Yellow diarrhea (bright yellow diarrhea) & what causes this pale bowel movement

Yellow diarrhea
(what doctors call steatorrhea) normally indicates fat malabsorption in the small bowel and is one of several types of abnormal bowel movements. The diarrhea has numerous causes and can be anything from bright yellow diarrhea to a thick, soup-like and pale bowel movement. Steatorrhea has fat droplets within it and can be seen floating in the toilet pan. It is quite obvious that they are abnormal bowel movements to the sufferer!
When looking at causes of this bright yellow diarrhea, these can be split into intra luminal causes (within the bowel itself), small bowel causes (problems within the small bowel lining) or extra-luminal causes (outside the small bowel). If you have any more questions or concerns about this, you might like to use the free online doctor advice service or virtual doctor for more information.
Below is a list of potential causes of this pale bowel movement:
Intraluminal causes
Small bowel bacterial overgrowth - excessive 'bad' bacteria growing in the small bowel which interferes with absorption of fat and other nutrients. Can result in nutrient deficiencies such as B12, folate, iron, Vitamins D,E,A and K.
Diet - Certain diet products interfere with fat absorption in the small bowel eg excessive Benecol use that reduces fat absorption in the small bowel
Drugs - many drugs can interfere with fat absorption eg Xenical, Cholestyramine
Idiopathic - Unknown cause
Small bowel causes
Small bowel Crohns disease - a form of inflammatory bowel disease
Celiac (Coeliac) disease
- a condition of the small bowel where the individual is sensitive to gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley with resultant damage to the bowel lining
Lymphoma - a form of cancer of the lymph glands
Small bowel malignancy - cancers arising from the small bowel eg adenocarcinomas, stromal tumours
Previous surgery of the small bowel
Infections
Radiation
Extra-luminal causes
Drugs
Pancreatic insufficiency - condition where the pancreas gland fails to produce the pancreatic enzymes needed to aid absorption of fat. Examples of this include pancreatitis, cancer
Chronic pancreatitis
Liver diseases
Biliary obstruction - conditions where the bile draining tubes (biliary tree) are blocked eg gallstones, strictures which can be benign or malignant, infections
Various investigations can be undertaken looking for a causes of these abnormal bowel movements including blood tests, stool culture, stool examination for fat, fecal (faecal) elastase testing, glucose-hydrogen breath testing, endoscopy and small bowel biopsy, small bowel meal and follow through, enteroscopy and capsular endoscopy. These will need discussion with your
Gastroenterologist
.
Treatment of yellow bowel movements depend on the underlying cause and it is best to discuss this further with your doctor. As previously mentioned, if you have any questions or concerns about this, you might like to use the free online doctor advice service or virtual doctor for more information.
Yellow Diarrhoea? Ask A Question Or Share Your Experience By Leaving A Comment For Others
Do you have a question or comment on yellow diarrhoea? Have you got yellow diarrhoea or do you know someone with the condition. Share your experiences of this and anything else you wish to discuss on this subject!
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