Stool color change to white after diarrhea: Is it a cause for concern?
White stools might not be a common sight in the toilet bowl, but they can occur due to various reasons. While changes in stool color can be caused by what one eats, persistent white stools could indicate a serious medical condition.
Healthy stool is usually brown, but when bile, which gives stool its typical hue, is not present, stools can appear white. Conditions that reduce or block bile flow into the intestines can cause this phenomenon. Such conditions include bile duct obstruction, liver diseases like inflammation, cirrhosis, or cancer, and bile acid malabsorption [1].
When white stools persist, it is crucial to pay attention to other symptoms. Dark urine, fatigue, weight loss, low-grade fever, abdominal pain, fever associated with infection, signs of liver dysfunction like jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), and potential for infections or sepsis from blocked bile ducts are all indicative of a potential serious condition [1].
Gallstones can also cause a blockage in the bile duct, leading to pale-colored stools. Other symptoms of liver disease include tiredness or fatigue, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, fever, dark urine, and pain under the ribs on the right side [1].
In some cases, white stools can be temporary, such as after taking antidiarrheal medication like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) [1]. However, if white stools persist for more than a week or are accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice.
Other possible causes of white stools after diarrhea include celiac disease and giardiasis. Symptoms of a gallbladder attack, such as sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or chills, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, tea-colored urine, and light-colored stools, should also be taken seriously and prompt medical attention sought [1].
In conclusion, while white stools might not always be a cause for alarm, persistent white stools accompanied by other symptoms could indicate a serious medical condition such as a blocked bile duct or liver problem. If you experience white stools after diarrhea, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional.
References:
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). White or clay-colored stools: Causes and treatment. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/white-stools/basics/causes/sym-20050662 [2] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Bile duct problems and gallstones. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/bile-duct-problems-gallstones [3] National Health Service (UK). (2021). White stools. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/white-stools/ [4] Cleveland Clinic. (2021). White stools. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/15483-white-stools
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