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What Are The Causes Of Pale Stool, And What Does It Mean?
Pale stools can result from dietary choices, an infection, or an underlying medical problem, such as gallbladder or liver disease. People with persistently pale stools may need medical treatment.
If pale stools occur once with no other symptoms, it is usually safe to wait and see if the stool returns to its usual color.
That said, a child or infant with pale or white poop should see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out any underlying conditions.
In this article, learn about the causes of pale stool and other symptoms that may occur with them.
Bile from the liver, known as bilirubin, creates the typical brown hue of a healthy bowel movement. When the stool is very pale, it often means that not enough bile is reaching the stool.
Stools may contain low bile levels if there is a problem with the gallbladder, pancreas, or liver. People with consistently pale stools may want to talk with a doctor about conditions that affect these organs.
The most common reasons for a pale stool color include:
1. FoodsSome foods, such as fatty foods, may cause stool color to become yellow.
The occasional pale bowel movement is unlikely to be a cause for concern. Changing the diet may cause poop to return to its usual color.
What should poop look like?
2. GiardiasisGiardiasis, also known as beaver fever, is an infection that may turn the stool yellow. Symptoms can result from an infection with Giardia lamblia, an intestinal parasite. A person can contract this parasite by drinking contaminated water or coming into contact with soil or stool that contains the parasite.
Giardiasis is present around the world, including all parts of the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Other symptoms of giardiasis include:
Symptoms start 1–2 weeks after infection and can take 2–6 weeks to resolve, or longer in some cases. Prescription medicine can reduce the time symptoms last.
3. MedicationsMany drugs and medications can damage the liver, especially with high doses.
Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, for example, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can harm the liver.
Large amounts of aluminum hydroxide, present in antacids, can cause stool to lighten in color. Barium sulfate, a type of contrast used for certain X-ray tests, can also cause pale stools.
Pale stools may be a sign of liver damage in a person who:
With OTC drugs, it is best to stop taking the drug and see a doctor as soon as possible. For prescription drugs, people should speak with their doctor before stopping the drug.
4. Gallbladder diseaseThe gallbladder holds bile and is located on the upper right side of the stomach, next to the liver. During digestion, the gallbladder releases bile into the intestines through the bile duct. Gallbladder diseases can change the color of stool.
Gallstones, one of the most common gallbladder diseases, can block the bile duct.
As well as pale stool, it can cause:
Without treatment, gallstones can cause problems with other organs, such as the pancreas and liver.
Treatments for gallbladder problems depend on the cause. A doctor may have to remove gallstones, either surgically or with medication to dissolve them.
A person can live without a gallbladder, so a doctor may remove it if gallstones keep returning. The person may need to change their diet after surgery.
What are the most common gallbladder problems?
5. Liver problemsProblems with the liver or bile ducts can turn the stool pale.
There are two forms of bilirubin in the body. One type is passed in the urine or feces and the other type is bound to protein (albumin), which helps it stay in the blood vessels.
When a person has liver or biliary problems, bilirubin is unable to pass in the stool. This causes the stool to lose its color, giving it a more pale or clay-colored appearance.
Conversely, the body excretes excess bilirubin in the urine, giving it a darker or amber-colored appearance.
There are many types of liver disease, including:
In addition to pale stool, other symptoms of liver disease include:
Anyone under a doctor's care for liver disease should report any changes in stool color.
Treatment for liver disease depends on the cause and how far it has progressed.
For mild liver disease, a person may only need medication and lifestyle changes. Those with severe liver disease may need a liver transplant.
Sometimes problems with other organs — such as the gallbladder — lead to liver symptoms. In this case, a doctor must treat the underlying condition as well.
Examples of bile duct problems include bile duct obstruction, which may be due to bile duct stones.
What is cirrhosis?
6. Pancreatic problemsDiseases of the pancreas can make it hard for this organ to secrete pancreatic juices into the digestive system. This can lead to the food moving too quickly through the gut, resulting in a pale and fatty-looking stool.
Examples of problems with the pancreas include pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Both can involve jaundice, with the following symptoms:
Pancreatitis refers to swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.
It can result from various conditions, including:
Chronic pancreatitis can also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Treatment for pancreatitis depends on the cause. The doctor may address an underlying issue, such as gallstones.
Some people need hospitalization, intravenous fluids, and pain management. If a bacterial infection is present, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
In some cases, surgery may be necessary.
What is the best diet for someone with pancreatitis?
Pale stools in children are not necessarily a medical emergency if they occur once and are pale but not white.
Breastfed babies often have light yellowish-brown stools. Once they start transitioning to solids, their stool usually becomes browner.
When the stool is white or very light brown, this can signal a more serious problem, such as cholestasis, a type of liver disease.
In newborns, cholestasis or any other problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas may be a medical emergency. A caregiver should call their pediatrician right away.
If the baby has other symptoms, turns yellow, or appears to be in pain, they must go straight to the emergency room.
In older children who have no other symptoms, it is usually safe to wait for the next bowel movement.
What are the pros and cons of breastfeeding?
White or clay-colored stools during pregnancy usually indicate a problem with the gallbladder, liver, biliary ducts, or pancreas. Some people develop a pregnancy-related liver disease called cholestasis of pregnancy.
Symptoms of cholestasis include pale stool as well as:
It is not clear precisely what causes cholestasis, but pregnancy hormones might affect liver functioning.
Treatment can include medication and frequent monitoring, including blood work and ultrasound scans. In some cases, an early delivery might be necessary.
How will pregnancy affect your body?
A doctor will ask some questions and may carry out a physical examination.
They may ask:
To investigate pale stools, a doctor may recommend the following tests:
The outlook will depend on the cause of pale stools.
If a person's stools are pale because of certain foods or supplements, changing the diet or regime will usually help.
The outlook for pancreatitis varies. In around 2% of cases, it can be fatal. It can also increase the risk of other conditions, such as pancreatic cancer.
For people with pancreatic cancer, the chance of surviving 5 years or longer after diagnosis is around 44%, if it is still limited to the pancreas. If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is about 3%.
Gallstones can be life-threatening, especially if a person needs emergency surgery, as is a risk of complications.
Various factors can lead to pale stools. It is not always possible to prevent pale stools, but people can lower the risk of developing certain diseases, such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Some ways to prevent pancreatitis include:
Similar measures may also help prevent pancreatic cancer.
To reduce the risk of liver disease, a person can:
Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas can quickly become life-threatening, but they are usually treatable.
If symptoms arise, such as pale stools, it is best to seek help as soon as possible, as leaving them can lead to lasting damage and complications.
Sometimes a person passes one pale stool, and then the usual color returns. If pale stools persist, it is best to seek medical advice promptly, especially if there are other symptoms, such as dark urine, vomiting, or fever.
Here are some answers to questions people often ask about pale stool.
What does pale stool mean?Pale stools can indicate problems in the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, or pancreas. Dietary factors can also play a role. Giardiasis, a parasitic infection, can cause yellow stools.
Is it serious?Without treatment, the conditions underlying pale stools can be serious or lead to severe complications. Anyone with persistently pale stools should seek medical advice.
Bowel movements reveal important information about a person's health. One pale stool is not usually a matter of concern, but frequent pale stools can indicate diseases of the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.
In some cases, treatment can help a person feel better within a few days or weeks. Other underlying conditions require long-term management.
Read this article in Spanish.
Good News: Research Shows Jaundice In Newborns Can Be Safely Treated At Home
Key Points"However, if jaundice appears within first 24 hours, it is definitely abnormal and is not suitable for home based therapy at least in the initial phase," Dr Maheshwari added.
Neonatal paediatrician Dr Rajesh Maheshwari. (Supplied by Dr Rajesh Maheshwari)
The traditional approach had been to treat jaundice in newborns at hospitals using phototherapy and other methods, resulting in delayed discharge for babies. But for the past few years, Sydney midwives have been providing phototherapy at homes through midwifery-led home care as mothers and their newborns now spend less time at hospitals post-birth. "Delayed discharge or readmission is still routine in many hospitals," according to a Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) news ."At Westmead Hospital, however, safe early discharge is possible with midwives undertaking jaundice surveillance and treatment at home as part of routine early postnatal care for mothers and babies."
READ MORESydney GP shares cyber safe ways for telehealth consultations
Dr Maheshwari was part of the Westmead Hospital team that analysed data of 4,300 children born in 2019. "We found that midwifery-led home care was quite effective in managing jaundice cases. The treatment provided at home is as successful as the hospital treatment," Dr Maheshwari said."Parents found it convenient as they don't have to go to the hospital, and the hospital also saved resources," he added.
Dr Maheshwari, however, emphasised strict monitoring and proper decisions based on the baby's condition and medical history. "In some cases, babies with jaundice may need hospital treatment, but overall, the home-based approach has proven beneficial and safe," he said. Dr Maheshwari advised against exposing children to the sun. "Sun therapy is neither safe nor effective. The sun in Australia is harsher, and we don't want to expose children to ultraviolet rays," he said. Dr Maheshwari said jaundice should resolve in two weeks for full-term babies (those born after 37 weeks) and three weeks in pre-term babies. "Parents should immediately report to their doctor if their child passes a white stool," he added. Tune into at 5 pm every day and follow us on andWhat Does It Mean When A Baby Sweats?
Several different factors can cause a baby to sweat.
OverheatingSweating is the body's natural response to becoming too hot. Babies who get too hot may be overheating, which causes them to sweat.
They may sweat all over the body or only in certain areas, such as the head.
Sometimes, the area that sweats the most is the hottest. For example, a baby may sweat on their head if they are wearing a hat in the sun.
Overheating in babies can be dangerous because babies are less able to regulate their body temperature than adults.
Also, as sweating cools the body, it may make a baby too cold. Therefore, it is important for parents and caregivers to dress babies in cool layers and try to prevent overheating.
CryingCrying can make a baby feel hot, causing them to sweat. This effect is more common when a baby cries very hard or for a long period.
Some research suggests that babies may sweat on their palms and feet when they are upset. Parents and caregivers may notice this sweating even after a baby stops crying.
FeverBabies may sweat when they have a fever or when the fever breaks. Fever may indicate that the baby has an infection. Although a fever itself is not usually dangerous, the infection may be.
Fever medication may make the fever go away, but it will not treat the infection. Therefore, people should not assume that the baby is better just because medication successfully relieves sweating or a fever.
Idiopathic hyperhidrosisIdiopathic describes a medical condition or symptom for which there is no known cause.
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating without an underlying medical condition or other clear cause.
Most babies with this condition have the same number and size of sweat glands as people who do not sweat excessively. However, the sweat glands are more active, possibly due to the increased activity of part of the nervous system.
Palmar hyperhidrosis is a type of excessive sweating that affects the palms of the hands. It is relatively common in infants and not dangerous.
However, some adults with this condition may choose to have surgery to weaken some nerve pathways to the sweat glands, especially if the sweating makes them anxious or makes it difficult to hold objects.
Sleep apneaSleep apnea is when a person stops breathing during sleep. It is more common among premature babies and occurs when the baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds.
There may be a link between sleep apnea and SIDS, although the research on this is not conclusive.
An older study from 2008 suggests that sleep apnea occurs more often when babies are hot. The sleep apnea does not cause the overheating, but overheating may cause sleep apnea.
Parents or caregivers who notice that their baby is very hot or sweaty when they wake up may need to remove some clothing or put the baby in a cooler room overnight and for naps.
Medical conditionsA wide range of medical conditions can cause babies to sweat more than usual.
In most cases, the baby will have other symptoms. However, sweating is sometimes the earliest indicator. Some conditions that may cause excessive sweating include:
Numerous genetic disorders can cause babies to sweat more than usual.
For example, cold-induced sweating syndrome makes it more difficult for children to regulate body temperature.
Babies with this condition may sweat when cold. They also typically have weak facial muscles, a flat bridge of the nose, and certain health problems, such as high fevers and, sometimes, seizures.
Some other genetic disorders, such as Apert syndrome, may also cause excessive sweating. In most cases, a child has many other symptoms in addition.
For instance, Apert syndrome causes fused fingers and toes, abnormal development of the face and skull, and, in some cases, heart problems.
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