subject: Reasons For Having White Poop! [print this page] There can be a huge variance in stool color from one day to the next, as we all know. Normally, it can be any variant of brown. This is caused by the combining of bile and bilirubin. Foods, certain medications, and other physiological factors contribute to the color of poop.
Definitely among the most abnormal and alarming stool colors, white poop is cause for concern in adults, and sometimes a concern for children. In an adult metabolism, white stool can be an indication of a serious medical condition. Frequently, white or pale stool can be caused by a lack of bile, either produced or delivered, during the digestive process. Cirrhosis, hepatitis, and other liver diseases can be the reason for white poop. If the liver is damaged or otherwise compromised, there is usually an associated reduction in bile production, resulting in lighter colored or whitish poop in severe cases. Other possible medical causes include obstruction of the bile ducts. Bile is produced by the liver and housed in the gallbladder. Shortly after eating, bile moves from the gallbladder to the small intestine. If the bile ducts are blocked - by such things as gallstones, or more seriously, a tumor, an insufficient quantity of bile is delivered. This can manifest as white stool.
For parents, change in poop color is a frequent, but no less alarming sight. Most of the spectrum of colors viewed in a dirty diaper is due to the foods the child ate that day, but white poop is a cause for concern, according to gastroenterologists. A few of the causes are serious, so it is recommended that children with white poop get examined by a doctor at the earliest opportunity. As with adults, white poop in children is frequently attributed to problems in the small intestine, gallbladder, or liver. In newborns, however, certain congenital abnormalities of the intestines or bile ducts could be the cause. Inborn metabolism errors, biliary cirrhosis, sclerosing cholangitis, or even simply narrowing of the bile ducts can contribute. However, before you panic, diet is most commonly to blame for your child's white poop. Certain antibiotics, antacids, and some anti-fungal medications are sometimes the cause. If they have recently had a barium enema, again, that could be to blame. Or simply if the child is on an all-milk diet, that too could be the cause.
So, summarily, white poop is something that definitely shouldn't be ignored, as it can be an indicator of some serious medical problems. It can sometimes be caused by dietary changes, but is generally viewed as an unlikely reason. If extremely pale or white stool is produced, see your doctor right away.
