What does beige poop mean

If your child has an oddly colored stool without any other symptoms, observation is probably best. If issues persist, it would be wise to discuss with your doctor.

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List of Partners vendors. Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may be the result of a lack of bile or caused by a blockage in the bile ducts. Stools that are light in color or look like clay can also occur after a test in the colon that uses barium such as a barium enema , because the barium may be passed in the stool.

In the absence of such a test being done, pale stools could be the result of something else happening in the digestive tract. The inability of the digestive system to absorb fats properly may also result in stools that are light in color straw yellow to gray and that appear greasy.

The medical term "acholic" is used to refer to light-colored stools that result from a lack of bile. Having a stool that is white or pale just once, or rarely, is not usually a concern, but when the color is consistently too light, it is something that should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Healthy stools come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. When it comes to how often you move your bowels or what your stool looks like, every person is different and there is a spectrum of "normal," rather than a specific set of rules.

There are times, however, when what you're seeing in the toilet bowl is probably outside of what would be considered in the normal range and should be investigated by a healthcare provider. Whenever there is a concern about the size, shape, or color of stools, contact a healthcare provider. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.

Bile is what gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, and bile isn't entering the small intestine, the result could be stool that is light. Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as:. Clay-colored stool that is caused by certain medical conditions may be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes jaundice or darkened urine. If signs of jaundice occur, a healthcare provider should be consulted immediately.

The presence of jaundice along with pale stools could mean that there is an obstruction in a bile duct or that there is an infection in the liver.

Both of these conditions could be serious and should be discussed with a healthcare provider in order to receive prompt treatment. In order to treat pale stools, the underlying cause of the problem must first be diagnosed. In addition to a complete medical history, some of the tests that might be used to make a diagnosis are:. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause.

If the cause is the malabsorption of fats, a change in diet and vitamin supplements may be prescribed. In the case of blocked bile ducts, surgery may be required to open the ducts. If the stools are a symptom of another condition, such as hepatitis, the underlying cause should be treated. People who haven't recently had a barium enema or a barium swallow should see a healthcare provider about having pale stools.

The inflammation or irritation blocks the flow of bile to the intestines. The exact cause of biliary cirrhosis is unknown. There is no cure for biliary cirrhosis , and the disease can be fatal. Treatment can help manage your symptoms and prevent complications. Commonly prescribed medications include cholestyramine Questran to treat itching and ursodiol Urso Forte , which aids in removing bile from the bloodstream.

Your doctor may also suggest taking vitamins A, K, E, and D, to replace the nutrients that are lost in the fatty stools. Calcium supplements can also help prevent loss of bone density. Medications can sometimes dissolve gallstones.

Sclerosing cholangitis is an inflammation or scarring of the bile ducts, which are the tubes that carry bile throughout the body. The exact cause of this disease is unknown, but genetic factors may be partially responsible. Both medications and surgeries are possible treatments for sclerosing cholangitis. Commonly prescribed medications include:. Your doctor may also prescribe supplements for vitamins A, D, E, and K to replace what the body has lost. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.

You may have been born with structural defects in your biliary system that prevent the flow of bile. After a physical exam, your doctor may order several tests to determine if you have structural defects. These tests include blood tests, scans, and X-rays. Your doctor may be able to surgically repair the defects. The type of defect will determine the type of surgical procedure the doctor will use. Gallbladder removal surgery can result in the narrowing of the bile ducts.

This condition is known as biliary stricture. Your doctor may be able to correct the problems using surgery or a stent. A stent is a small tube that a surgeon places inside the ducts to keep them open so that bile can flow freely. Benign noncancerous or malignant cancerous tumors in the biliary system can interfere with bile flow or inflame the liver.

Your doctor may be able to remove the tumor surgically. If the tumor is cancerous, you may need radiation, a therapy that uses X-rays or gamma rays to destroy cancerous cells. Chemotherapy can also be used. This is the use of powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. The cysts may go away without treatment, or your doctor may perform surgery to remove them. The surgery is done laparoscopically and with small incisions and less discomfort that common surgery. One of the most common complications of pale stools is jaundice.

This is due to a buildup of bile in your body. Jaundice is a yellowing of your skin or around the whites of your eyes.