A lot of people have been reporting about noticing white specks in the stool usually in the morning. The color of stool could be affected due to different medications and food patterns. When bile does not get to the stool, white specks are developed. Something blocks the bile to reach the small intestines. It can also be that the liver cannot produce bile in right amounts which is not a normal condition.
Reduction in bile salts as a result of liver diseases alters the stool color and conditions. However not different colored stools are dangerous but some require medical attention. Stool color is affected by medications, eating patterns and content of bile in the human body. In severe cases color of stool poses serious intestinal conditions. Therefore white specks in stool are not normal. Reasons for white spots vary such as medicines used to treat diarrhea, heartburn and indigestion can result in white stools. If not medications then it is usually because of lack of adequate bile.
Causes
Many reasons contribute to the existence of white specks in stools therefore proper diagnosis and investigating medical background is necessary. Some of the major reasons could be as mentioned below:
- Infections because of parasites
- Sometimes the fat digestion gets affected to a large extent by disorders in gall bladder and liver, thus fatty globules can also look like white specks in the stool
- Inflammation of bowel such as in the case of irritable bowel cause mucous lining also looking like white specks
- Indigestion, lack of balance in the nutritional diet, weakness in the muscles, weight loss and constipation could also be the reasons causing white specks to occur. Indigestion is proven to be one of the main reasons of white specks.
- Intolerance of Lactose i.e. inability in digesting dairy products is also one of the reasons of white specks in stool. In lactose intolerance, the dairy products consumed are pooped out in an undigested form appearing as white spots.
- Clumps of fungi common among the ones with a poor immune system having experienced severe therapies like radiotherapy, chemotherapy is also a major reason
- Indigestible and left over particles like cover of a capsule, seeds etc
- It can also be a consequence of blocked bile duct which is caused because of tumors or gallstones.
- White specks in stool can occur due to normal and serious problems. The inability of bile in reaching small intestine is the most common cause
- In steatorrhea, the fat doesn’t get digested by the body and is passed out as it is due to which the stool is foul smelling and oily. This may occur due to conditions interfering with the digestion of fats.
- Some people can also be intolerant to gluten. In such a case, consuming food items that contain gluten, results in the inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. This interrupts the absorption of fat and other essential nutrients from the intestines causing white specks.
Irrespective of the reason, it is important to refer to a doctor and take the recommended tests in order to diagnose and treat the appropriate reason of this abnormal stool. Certain medications are incomplete without controlling the eating habits.
Treatment
The treatment of white specks in stool can only be decided after effective diagnosis of the causes. Appropriate medication and treatment is chosen by the doctors after proper evaluation that varies from person to person and their conditions. Thus it is important to see a Gastroenterologist to conduct a series of tests in severe cases. However one may not have such a grave problem but just a simple intestinal issue that can be looked after by changing the diet patterns. Also it can be a result of improper functioning of other organs. Discoloration and abnormal patterns in the stool if continues for a while then it should be taken seriously.
The testing of stool is quite helpful in identifying the causes and recommending the treatment. In stool tests the stool is sent to the lab for routine as well as microscopic examination. If necessary, a stool culture may be performed. This test reveals the essential contents of the stool like fat, fungus, cysts and ova etc. In serious intestinal problems, imaging techniques are recommended.