Having yellow diarrhea, with that characteristic color that is not consistent with the usual, can be scary, especially when the symptom is present in children or babies. The spectrum of situations that can be behind this condition is varied.
Sometimes, it is just stress, and once the moment of anxiety is over, normality returns. Other times, it is a symptom of a more systemic condition, such as pancreatic problems.
The mechanism by which the stool stains yellow is the abundant presence of fat, which should not be in this amount. This stems from a rapid intestinal transit that failed to absorb enough lipids from the diet.
The body loads the stool with that fat that it could not absorb and yellow diarrhea appears. If we could see it under a microscope, we would realize that the color comes from small droplets of fat in suspension.
Causes of yellow diarrhea
The causes of yellow diarrhea are varied. It is always prudent for a physician to assess the situation and define the etiological origin. If it is a drug, for example, you can choose to stop treatment. If you suspect a bile pathology, you will request the relevant complementary studies.
Fleeting yellow diarrhea, limited to 48 hours, is not a concern. Once resolved, it may not appear again. If it is prolonged in time, then intervention is needed. Let’s see the most frequent causes below.
Irritable colon
Irritable bowel disease is the cause of yellow diarrhea in periods of accelerated intestinal transit. It is a chronic condition, very annoying, which is also linked to states of stress and anxiety.
Patients with irritable bowel range between times of constipation and times of diarrhea. As a general rule, this is accompanied by abdominal distention and gas production, with pain in the abdomen.
If certain criteria are met and the person consults for this particular symptom, it is logical for the doctor to inquire more about defecation habits to characterize a possible irritable bowel. There is no specific treatment for the disease, but drugs and lifestyle changes are combined.
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