In most cases, yellow stool is harmless, but it also occurs as an accompanying symptom of various diseases.
What is yellow stool?
Yellowing of the stool is usually harmless, but there are transitional forms in which a doctor should be consulted to clarify whether there is no underlying serious disease. Stool consists mainly of water, but it also contains mucus, fermentation products of bacteria, rejected cells from the intestinal mucosa or food components that are not digested. The consistency of the stool depends very much on the food that is ingested. Normally, it is pulpy and firm and has a brown color. However, different diseases can cause the stool to take on a different consistency or color. In addition to black, red-brown or discolored stool, a distinction is also made between yellow and light-colored stool, whereby light-colored stool very often indicates diseases of the gall bladder, liver or pancreas. Yellowing of the stool is usually harmless, but there are transitional forms in which a doctor should be consulted to clarify whether there is no underlying serious disease. Especially if symptoms such as diarrhea occur, a disorder could be behind the yellowing.
Causes
If yellow stools occur without accompanying symptoms, the cause is usually harmless. In this case, the yellowing could have been triggered by the ingestion of certain foods such as eggs, dairy products or starchy foods. Especially in babies, yellow stools occur very often due to feeding on breast milk. In addition, diarrhea often results in yellowing of the stool. The yellowish color is caused by stercobilin, a degradation product of hemoglobin, which also colors urine yellow. Yellowish fatty stools can be caused, for example, by an absorption disorder such as celiac disease. Yellowish diarrhea is also caused by so-called giardia, parasites found in contaminated water or waste products. In this case, the diarrhea is accompanied by flu-like symptoms and fever. Yellow diarrhea can also be caused by cholestasis, a condition in which the secretion of bile is decreased. In addition, a decrease in bile also occurs with gallstones or gallbladder inflammation. Clay-yellow stools that occur in conjunction with yellowing of the conjunctiva or skin may also indicate jaundice or hepatitis. Furthermore, it is possible that a disease of the pancreas leads to yellowing of the stool, and abdominal tumors in particular may be the cause here.
Diseases with this symptom
- Celiac disease (gluten intolerance).
- Hepatitis
- Food intolerance
- Cholestasis
- Jaundice
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Gallstones
- Gallbladder inflammation
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Diagnosis and course
If yellow stools are accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or extreme fatigue, so a doctor should be consulted to clarify the possible causes differential diagnosis. Particularly in the case of very severe fatigue, liver disease could also be behind the yellowing. If the bile ducts are blocked, the dyes can no longer be completely passed into the intestine, resulting in yellow stools. If yellow stool occurs, the doctor will first take the patient’s medical history. This includes, for example, existing allergies, gastrointestinal diseases, food intolerances or disorders of the pancreas, liver or gall bladder. A possible suspected diagnosis is then clarified by special laboratory tests, such as blood count and stool samples. A stool sample can be used to examine the stool for possible pathogens, with pathogen detection being performed under a microscope or in culture. Usually, the stool is taken on three different days, as this allows the doctor to increase the certainty of detecting possible pathogens. Even though yellow stools are harmless in most cases, serious diseases should still be ruled out.
Complications
When designating a complication, the culprit health disorder should be considered. A complication in medicine is a later symptom of a health disorder or a side effect of a drug used against the disorder in question. Complications can therefore occur due to misdiagnosis and in the course of treatment. Yellow stools are a complication of liver disease or diarrhea, which are diseases of the digestive tract. Yellow stools are caused by bacterial infections or bile stasis, sometimes promoted by high-fat or contaminated food. Complications usually occur in pre-diseased patients. Yellow stools can be a harbinger of dangerous liver or biliary disease, especially if other symptoms are present. To prevent dangerous complications, an examination should be scheduled when unclear signs of illness appear. At times, the patient should be examined in a hospital for the prevention of occurring complications such as yellow stools. Here the concept for the subsequent outpatient procedure against yellow stools or the causative disease can be determined. Yellow stool is not itself a disease, but a complication of discomfort that comes from liver disease. A healthy diet, avoidance of fatty foods and regular health check-ups can prevent yellow stools. Diet is sometimes recommended. Some medications are dangerous to the digestive organs, so they should be omitted if yellow stools occur.
When should you go to the doctor?
A yellow stool color is not unusual in itself and is usually harmless. Yellow stools are not a leading symptom of certain diseases and only indicate a serious illness in some cases. If no other symptoms occur, it is initially possible to wait and see. If, on the other hand, the yellow discoloration is accompanied by other complaints such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever or severe fatigue, the family doctor should be consulted to clarify the cause. Especially in the case of extreme fatigue, the yellowing of the stool may be due to liver disease, which should be clarified in any case. If, for example, the bile ducts are blocked, dyes can only reach the intestine to a limited extent. This can lead to completely discolored or even yellowish stools. In addition, a doctor should be consulted if the change in the color of the stool persists for several weeks or months. If the discoloration does not disappear due to changes in eating habits, tests should be performed to rule out serious illnesses. Yellow stools may also be initially observed in children in the absence of other symptoms. In babies, a golden-yellow stool color is normal and due to breast milk (so-called milk stool).
Treatment and therapy
If yellow stool is caused by a disease, therapy is required. Most often, the stool color changes with a change in eating habits. In other cases, the underlying disorder is treated, and these are mainly diarrhea that occurs due to various causes. Here, for example, activated charcoal helps to stop the diarrhea again. Electrolyte or fluid replacement may also be necessary. Special solutions with glucose and common salt are available for this. Antibiotics are used only for bacterial infections. If food intolerances are the cause of yellowing, these must be avoided. It is more difficult in the case of pancreatic, biliary or liver diseases. In the case of gallstones, surgery may then be necessary, and in the case of hepatitis, treatment depends on the form of hepatitis, because hepatitis A, D and E usually heal on their own. Chronic hepatitis B and C are treated with antivirals, which stop the course of the infection. However, here the stool is usually clay-colored or even colorless, and yellow stools occur extremely rarely.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, yellow stool is a harmless symptom that often occurs as a side effect of a disease. In many cases, yellow stools may also be triggered by a medication, in which case it must be changed or discontinued after consultation with a physician.If the symptom is related to a disease of the liver or gall bladder, treatment by a physician is also advisable. If the pain is very severe, outpatient care of the patient is necessary. In general, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet can have a positive effect on digestion and thus on yellow stools. The yellow color in itself is not a complication. If the yellow stool occurs in case of inflammation or infection, usually medications and antibiotics are used to treat the symptom. In this case, improvement occurs after a few days. In most cases, however, a change in diet or the omission of certain ingredients and medications that cause yellow stools is enough. However, it is advisable to always consult a doctor in this case.
Prevention
Since yellow stools are usually not worthy of disease, recommendations for prevention are hardly possible. An important influence on the stool color have certain foods, so it is highly recommended to pay attention to a balanced diet.
What you can do yourself
Yellow stools are usually harmless and do not require medical treatment. Various home remedies and measures regulate stool color and consistency. In most cases, it is sufficient to eliminate from the diet products with a high protein content and dairy products, as they stain the stool yellow. If the natural stool color is not restored, the cause may be an upset gastrointestinal tract. Proven home remedies for constipation, diarrhea and the like include bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding irritating foods. In addition, a complaint diary can be created in which the type and severity of the symptoms are recorded. Accompanying medical treatment, fiber-rich natural remedies such as olive oil, konjac powder or dried figs are recommended. An intestinal enema helps with constipation and flushes out possible toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. Yellowish stools associated with severe diarrhea and typical flu symptoms indicate parasite infestation (giardia). Effective home remedies include garlic, wormwood, oregano or annual mugwort. Cloves, thyme and goosefoot can also be drunk as a tea and promise quick relief of symptoms. Yellow stools accompanied by nausea, abdominal pain, or chronic fatigue should be evaluated by a physician.