Stool – appearance and characteristics. What does a change in the color of my stool show?

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Stool is a valuable source of information about what is going on inside our body. A change in the color, consistency or shape of the stool on the one hand can be a symptom of a specific diet, and on the other hand it can signal a medical condition. What does a normal stool look like and what changes should make us alert?

Correct stool – characteristics

Studying and analyzing your own stool is not the most pleasant thing to do, but it is still worth paying attention to the color, shape, texture and general appearance of your stools. Such practice allows for an earlier diagnosis of abnormalities or disorders in the functioning of our body. Normal stool is cylindrical in shape and has a firm, but not too hard, consistency.

Normal stools are brown in color and have a characteristic odor. Normal stools include unassimilated food remains, digestive juices, exfoliated epithelium, a small amount of mucus and bacterial flora. A healthy person should pass stools every day, even if he eats small amounts of food. Less frequent stools is associated with a much more unpleasant odor, which is the result of advanced fermentation and putrefaction processes and a longer retention of food debris in the digestive tract.

See: Intestinal microflora transplantation as a way to fight COVID-19? Research by scientists from the Medical University of Warsaw

Stool – What Does a Change in Stool Color Show?

The most noticeable change in the stool is its color. It is the color of the stool that first makes you suspect the disease. Different stool colors can be symptoms of different conditions.

The most frequently noticed changes in stool color include:

1. green stool – the green color is most often caused by a specific diet. Including foods that contain chlorophyll is the most common cause of green stools. Such products are, for example, spinach and broccoli. Green stools can also be a reason for consuming artificially green foods. The green color of the stool is also the effect of iron supplementation or antibiotic therapy. If green stool cannot be combined with any of the above, it is likely that an infection is developing in the digestive system;
2. orange stool – As with green stools, the orange color is caused by eating foods that contain large amounts of beta-carotene. Such products are pumpkin, carrots and apricots. The orange color of stools is also influenced by the intake of vitamin A or certain herbs;
3. red stool – The most common cause of red stool is eating beetroot or drinking large portions of tomato juice. Red discoloration may also appear with potassium supplementation. However, the red color can signify blood in the stool, which signifies hemorrhoids or cracks in the rectum;
4. black (tarry) stool The root cause of black stool is a diet rich in blackberries, blueberries, and other dark colored foods. The black color is also the effect of iron and activated carbon supplementation. People who take aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen heavily may also pass black stool. If neither of the above can be indicated, gastric or duodenal bleeding may be suspected. Black stool is common in people who abuse alcohol or take large amounts of drugs;
5. white or gray stool – occurs with excessive consumption of white rice and potatoes. Pale stools are also a consequence of taking calcium or medications for diarrhea. If your stools are gray for a long time, the bile may not be reaching the intestine.

In the case of intestinal diseases or disturbing symptoms, it is worth considering appropriate tests. Medonet Market offers a general mail order fecal examination, which will help in the diagnosis of possible disorders of the digestive system.

Yellow stool – causes of color change

Stools can change color for various reasons. This is due to a variety of factors, including systemic and intestinal infections, and even a high-fat diet.

Since there are several reasons for a change in stool color, it is very important to confirm other characteristics, such as the shape and odor of the stools, after finding, for example, yellowish stools to help diagnose the problem. Below are some of the major causes of yellow stool:

A high-fat diet and yellow stool

Eating too much fat, such as in fried foods, processed foods, or meats, makes digestion difficult and speeds up the bowel movement, especially in people who normally eat a balanced diet. In such cases, in addition to yellowing the stools, they may also become more watery.

About what to do: limit fat and processed foods as this will help regulate the color of your stools. The situation should improve after 2 or 3 days, but if the problem persists, other causes should be investigated.

Intestinal infection and yellow stool

Another common cause of yellowish stools is an intestinal infection with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and even vomiting. In these cases, the stool often appears yellowish because the intestine is inflamed by an infection and therefore does not properly absorb the fat from the food. The main cause of this problem is E. coli, which can be eaten in undercooked meat and contaminated food.

About what to do: drink plenty of water and eat easily digestible foods such as fruit, cooked white rice, fish and white meat, and avoid red meat and fried and processed foods.

Liver or gallbladder problems and yellow stools

Diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and gallstones cause bile, the substance responsible for helping the digestion of fats, to reach the intestine in less amounts. In addition to changing the color of your stools, these conditions can also cause stomach pain and yellowing of your eyes and skin.

Here’s what to do: If these symptoms appear, see your GP or gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment.

Pancreatic problems and yellow stool

Changes in the pancreas can cause digestive problems, whitish or yellowish stools. The main problems affecting this organ are pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and pancreatic canal obstruction. Pancreatic problems can also cause abdominal pain, dark urine, abnormal digestion, nausea, and weight loss.

About what to do: if these changes occur, especially if they are accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, and loss of appetite, see your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment.

Giardiasis (giardiasis) and yellow stool

Giardiasis is a bowel disease caused by the Giardia parasite and can cause symptoms such as foaming, foul-smelling diarrhea, nausea, headache, dehydration, and weight loss.

About what to do: if you develop these symptoms, see your doctor, pediatrician, or gastroenterologist for a stool test to confirm the presence of this parasite in the gut and to start appropriate treatment, which is usually done with antibiotics.

Celiac disease and yellow stool

Celiac disease is a severe gluten intolerance that causes inflammation and intestinal malabsorption when eating foods that contain wheat, rye, or barley. These foods cause the stool to travel faster through the intestines, contain more fat, making it yellow. People with celiac disease tend to show improvement in symptoms when they follow a gluten-free diet.

Here’s what to do: wit is imperative to visit a gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis of the disease and begin a gluten-free diet.

Also read: Parasitic diarrhea

Light stool – causes

Light colored (e.g. gray) stools in adults may be caused by a lack of bile in the digestive system. It is usually caused by an obstruction in the bile ducts.

Bile helps you digest fats and is responsible for the brown color of your stools. It is produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder and released into the intestines. If the bile does not enter the intestines, it can result in a persistent pale or clay / gray stool.

Clogged bile duct from the tumor and light stool

When bile is produced in the liver, it travels down the duct to the gallbladder, where it is stored until it is ready to be released into the intestines. A blockage by a tumor along the duct or surrounding area (including the gallbladder or pancreas) will prevent bile from flowing into the intestine, which can make your stools pale or gray (and also cause jaundice).

Pale / gray stools or progressive jaundice may be the first sign that something disturbing is going on in your body. An infection can occur due to a blocked flow of bile called cholangitis. This can cause fever and stomach pain, and in severe cases, confusion and low blood pressure. Inflammation of the bile ducts is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment.

Clogged bile duct and light stools

Gallstones are very small stones that can form from components of bile and digestive fluid. They are often found in the gallbladder. Gallstones can block the exit of bile from the gallbladder or get stuck in the bile duct causing an obstruction (gallstones).

If the gallstone travels rapidly through the duct into the intestine, it may not cause any symptoms. However, if a stone gets stuck, it can develop stomach pain, jaundice, and pale gray stools. The blockage can also cause an infection (cholangitis). If a gallstone gets stuck in the lower bile duct, it can even develop into pancreatitis.

If you notice a pale / gray color in your stools and symptoms such as stomach pain or jaundice you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

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Stool – what does a change in shape and consistency show?

Like the color of the stools, the shape and consistency of the stool you pass are important in diagnosing disease states.

1. stool in the form of separated balls indicates bacterial enteritis, antibiotic therapy or too low supply of dietary fiber,
2. a compact and lumpy stool most often indicates constipation,
3. smooth and dark stools may indicate mycosis in the digestive tract,
4. diluted stool donated in pieces most often occurs as a result of stress,
5. completely liquid stool is usually a symptom of food poisoning.

Stool in babies – what color should bother parents?

The color and texture of your baby’s stools can change from day to day, making even experienced parents worry about what’s in their baby’s diaper. Below you will find out about the colors of your baby’s stool and a description of what each color can mean.

Dark green or black, sticky stool in babies

When your baby passes a stool for the first time, you will be confronted with what looks like a sticky, greenish-black tar – this is meconium – that is, the first stool of a newborn baby. Meconium is a mixture of amniotic fluid, bile, and secretions from the intestinal glands. The meconium does not smell bad, but it is much harder to clean from a baby’s bottom than regular stools.

Within 2 to 4 days of birth, your baby will begin to pass temporary stools – a mixture of stool and meconium. This stool is dark green or brown in color and has a sticky consistency (although it is softer than meconium).

Yellow stool in an infant

At the end of the first week, healthy babies digest their food properly. The stool in infants consists of bile derived from the liver that combines with food (breast milk or formula) as it leaves the stomach, along with bacteria and undigested milk components. If the infant is breastfed, his stools will be light yellow, watery, sometimes grainy with a yeast-like odor. Stools can even remind parents of mustard, cottage cheese or scrambled eggs.

In formula-fed infants, the stool is usually soft but better formed than in breast-fed infants, and may be light yellow to yellowish brown, light brown or brownish green in color. It smells more like regular stool (but not as strong as when your baby starts eating solids).

A brown or dark brown thick baby poop

When you introduce solids to your baby’s diet, their stools will turn from soft, mushy, and gentle to thick and dark. It may not be very pleasant, but it is normal.

Expect your baby’s stool to become more mature day by day, and so will his diet. And don’t be surprised if your stools reflect the color or texture of your last meal – for example, your stool will turn orange when you eat a carrot. This is because a baby’s immature digestive system does not always fully digest the food consumed.

Green, watery stool in babies

Loose, watery stools that are greener than usual and appear several times a day likely signify diarrhea. This is most common when the baby’s diet changes (or diet if you are breastfeeding), or when your baby is allergic or intolerant to food (for example, to milk). Severe diarrhea could be a sign of a more serious problem, such as a virus or bacterial infection.

Diarrhea, especially severe diarrhea, can dehydrate your baby. Make sure your baby is getting plenty of fluids (breastfeeding or taking a bottle at least as often as usual).

Green, slimy stool in babies

If your baby’s stool is light yellow or green and covered with mucus, it could be a sign of illness, a cold, the flu, or even stomach illness. Contact your pediatrician if this stool persists for more than a day or two.

Pink or red stools in babies

Pink or red streaks in your baby’s stools may mean blood. You don’t need to panic, but call your doctor. It could be a sign of a milk allergy, a tear around the rectum (usually from constipation), or something more serious, such as a bacterial infection. Another possibility is that your baby may have swallowed your blood if your nipples are cracked.

Every baby is different, some will pass stools more often than others. Many newborns pass stools after each feed. Breastfed babies can only poop once a week. A healthy frequency for formula-fed babies is once a day.