Grayish-white stool is a discoloration of stools, often accompanied by a violation of the consistency and frequency of the stool. A change in the color of feces is characteristic of dysbacteriosis, diseases of the liver and gallbladder, and damage to the pancreas. To determine the cause of the appearance of gray or white feces, a coprogram, ultrasound and radiography of the gastrointestinal tract, endoscopy are prescribed. To eliminate the symptom, probiotics, enzyme preparations, specific antiviral and detoxifying agents are used.
The discharge of gray feces in an adult is observed after the abuse of fatty foods. An excess amount of neutral fats accumulates in the intestine, due to the increased load on the pancreas, lipids are not digested and are excreted in the stool. The consistency changes - the feces become soft, “fat”, leave marks on the walls of the toilet bowl. Typically, stools increase up to 3-4 times a day.
Usually the symptoms disappear on their own, normalization of stool color occurs the next day. The reasons that provoke the discharge of grayish-white stools in infants are the incorrect introduction of complementary foods, the use of unbalanced milk formulas. A change in the color of feces occurs against the background of general weakness and lethargy of the child, constant crying and refusal to feed. These symptoms are an indication for consulting a pediatrician.
Violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora causes digestive disorders, insufficient digestion of incoming food. The feces become liquid, grayish-white or dark gray in color. The frequency of stool with dysbacteriosis increases up to 5-7 times a day, defecation is preceded by cramps and discomfort in the left abdomen. The stools have a fetid odor, a light gray coating can be seen on the surface.
Infectious causes cause destruction of liver cells and disorders of bilirubin metabolism, due to which the intake of stercobilin, which stains feces in a brown hue, decreases in the intestine. Gray feces appear at the height of hepatitis, the symptom is combined with a sharp darkening of the urine and yellowing of the skin. Characterized by an increase in stool and a change in its consistency, before defecation, patients feel rumbling and "seething" in the abdomen.
The duration of the symptom depends on the type of inflammation of the liver. In non-severe forms of viral hepatitis A and E, grayish-white feces persist for 2-3 weeks. With hepatitis B, the color of feces returns to normal after 1-2 months, in case of severe damage to the hepatic parenchyma, dark gray stools are excreted up to six months. Alcoholic hepatitis, complicated by damage to the pancreas, often cause persistent lightening of the feces.
Isolation of grayish-white feces indicates an exacerbation of cholelithiasis and blockage of the bile duct with a calculus. In this case, bile does not enter the intestines, symptoms of obstructive jaundice develop. A person notices that the stool becomes light, almost white, the consistency of the stool often remains normal. Discoloration of the stool occurs simultaneously with severe pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea, bitterness in the mouth.
A change in the color of feces to white in adults occurs in chronic pancreatitis, which is characterized by pancreatic enzyme deficiency. The light color is due to the accumulation of undigested food in the stool. Fecal masses are abundant, grayish-white in color, with a sharp fetid odor. There is an increase in stool, during defecation, patients experience diffuse pain in the abdomen.
Disorders of the pancreas function are often irreversible, therefore, without the appointment of replacement therapy, the restoration of normal fecal color is impossible. The patient's condition worsens under the influence of external causes - with the abuse of heavy food, alcohol intake, the disease worsens. During this period, diarrhea is disturbing with the release of a large amount of light feces, accompanied by intense pain in the left hypochondrium and epigastrium.
Damage to liver cells of various etiologies is accompanied by parenchymal jaundice, which is typically characterized by the appearance of a grayish-white color of feces. Such changes persist for a long time, for several months. Violation of the chair is combined with dull pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting with bile. Most often, discoloration of feces is caused by such reasons as:
A short-term change in the color of stools to grayish-white is a natural reaction after oral administration of barium sulfate for x-rays of the digestive tract. Light fecal masses depart 10-12 hours after the study, atypical coloring of fecal masses persists for 2-3 days. Normally, these changes are not accompanied by dyspeptic disorders or abdominal pain.
Other reasons also provoke gray feces: taking antacids, iron. Trace elements, which are found in large quantities in these drugs, accumulate in the feces and cause the appearance of a characteristic grayish-white color. With the use of iron preparations, the color is darker up to black. Discoloration of feces is possible with prolonged use of antibiotics, anti-tuberculosis drugs.
A gastroenterologist is engaged in identifying the cause of the gray color of feces. The specialist collects an anamnesis and complaints to establish why dyspeptic disorders appeared. Diagnostics includes instrumental imaging methods, which, according to indications, are supplemented with invasive techniques. To clarify the diagnosis, laboratory tests are prescribed. The most informative methods:
Grayish-white stools caused by dietary errors do not need to be treated. The patient is advised to consume easily digestible foods (stewed vegetables, soups, lean meat) for several days, to reduce the amount of portions. You can't take alcohol. If during this time the stool has not returned to normal, it is necessary to consult a doctor to determine the cause of the disorder.
To avoid diarrhea and discoloration of feces when taking antibiotics and other toxic drugs, it is advisable to drink natural kefir and yogurt, which are rich in beneficial bifidus and lactobacilli. Self-administration of enzyme preparations to improve digestion is not recommended, as this can provoke violations of the pancreas.
Treatment of dyspeptic disorders, including grayish-white feces, is mainly aimed at eliminating the cause of the symptoms, after which the color and consistency of the feces normalize. Medications must be supplemented with a special therapeutic diet, which is selected depending on the disease. In clinical practice, drugs such as:
Complicated cholelithiasis, which is accompanied by the release of grayish-white feces, requires surgical intervention. Removal of small calculi is carried out during therapeutic and diagnostic ERCP, and the method of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is also used. With pronounced changes in the biliary tract, drainage according to Kerr or Halstead or the formation of a choledochodigestive anastomosis is indicated.