.

Often the person himself is to blame for the fact that his feces change their shade. Light-colored stools occur after eating a large amount of fatty foods such as sour cream, lard and butter for several days. If there are white lumps or fibers in the stool, then this most likely indicates the presence of undigested particles of plant food in the feces. In this case, no special treatment is required, since the stool will return to normal on its own in a few days.

The causes of light stools in young children are the introduction of complementary foods or teething. Feces in a baby may become white due to calcium, which enters the body with dairy products. Excessive consumption of carbohydrates can lead to the same effect. Parents can cope with all these factors on their own, without the help of doctors. You just need to adjust the child's menu.

In addition, obstructive jaundice also causes a similar problem. With this disease, not only light or gray feces are detected, but the color of the skin and even mucous membranes also changes. Patients may even have severe itching. In this case, contacting a medical institution is mandatory.

2 Diseases that can cause such changes

Sometimes the causes of discoloration of feces are the development of serious ailments. In this case, unpleasant symptoms may appear periodically for no apparent reason. In addition to light-colored stools, the patient usually has any of the following symptoms.

1. Increased body temperature.
2. Yellowing of the sclera of the eyes and skin.
3. Severe pain in the abdomen.
4. Vomiting and nausea.
5. Darkening of the urine.
6. Poor appetite and weight loss.

To understand the true reason for the change in the color of feces, you need to listen to your body and pay attention to all new, unpleasant sensations. So, for example, if discoloration of the stool is accompanied by dark urine, pain in the right side and high fever, then doctors in most cases diagnose hepatitis, cholecystitis, or blockage of the biliary tract. Any sign of these diseases should alert a person and become a reason to see a doctor. The thing is that all of the above ailments are very dangerous for human health and, if not treated in time, can cause irreparable harm to the patient's health.

Often, mucus or a white coating appears in the stool. These signs indicate the presence of internal fistulas of the rectum or the development of proctitis. With these ailments, pus from the inflamed rectum is mixed with feces. In this case, the patient suffers from fever and pain in the anus.

The causes of the appearance of white stools with a sharp unpleasant odor most often lie in the violation of the functions of digestion of fats, which occurs against the background of gallbladder cancer, pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Gallstones in the gallbladder can also cause the above changes.

Light-colored feces are often observed in children with influenza or rotavirus infections. When these diseases appear, the stool will have a gray tint. Fecal masses turn white, as a rule, a few days after the first signs of the disease appear. Sometimes this symptom appears after the recovery of the baby. In addition to discolored stools, parents should pay attention to symptoms such as nausea, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and general weakness. It is this symptomatology that is characteristic of influenza and rotavirus infection.

Quite rare, but light brown stools in children can occur due to inflammation of the pancreas. With the development of this painful condition, babies complain of pain in the left hypochondrium, in the navel and upper abdomen. The pain syndrome radiates to the back and lower back of the child.

Whipple's disease is a poorly understood disease that can cause light-colored stools in children. A characteristic symptom of Whipple's disease is frequent, liquid, white-gray stools that have a sharp and unpleasant odor. Diarrhea occurs more than 10 times a day.

The light color of feces should in no case be left without attention.

First of all, the doctor finds out the main reason for the change in the stool. This will depend on further treatment. So, for example, if pancreatitis or hepatitis became the cause of the above phenomenon, then doctors urgently hospitalize the patient. If a tumor or stones became the cause of the change in the color of the feces, then without surgical intervention it will not be possible to cure the disease. Today, endoscopic techniques for the removal of stones in the gallbladder are very popular. Some techniques allow you to remove stones using ultrasound.

As mentioned above, white stools can appear due to the use of certain foods. In this case, there is no point in taking medications. The only thing to do is to normalize your diet and do not abuse foods that lead to discoloration of feces.

For the treatment of hepatitis in children, doctors prescribe antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs. Ribavirin and Interferon Alpha are very popular.

White stools associated with poor pancreatic function are treated with a whole range of medicines. We are talking about antibiotics, antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, analgesics and other medicines.

Discolored liquid stool in a newborn is treated with Smectite. This remedy removes pathogenic microbes and toxins from the body. In addition, Smectite restores the intestinal microflora and has a pleasant taste. This is very important, because sometimes it is quite difficult to force a baby to use any unpleasant medications. Smectite is sold as a powder, which must be diluted in warm, clean water. Treatment of infants involves the use of half a sachet of medicine (it must be diluted in 1 glass of water).

If white feces in a baby appeared due to poor digestibility of dairy products, then doctors, as a rule, prescribe an enzyme preparation such as Lactase Baby. This medicine is available in the form of capsules. For children under 1 year old, the contents of 1 capsule should be added to expressed milk. For children over 1 year old, the contents of the capsule can be added to warm food containing milk.

4 Folk remedies

Feces of white and gray color can be treated not only with medications, but also with traditional medicine recipes. Home treatment of such a painful condition directly depends on what exactly caused it.

For the treatment of hepatitis, a decoction of corn stigmas is suitable. 1 spoon of raw materials must be poured with 1 cup of boiling water and wait about 20 minutes until the product cools down. You need to drink such a drug in a warm form instead of tea throughout the day.

No less popular with this disease is a decoction of sage officinalis. To prepare it, pour 50 g of grass into 700 ml of boiling water, wait until the liquid cools down a bit, add 1 tablespoon of natural honey and stir. After 60 minutes, the decoction should be drunk. It is advisable to drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.

You can change the color of feces in pancreatitis with the following remedy. A small amount of oats should be thoroughly washed and left in a sunny place to dry. After 1-2 days, the seeds will begin to germinate. They must be thoroughly rinsed again and set aside to dry. As soon as the raw material dries, it must be crushed to a powder state. The resulting powder should be diluted in cold water, put on the stove and boil for 3-5 minutes. The resulting consistency should be set aside for half an hour. After that, the mixture should be filtered and drunk throughout the day in small sips. An important rule: only fresh decoction of oats is useful. It cannot be prepared ahead of time.

5 Other things that help

White feces with pancreatitis are also treated with tincture of barberry: 100 g of finely chopped barberry root must be poured into 1.5 liters of vodka and removed in a dark, warm place for 10 days. The tool needs to be shaken from time to time. After 10 days, the healing liquid should be passed through a strainer and drunk 1 small spoon three times a day before meals.

Light-colored stools in an adult diagnosed with gallstones can be treated with fresh black radish juice. Experts advise taking 100 ml of juice orally every morning for 3-6 weeks. Healing liquid should be drunk on an empty stomach. Every morning you need to prepare a new juice.

With kidney stones, celandine tea is very useful. This drink is very easy to prepare. 3 tablespoons of raw materials should be steamed in 1 liter of hot water until completely cooled. Drink this tea should be warm, with the addition of a small amount of honey, throughout the day.

It is impossible to treat white stools in adults and children using folk recipes without consulting your doctor. Self-medication in most cases causes complications.

The digestive system processes food to the smallest compounds, providing the body with the necessary energy. Any malfunctions in the work of the gastrointestinal tract in themselves lead to disorders, and with untimely treatment, serious diseases are also possible.

It is not always possible to identify pathology in the early stages, but if a person has a red stool and there is a deterioration in well-being, this is a strong argument for contacting a doctor.

Fecal masses, forming in the intestines, acquire a brown color. This is due to bile, which is a yellow-green liquid. It is synthesized in the liver and acts as a digestive enzyme.

Passing through the intestines, bile becomes brown, and any deviations from this color give rise to physicians for a more detailed examination.

What is red stool a sign of?

Often, a change in the color of feces to red or orange stools appears only due to the fact that a person has eaten too much food of the corresponding color. And although some people become overly worried about this, the worry is usually unnecessary.

For example, it may appear after eating blood sausage or blackcurrant, and the green color is due to plant chlorophyll.

Orange-colored stools are caused by eating carrots, apricots, and other foods rich in beta-carotene.

Sometimes this color is the result of the use of drugs based on the anti-tuberculosis antibiotic Rifampicin or special vitamin A supplements.

Red feces often appear due to the use of beets or tomatoes.

Many are familiar with this change in stool after a meal, the main dishes of which were herring under a fur coat or borscht. But you also need to eat a lot of such foods so that the red streaks in the feces become pronounced.

If during a therapeutic conversation it turns out that the patient's health is consistently good and has not changed, and the diet has recently been saturated with similar food, doctors do not consider this a disorder, referring to physiological processes.

However, red feces can also indicate intestinal pathology.

When should you be concerned?

The human digestive system is most vulnerable to microorganisms. Of course, microbes can infect any organs, but it is in the gastrointestinal tract that there are all the necessary conditions for the development of pathogenic bacteria.

It is impossible to exclude the insufficiency of the functioning of the liver and pancreas. These organs are responsible for the synthesis of enzymes, without which digestion is simply impossible.

It often signals a dysbacteriosis, which, as a rule, develops after taking antibiotics. These drugs are necessary to fight harmful microorganisms, but the action of chemical compounds extends to beneficial microbes.

In addition, the inflammatory process in the intestine tends to neutralize protective cells - leukocytes. While doing their job, they also die, are excreted along with the feces, which turns green.

Yellow and orange stools may be due to a high concentration of undigested fat. And this indicates a low amount of pancreatic juice.

If a person has black-red feces (solid or streaked), and the corresponding food was not consumed the day before, then the reasons may be pathological:

• haemorrhoids;
• fissures of the rectum or other parts of the intestine;
• ulcers;
• inflammation;
• helminths;
• infection;
• tumor.

However, the redness of the stool varies. It all depends on the location of the lesion.

Bright red stools indicate bleeding in the lower intestines, and dark ones in the upper ones.

In addition, a person often manifests diarrhea, nausea, pain and high body temperature - these additional symptoms are important diagnostic characteristics.

Unlike adults, children often show red stools. And in most cases, this is not a sign of pathology. In very young children (up to 1 year old), reddening of the feces occurs due to an ordinary banana, and it is not so important who ate it: either the child himself, or the mother who is breastfeeding.

Older children are often addicted to a variety of sweets and drinks with dyes, which also contributes to a change in the color of the feces.

Liquid orange stools may indicate indigestion due to the use of low-quality food. Gastric lavage () will come to the rescue in such a situation, as well as taking probiotics - special means for normalizing microflora.

Children sometimes eat completely unwashed fruits picked in the garden, and this is fraught with the development of dysentery, the signs of which are an admixture of blood and pus in the feces. In this case, you should not delay contacting the pediatrician.

What to do with redness of the stool?

First of all it is important to pay attention to well-being if it is good - remember the dishes eaten the day before. If there were no red foods in the diet, then I recommend contacting the hospital for examination - especially if there is a deterioration in general condition, weakness or dizziness.

Red-brown feces have characteristic impurities that indicate a particular disease. Therefore, doctors will require an analysis of feces, and in case of severe malaise, they may prescribe an internal examination using an endoscope.

Red loose stools usually occur with ulcerative colitis. Such a disease is treated on an outpatient basis, be sure to prescribe a special diet with a high content of thermally processed vegetables and fruits.

But in some cases, you can not do without surgery. For example, with gastric bleeding, the patient is immediately sent to the surgical department.
Infectious diseases require the use of antibiotics.

And in the case of bleeding of hemorrhoids, it is quite possible to carry out their resection, although medications are usually prescribed in the early stages. Regardless of the cause of reddening of feces, self-medication is not only undesirable, but also dangerous.

Indigestion can occur in anyone. And if orange feces do not bother doctors, then red is perceived as a sign of pathology in the gastrointestinal tract.

It is better to contact a gastroenterologist who, from the height of his experience, will give a sober assessment of the situation and prescribe the correct course of therapy.

The color of a healthy person's stool can vary from light brown to dark brown. This color is due to the presence in the feces of a product that is produced as a result of pigment metabolism processes.

Causes of discoloration of feces

The color or shade of feces may change due to:

• taking certain medications, for example, hematogen, bismuth salts, calomel. In such cases, the feces may be black or green;
• certain foodstuffs consumed. For example, after eating asparagus, lettuce, and sorrel, the feces acquire a greenish tint. And after eating blackcurrants, cherries and blueberries, it can turn black;
• predominance in the products of certain nutrients. For example, when drinking a lot of milk, the color of the feces can become golden yellow, when eating meat and sausage products - black-brown, and when eating plant foods - light brown.

However, a change in the color and shade of feces may also indicate the development of certain pathological processes in the body and be one of the symptoms of the following diseases:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• stomach ulcer;
• development of malignant and benign neoplasms;
• hepatitis;
• erosion of the stomach;
• bleeding from hemorrhoids:
• bleeding from the rectum.

If the color of the feces has changed for no reason, that is, this was not preceded by the intake of certain medicines and foods, you should immediately seek medical help. After all, a timely diagnosis will help eliminate the problem in the early stages of its development, which will lead to a successful and most rapid cure for the disease. In such situations, it is recommended to contact specialists in the field:

• hepatology;
• gastroenterology;
• oncology.

Light color stool

Fecal masses that have a pale hue (white, gray) in most cases indicate that a person ate a large amount the day before:

• potatoes
• tapioca;
• rice.

If a person has had a barium sulfate x-ray, they will also have discolored stools for several days.
Some medications for diarrhea can also cause gray stools. The fact is that the composition of these drugs includes additives such as calcium and antacids.

If we consider the issue of the occurrence of pale feces on the other hand, it becomes clear that the bile secreted by the gallbladder does not enter the intestine for some reason. This may signal the development of certain diseases, including those associated with the closure of the bile ducts, namely:

• pancreatitis;
• bile duct tumors;
• hepatitis A;
• stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts;
• cancer or cirrhosis of the liver.

Thus, we can conclude that if a person has white feces, then he has problems with the gallbladder. He may be suffering from cholecystitis.

Red stool

Red or red-brown color of feces should alert. After all, it is a harbinger of the development of certain pathological processes in the body. Although in most cases, red stool indicates that you ate a fairly large amount of the following foods the day before:

• beets;
• red gelatin;
• tomatoes;
• fruit punches.

Also, red stools can also indicate that a person was taking certain antibiotics that contributed to the formation of ulcers in the intestines. And this has already caused bleeding. After taking potassium tablets and some other medicines, feces with the presence of blood may also be observed.

If you notice the appearance of bloody stools, and did not eat red foods the day before, this may indicate the presence of cracks in the anus, as well as hemorrhoids. These problems could be due to the following reasons:

• after childbirth;
• after intercourse;
• the presence of foreign objects in the rectum;
• with frequent constipation.

Also, red stools can be the result of a disease such as intestinal inflammation. For this disease, in addition to blood feces, the presence of diarrhea and severe spasms is characteristic.

In addition to these problems, red feces can be a harbinger of some other diseases of the digestive system of organs. So, if the stool is bright red, the problem is most likely in the lower intestines. It is very likely that there are malfunctions of the large intestine, such as diverticulitis, when small areas of the rectum become inflamed due to the presence of an infection. This condition is characterized by the presence of acute pain in the lower abdomen.

As for stools that are dark red in color, the problem is most likely in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, namely:

• in the small intestine;
• in the stomach;
• in the esophagus.

Bloody stools are sometimes the only symptomatic manifestation of colon cancer, as well as the presence of polyps in it. These polyps can be either malignant or benign.

However, in these cases, along with bloody stools, the presence of:

• bouts of nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• spasms;
• general weakness;
• significant weight loss.

Yellow stool

Light yellow (golden) feces can be observed with the development of a pathology such as fermentative dyspepsia, in other words, a violation of the processes of carbohydrate digestion. This pathology can be the cause of violations of the digestive organs in terms of insufficient digestion of the connective tissue membranes of plant fibers. Thus, the carbohydrates present in plant foods become inaccessible to pancreatic enzymes, as well as the small intestine.

Often, the yellow color of feces in an adult occurs due to poor-quality digestion of food in the large intestine, as well as due to pancreatic insufficiency.

It is worth noting that in children who are breastfed, the color of feces can vary from pale yellow or even green-yellow to rich yellow with a golden hue.

Green stool

The green color of feces may indicate the development of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, about the course of pathological processes in the small intestine, as well as the development of dysbacteriosis, which provokes the processes of fermentation and decay of the food consumed.

The stool may turn green due to the use of certain antibiotics. This color is due to the fact that in the intestine there is a large number of dead leukocytes, which accumulate in it against the background of foci of inflammation that have arisen.

Also, green feces are characteristic of a disease such as dysentery, which is an intestinal infection. Together with such a chair, a person usually has:

• a significant increase in body temperature:
• pain in the abdomen;
• bouts of nausea and profuse vomiting;
• aches and weakness all over the body.

Also, feces can acquire a green tint due to the oxidation of iron, which is present in the composition of red blood cells. This is due to the development of complications of ulcers or malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Another cause of green feces are diseases of the hematopoietic organs. The fact is that due to the breakdown of red blood cells, hemoglobin is converted into a large amount of bilirubin. As a result, this substance, when it enters the intestines, gives the feces a greenish tint.

In children at 6-8 months of age, the color of the stool may also be green. This is due to the fact that unchanged bilirubin enters the intestines of the child. And if no other symptoms are observed (fever, abdominal pain, blood in the stool), you should not worry.

Dark colored stool

In most cases, feces that are black in color make a more shocking and even ominous impression on a person than bloody stools.

However, not everything is as sad as it might seem at first glance. After all, a common cause of staining feces in black is:

• receiving activated charcoal;
• taking various nutritional supplements that contain iron;
• taking medications that contain bismuth;
• the use of black licorice;
• eating blueberries.

But if you find yourself with dark feces (almost black), which at the same time will have a viscous consistency (tarry), hurry to contact a competent doctor. After all, this can signal the presence of blood in the feces, which, in the process of getting from the esophagus into the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract, undergoes changes - it becomes thick, viscous, and also acquires a dark color.

A common cause of black stools is the abuse of alcoholic beverages, as well as the intake of certain medications and drugs that contribute to the development of bleeding in the esophagus. Such medicines include:

• ibuprofen:
• acetaminophen;
• aspirin;
• other non-steroidal drugs, the action of which is aimed at relieving inflammatory processes.

As for diseases, the symptom of which may be black stools, these include:

• gastritis;
• colon cancer;
• duodenal ulcer (in the small intestine);
• stomach ulcer;
• tumor neoplasms in the upper gastrointestinal tract;
• inflammation of the inner walls of the stomach.

In conclusion, it is necessary to remind once again that if changes in the color of feces are detected, it is recommended to immediately seek medical help. A qualified specialist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. Be healthy!

A change in the usual color of feces is an important diagnostic sign. The presence of such a chair may be due to a sharp change in diet, the use of a separate category of products, and the use of medications. Often, yellow stool in an adult, especially if it contains white lumps, mucus, indicates inflammation in one or several sections of the gastrointestinal tract.

What determines the color of feces?

The color of feces is determined by bilirubin contained in bile. This substance is formed as a result of the destruction of red blood cells by the liver, after which it is fed into the duodenum 12. When food moves through the small intestine, the process of its assimilation takes place. The absorption of water occurs through the large intestine, where bilirubin, due to the oxidation reaction, is converted into stercobilin, which gives the dark color to the feces.

At the final stage, digestive enzymes, food fragments create a decorated stool. By the shade of feces, one can determine the nature of nutrition and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as deviations from the norm. A yellow stool in a person appears in such cases:

• undergoing drug therapy;
• the appearance of new products in the diet;
• drinking alcohol in large doses and often;
• disturbed metabolism;
• malfunction of the intestines;
• pathology of the pancreas, stomach, gallbladder.

Presence of yellow stool without complaints

Clarified yellowish feces in normal health should not cause alarm. The following food in the diet predetermines a similar phenomenon:

• confectionery in excess;
• lactic acid products;
• beans;
• apples, melons, pears, persimmons, carrots, citrus fruits give an orange tint to feces.

The yellowish color of feces is a side effect while taking laxatives, antibiotics, birth control pills, some laxatives, anti-inflammatory drugs. The described phenomenon also occurs due to neurosis, depression, stress, as a result of the passage of a large amount of feces through the intestines.

In the latter case, there is a lack of coloring pigment produced by the body, due to which the green-yellow hue is excreted.

Before X-ray or endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract, in preparing the patient for surgery, drugs with an enema effect (Fortrans) are often prescribed. Treatment of the liver, gallbladder pathologies is carried out on the basis of the drug Ursofalk. Such drugs and their analogues lighten the stool excreted by the body.

Causes of yellow stool in an adult

Periodically, the properties of feces can change for each person. But if the feces change in color unexpectedly, without the use of new, rare products, you should be wary. The gastrointestinal tract consists of several organs that are involved in the process of digestion. A change in the consistency and shade of feces indicates a violation in their work, these can be pathologies:

• liver;
• gallbladder;
• pancreas;
• small intestine;
• bile ducts.

Digestive difficulties

If, in parallel with the clarification of stools, seething occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach begins to hurt, defecation becomes difficult, diarrhea appears, appetite worsens significantly, it is necessary to be examined by a specialist. These symptoms may be harbingers of a serious illness. Do not take lightly paroxysmal painful sensations that are activated after drinking alcohol or fatty foods.

The indicated signs accompany the following pathologies:

• fermentation dispersion;
• hepatitis;
• squeezing of the bile ducts;
• defects in the gallbladder, pancreas;
• frequent constipation;
• dyskinesia in the biliary tract;
• disturbed metabolism.

It is known that the liver is a real laboratory of the human body. Its functions are aimed at synthesizing vital substances, neutralizing and removing toxins (alcohol). With liver damage, severe overloads, a malfunction occurs in its work. As a result, bilirubin is not properly processed, which enters the intestines in an unprocessed state. After taking a large volume of alcoholic beverages, pale yellow and loose feces are released.

Lack of digestive enzymes

White, almost transparent feces indicates an impaired flow of bile into the digestive system. The more serious the pathology, the lighter the masses excreted by the body will be. Incorrect expulsion of bile occurs under the following conditions:

• cholecystitis;
• constipation, which strains the walls of the intestines, complicates the natural issuance of bile;
  too strong or weakened contraction of the gallbladder;
• cholecystectomy;
• squeezing the ducts of the pancreas as a result of its edema, inflammation, the presence of tumors;
• the presence of stones in the gallbladder, in the ducts extending from it.

In the presence of the defects indicated above, light yellow stools appear, as well as dark urine. Similar symptoms indicate that bilirubin in large doses is absorbed into the blood, and does not pass the correct way through the intestines.

If the gallbladder has been removed, the flow of bile is disrupted, and, accordingly, some portions of the feces may be lighter than the rest. If cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, is diagnosed, pronounced subcostal pains on the right side are added to the changed shade of feces.

Diet changes and stress

Brown stools may become lighter after eating plant-based, dairy foods in large quantities. If the feces turn yellow without a preliminary change in diet, inclusions or clots appear in it, it is recommended to be examined by a specialist.

The cause of the described changes in the human body can be stressful situations. They accelerate the movement of fecal masses, as a result of which the quality digestion of products deteriorates with a violation of the absorption of nutrients. The stools change their consistency, become liquid or mushy.

Diseases that cause discoloration of the stool

A person periodically changes the structure and color of feces under the influence of natural factors. However, yellow-brown, especially watery, stools may be the result of a malfunction of the internal organs. It is necessary to monitor the state of health, and at the slightest discomfort from the gastrointestinal tract, seek qualified help.

Bowel disease

Among the many intestinal pathologies in adults with altered fecal masses, Crohn's disease is diagnosed.

The syndrome is characterized by the formation of ulcerative lesions on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. It is accompanied by the release of mushy, fetid feces containing uncharacteristic white lumps. If inclusions, balls with mucus impurities are visible in the stool, this can be a symptom of such processes:

• inflammation of the walls of the colon;
• the development of candidiasis, in which fungal colonies are represented by white bloom;
• removal of dead pinworms, etc.

A change in the normal state of the stool in adults (in men and women equally) is observed as a result of enterovirus infections, in particular, rotavirus. The initial stage of infection manifests itself similarly to the flu, then the symptoms accompanying enteritis and gastritis progress. In particular, this is bloating, belching, pain of varying intensity and localization. A concomitant factor is diarrhea with nausea, fever.

Disorders of the pancreas

Practice shows that interruptions in the work of the pancreas lead to an altered state of the stool. Its yellowness manifests itself against the background of the development of pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, oncological formations, with complete or partial blockage of the ducts.

The reason for this is the insufficient formation of enzymes that enter the digestive tract and support the normal absorption of food, especially fatty foods. An excessive amount of fat gives the stool a gray-yellow color, an oily consistency.

Diseases of the gallbladder and liver

If inflammation occurs in the biliary tract, an insufficient amount of stercobilinogen enters the feces, as a result, their color changes. When the bile duct is completely blocked by a tumor or formed stone, the pigment substance disappears completely. In this case, the stool becomes frothy with a clay color. The following signs will help identify a problem with the supply of bile:

• hepatic colic;
• yellowness of the eyeball, skin;
• itching and burning of the skin.

The formation of stones in the gallbladder occurs as a result of malnutrition, strict diets. The fact is that for the normal release of bile, the organ must contract regularly, which happens with a dosed meal.

Light yellow feces in an adult may be the result of the development of cirrhosis or hepatitis. These pathologies provoke a reduction in the release of salts and bile acids, which contribute to normal digestion. The composition of urine is also modified, which resembles tea in color.

yellowing of feces during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes a colossal restructuring, which affects the digestive system, the work of all organs. Often, when carrying a child, feces acquire an unusual color, which can be caused by:

• the presence in the diet of a large amount of dairy products;
• hormonal changes;
• taking medications, vitamin complexes according to the testimony of a specialist.

How to deal with the problem

What to do if the design of the chair has changed? With normal health, the absence of uncomfortable sensations, it is enough to normalize the diet, abandon the medications taken. If after a few days the stool has acquired a normal color, there is no cause for concern.

An urgent consultation with a specialist will be required if the following accompanying symptoms appear:

• change in mental and emotional background;
• causeless fainting;
• fever;
• pain in the abdomen, accompanied by vomiting;
• erratic breathing;
• difficult or painful urination;
• purulent stools.

Changes in the structure of feces can be caused by a number of reasons. Factors related to dietary habits, taking specific drugs during treatment are not alarming and life-threatening. But do not lose sight of the modification of the stool, accompanied by painful sensations in the gastrointestinal tract and other organs.

Feces, feces or feces is a by-product of digestion. Food mixtures with bile from the liver and digestive enzymes from the pancreas provide the possibility of enzymatic breakdown (digestion) of proteins, carbohydrates and fats of food in the composition of the suspension. The suspension passes through the small intestine, where the absorption of nutrients and a significant part of the water into the blood takes place. Liquid waste is fed into the large intestine. In the large intestine, some more water is absorbed and feces are formed. Normal stool contains bacteria, undigested food, cellulose from undigested plant foods, and bile.

More than 900 ml of liquid - saliva, gastric juice, gallbladder, pancreas and intestinal secretions - enter the gastrointestinal tract daily. About 500-1500 ml of this fluid reaches the large intestine, and only about 150 ml is excreted in the stool (faeces). Water and electrolytes are absorbed in both the small and large intestines. The large intestine can only absorb about 300 ml, if the amount of water exceeds this volume, then the feces become liquid, diarrhea. Figure 1 shows the volumes of fluid secreted and absorbed by individual organs of the gastrointestinal tract during the day. There is no single definition of normal feces. There is a whole range of what can be considered normal, the regularity of emptying each person is very individual. There are, however, a few signs that feces are no longer in your personal normal range and should be discussed with your doctor.

Many people think that a normal bowel movement is one bowel movement each day, but this is not true for everyone. There is no rule for the frequency of bowel movements, the general range is from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Less than 3 bowel movements per week indicates constipation, while more than 3 times a day and watery stools indicate diarrhea.

Size and shape of feces

For self-orientation about the state of the gastrointestinal tract, English gastroenterologists proposed a scale table of feces (stool) forms - the Bristol scale of feces forms - is a self-diagnostic chart that helps patients characterize their bowel movements without embarrassment or embarrassment. The Bristol Stool Scale is currently used worldwide as a tool for assessing the bowel and digestive system.

Based on the Bristol Stool Shape Scale, normal stools should be soft and easy to pass, although some people may have harder or softer stools than others. The stool should be brown or golden brown in color, well formed, have a texture similar to peanut butter, and be the size and shape of a sausage. In many cases, if the feces change slightly from what is described, there is no reason to worry, especially if this is an isolated case. But if your feces suddenly change and differ significantly from the usual, this is a reason to visit a gastroenterologist.

Macroscopic analysis of feces can be of great help in the diagnosis of certain diseases, but not sufficient to make definite conclusions about the presence or absence of some disease of the digestive system.

Some changes in the characteristics of stool are common to various diseases: colitis, tumors, benign polyps, hemorrhoids, malnutrition, functional diseases. This means that the detection of an abnormal fecal value should be considered in the context of the patient's clinical condition and the final assessment should be made by a physician who, if necessary, will refer to the appropriate subspecialists.

Indicators that should be considered in the macroscopic analysis of feces.

Composition of feces

Feces are 75% water and 25% solids. The dry residue of the solid fraction is highly variable and consists of residues (fiber) of undigested cellulose. Fiber is very hygroscopic and is what retains water in the stool, which is why low-protein diets produce soft, bulky stools, while high-protein diets that are deficient in fiber (fiber) cause constipation. 30% of the dry mass of feces are bacteria of the intestinal microflora, 15% - inorganic substances (calcium and phosphates), 5% - fats and their derivatives. There are also small amounts of desquamated (desquamated) intestinal mucosal cells, mucus, and digestive enzymes.

Thus, a significant part masses of feces of non-food origin and feces are formed even during fasting.

The mass of feces depends significantly on the nature of the diet, and, in particular, on the content of fibers in it. With a normal diet, the normal value of the mass of excreted feces in adults is 150-300 g per 24 hours. Higher values ​​may be with a vegetarian diet.

stool color

The normal color of stool varies from light brown to dark brown. This is due to the chemical conversion of bile bilirubin and its metabolite stercobilin into urobilinogen by intestinal bacteria and enzymes. Bile is formed in the liver and released in the intestines, where it is involved in the digestion and absorption of food fats.

Consider what color feces can be colored and why

Green feces

Gives green color to stool biliverdin , a precursor of bilirubin, which enters with bile and, with rapid transit through the intestines, does not have time to complete its metabolism by the intestinal microflora. For this reason, with diarrhea and the use of laxatives, the stool has a greenish color.

We find the green color of feces with the predominance of leafy vegetables rich in chlorophyll (green plant pigment) in the diet - spinach, arugula, parsley, green beans, etc.

The green color of feces comes from supplements containing chlorophyll and antibiotics.

orange feces

The color of feces is determined by food and some drugs. In the presence of foods rich in beta-carotene that have yellow-orange hues (carrots, pumpkins, apricots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, etc.), feces become orange. Supplements containing this antioxidant pigment and the consumption of drugs based on rifampicin have the same effect on stool color.

Gray-white feces

The predominance of rice and other light-colored cereals in food, potatoes, taking antacids (based on aluminum hydroxide), can give feces a white tint. In accordance with the generally accepted concept, the color of feces is determined by the presence of bilirubin and its metabolites. Fecal hypochromia may reflect a violation of the flow of bile into the intestine (biliary duct stones or cancer of the head of the pancreas), diseases of the liver or biliary tract and pancreas, in which there is a decrease in the content of bilirubin (cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer).

Pale, shiny, and greasy stools are typical of steatorrhea. Steatorrhea is excess fat in the stool caused by intestinal malabsorption. Such feces are a symptom of celiac disease.

Yellow feces

Yellow stool is a sign of the presence of fat in the stool. Fat in the feces can be associated with a disease of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis) and a deficiency of the enzyme lipase, which breaks down fats. Fatty stools are yellowish with a strong unpleasant odor.

Red feces

The red color of the feces is a warning to the patient that he is bleeding.

However, such red foods (tomato juice and tomatoes, red fruits and beets) can give the stool its characteristic color. However, red stools are an alarming symptom of some sort of intestinal bleeding. In this case, the following options are possible.

The streaks of bright red blood that surrounds the stool, does not mix with the stool, indicates bleeding from the rectum in the anus (such blood is visible on toilet paper). The reasons may be: hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but a malignant tumor in the last section of the intestine is not excluded.

If the color of the blood is dark red, the blood is mixed with feces, then this is an indicator of bleeding at the level of the large intestine. This kind of bleeding is observed in polyps, cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory and vascular diseases.

Gray and black feces

Dark gray stools may indicate the presence of metals such as iron (such as with excessive consumption of chocolate and/or meat) or bismuth. Tarry black stool indicates the presence of partially digested blood (melena), which appears in the stool when bleeding from the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum). Even small bleeding from the small intestine and caecum of the large intestine can turn stools blackish.

With black feces, it must be remembered that activated charcoal, licorice, blueberries and black olives, red beets, red and black grapes, red wine, etc. can color feces blackish and black. Unlike melena, such feces do not have a fetid, nauseating odor.

Constipation is usually associated with dark stools due to the longer stay in the colon, while diarrhea is associated with light stools.

Smell of feces

The smell of excrement is associated with putrefaction of proteins and the metabolism of amino acids that are not absorbed in the small intestine by bacteria in the large intestine. As a result of the action of intestinal bacteria, indole, skatole, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. are formed, which give an unpleasant odor to the feces.

Malabsorption manifests itself in celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, diseases of the liver and biliary tract, etc. In some diseases, the digestion of especially sugars and starches is disturbed, which reach the large intestine and are fermented by the local flora with the formation of gases.

The smell of feces is determined to be related to food and the health of our intestines. A balanced diet, eating in small portions and with care to avoid introducing carbohydrates and proteins at the same time ("dissociated diet"), helps to regulate digestion. This reduces bloating and flatulence and the feces retain their "distinctive" odor.

Mucus in stool e

Mucus in the stool is not always a pathological phenomenon. Mucus is secreted by the large intestine, and its function is to lubricate the feces, making it easier to slide through the anus. The color of the mucus is whitish or yellowish white, the consistency is similar to gelatin.

An increase in the presence of mucus in the feces is an indicator of such pathological conditions as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, bacterial colitis. In these cases, the mucus is accompanied by diarrhea and often bleeding. An increase in mucus can be found in irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, allergies or food intolerances, and changes in the intestinal bacterial flora as a result of poor eating habits.

Excess mucus is present in polyps (especially the hairy type) and in tumors of the colon. In the latter case, the mucus is bright and/or mixed with traces of blood.

"Floating" feces

This phenomenon occurs when there is a fair amount of gas and fat inside the stool, the fat makes the gas less dense and the stool sticks to the walls of the toilet. This feature of the feces is characteristic of diarrhea and, in general, for all situations with malabsorption, with fermentation and the formation of gas in the intestines.