Having yellow diarrhea, with that characteristic color that does not match the usual, can scare, especially when the symptom is present among children or babies. The spectrum of situations that may be behind this condition is varied.
Sometimes, it is just stress, and normality returns once the moment of anxiety is over. Other times, it is a symptom of a more systemic condition, such as pancreatic problems.
The feces are stained yellow by the abundant presence of fat, which should not be in this quantity. This is derived from rapid intestinal transit that fails to absorb enough lipids from the diet.
The body loads the feces with that fat that it could not absorb, and yellow diarrhea appears. If we could see it under a microscope, we would realize that the color comes from tiny droplets of fat in suspension.
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Causes of yellow diarrhea
The causes of yellow diarrhea are varied. It is always prudent for a doctor to evaluate the situation and define the etiological origin. For example, you can stop treatment if it is a drug. If you suspect a pathology of the bile, you will request the pertinent complementary studies.
Transient yellow diarrhea, limited to 48 hours, is not problematic. Once it has been resolved, it may not appear again. If it is prolonged in time, then intervention is needed. Let’s see the most frequent causes below.
Irritable bowel
Irritable bowel disease is the cause of yellow diarrhea in periods of acceleration of intestinal transit. It is a chronic, very annoying condition that is also linked to states of stress and anxiety.
Patients with irritable bowel fluctuate between periods of constipation and diarrhea. As a general rule, this is accompanied by bloating and gas production, with pain in the abdomen.
Suppose specific criteria are met, and the person consults for this particular symptom. In that case, it is logical for the doctor to inquire more about defecation habits to characterize a possible irritable bowel. There is no specific treatment for the disease, but drugs and lifestyle changes are combined.
Liver problems
The small intestine needs bile inside to complete digestion, especially fat. Bile substances emulsify lipids and allow them to enter the body for nutrition.
When a disease affects the liver and gallbladder, decreasing the production of bile acids, the intestine enters a malabsorption phase. Among the most affected nutrients are lipids, expelled from the feces without being digested.
Hepatitis, gallbladder stones, and cholecystitis can cause yellow diarrhea. Added to this are other symptoms, such as darkening of the urine and a change in the coloration of the skin and mucous membranes, turning a particular yellow.
Stress
Stressed people alter their intestinal motility, and by accelerating peristalsis, they suffer from diarrhea. At first, it will be given in an aqueous form without too much content. But, if the anxiety is prolonged and the digestive tract accelerates, fat droplets will appear in the stool.
It is a transitory situation, but it is not uncommon for people with significant stress loads to have the symptom for weeks. The treatment cannot be based only on diet and medication but also requires psychological intervention.
Lack of pancreatic juice
The pancreas makes a series of substances that are dumped into the digestive tract to help in the process of nutrient absorption. As with the liver, if a disease affects the organ, it will be impossible to absorb fats, resulting in feces.
The warning sign of yellow diarrhea due to pancreatic diseases is the possible presence of fibrosis or cancer in the head of the organ. If weight loss is added and a laboratory confirms blood glucose dysregulation, action should be immediate.
Yellow diarrhea requires medical consultation.
Although yellow diarrhea seems like a minor symptom and is transient in many situations, it warrants a medical consultation. Fats in the stool reveal an internal process that may be serious and needs attention.
Perhaps a slight lifestyle change will improve the problem. On the other hand, if the appropriate complementary methods are performed, a severe pathological process can be detected early.