The stool is the excrement or fecal matter formed after the digestive process, leaving the body through the rectum. The feces are made up of the remains that remain in the intestine after absorbing the nutrients and fluids that you have ingested. Sometimes there are disorders or problems during the digestion and absorption of nutrients, which leads to an evacuation of stool with an unusual consistency or color. In these cases, it is advisable to go to the doctor and have a seat and a physical examination of the stool to determine the consistency, color, and presence of blood, mucus, pus, eggs, or parasites. At FastlyHealwe, explain the leading causes and treatment of yellow stools.
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Giardiasis
One of the most frequent causes of passing yellow stools is parasitization by the protozoan Giardia lamblia, whose presence in the intestine interferes with the absorption of nutrients, especially fats.
Humans are the primary host for Giardia. However, it can also be found in dogs, beavers, or other domestic and wild animals. In addition, these cysts can be found in lakes and streams contaminated with feces from an infected animal or human or in areas where hygiene is poor. Knowing where the parasite is, you should know that you can get giardiasis when you contact feces from an infected person or animal, if you drink contaminated water or if you eat parasite food.
Gilbert’s syndrome
Gilbert’s syndrome is a hereditary liver disorder quite common and mild, in which the liver does not process correctly a substance called bilirubin, produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. As this substance is not adequately broken down, higher than usual amounts accumulate in the blood leading to hyperbilirubinemia.
Bilirubin is deposited in the intestine to be expelled from the body through fecal matter. But, if the levels of this substance are very high, the liver cannot metabolize it so quickly. Consequently, yellow coloration of the skin and feces of people affected by this pathology appears.
Malabsorption syndrome
The yellow stool can also result from suffering malabsorption syndrome, based on the inability to absorb any nutrients: fats, proteins, carbohydrates, or vitamins. We can distinguish two different groups of causes of malabsorption, those that affect the small intestine and those that do not affect it directly.
Among the most common causes of malabsorption that affect the small intestine are:
- Lesions of the intestinal mucosa due to infections, parasites, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, tumor lesions, or food intolerances.
- Decreased intestinal absorption surface; the consequence of surgery or radiotherapy.
- Intestinal vascular lesions or deficits prevent the passage of absorbed nutrients into the blood.
Among the most common causes of malabsorption that do not directly affect the small intestine are:
- Diseases of the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, esophagus, or stomach.
- Deficiency of one or more digestive enzymes.
- Systemic diseases such as diabetes, thyroid, or parathyroid disorders.
- Use of drugs that cause damage to the intestinal mucosa or selectively block the absorption of one or more nutrients.
Depending on the nutrient that has not been absorbed, the person suffering from malabsorption syndrome will present different symptoms, the yellow stool as the main one giving fatty stools.
Jaundice
Jaundice corresponds to a yellowing of the skin and eyes. It is caused by an increase in bilirubin in the blood due to certain liver disorders. This disease is often accompanied by steatorrhea or fatty stools, frequent bowel movements, and large, yellow, foul-smelling stools.
Treatment for yellow stools
Faced with a case of evacuation of yellow stool, we must know the cause that causes this type of intestinal disorder to have a diagnosis that allows medical personnel to treat the patient appropriately. As we have seen previously, many factors can influence this alteration, and each of them requires a unique and different treatment.
However, if your bowel movements have a yellowish appearance, are very frequent, and have a different consistency than usual, we recommend that you carry out an astringent diet based on lean meats, natural yogurt, and cooked vegetables to hydrate constantly.
It is recommended that you go to your doctor to perform the relevant tests, a stool or stool culture to find the cause of your disease and focus treatment on it.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.