1st Revision: Maliha Miah Humans excrete toxicity out of their bodies via urinating and excreting stool/ fecal (poop). The body functions normally until it is internally harmed or infected via pathogens. Ever noticed our brown healthy poop turning into different colour? Yes, the change in fecal colour tells a lot about your disease or infection. In this study, we are going to study facts about white poop.
What causes white poop?
- Absence or lack of bile secretion from the liver
- The bile gets stuck into the bile duct due to bladder stones; this condition is known as bile duct cysts
- Dysfunctioning of the liver
- Blockages between the liver and small intestine
- Jaundice
- Another cause is bile backing up into the skin irritating the skin, and bile in the wrong place causes health symptoms
White poop in infants
- Viral hepatitis- due to the presence of the virus the body does not secrete the right amount of bile
- Bile duct cysts
- Malabsorption- the condition in which nutrients are not being absorbed in the right amount
- Gut infection due to the presence of bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause inflammation in the digestive tract resulting in white poop
- Biliary atresia – this can be a birth defect condition, resulting in blocked bile ducts
- Other causes- antifungal, and antacid medication may cause white poop
- Digestion problems, not digesting milk, and other food substances properly, may result in white fecal
Complications
- Liver transplantation- when the liver is completely damaged, there are chances doctor may suggest liver transplantation, this situation only takes place in severe cases. Some complications are likely to take place, graft rejection, arterial and venous thrombosis, and stenosis1
- While treating viral l hepatitis, patients are more prone to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma2
- Treating malabsorption may lead to obstetric complications.3
- Perforation in the gallbladder is affected and shows symptoms of biliary colic4
Treatment and home remedies
- Consume purified bile salts, this would help to break down the cholesterol crystals
- To plan a proper diet plan
- Intermittent fasting
- Consuming 8-10 seeds of carom mixed in curd is one of the home remedies
Prevention
- While treating viral hepatitis, patients should seek immediate recombinant IFN or pegylated IFN (PEG-IFN) monotherapy for 24 weeks2
- In preventing jaundice, bilirubin should be injected directly if the symptoms are prolonged4
- Surgical operations
- Liver transplantation
- Eating healthy and managing a proper diet (green vegetables, and fruits)
When to seek a doctor?
The moment you observe destruction in your fecal, or colour change you should visit the doctor.
Summary
The healthy poop is brown in colour, and when it turns pale or white in colour, it shows symptoms of various diseases like blockages between the liver and small intestine due to developing stones and lack of bile secretion. All these conditions may lead to certain complications, as mentioned. These complications can be taken care of with several precautions and treatments.
References
- Caiado AHM, Blasbalg R, Marcelino ASZ, da Cunha Pinho M, Chammas MC, da Costa Leite C, et al. Complications of liver transplantation: multimodality imaging approach. Radiographics. 2007;27(5):1401-17.
- Manns MP, Wedemeyer H, Cornberg M. Treating viral hepatitis C: efficacy, side effects, and complications. Gut. 2006;55(9):1350-9.
- Centanni M. Thyroxine treatment: absorption, malabsorption, and novel therapeutic approaches. Springer; 2013. p. 8-9.
- Ahmed A, Cheung RC, Keeffe EB. Management of gallstones and their complications. American family physician. 2000;61(6):1673-80.
