Normally, stool color depends on the age of the child and his diet. Children under one year more often have a mushy stool, the color of which varies from yellow to light brown. White feces in infants are rare.
What does light color feces mean?
Older children already have a more consistent consistency and color of feces, close to an adult. If you find a very light feces in a child, you need to look for its root cause, as this may indicate the presence of such serious diseases as:
- impaired liver function;
- pancreas diseases;
- diseases of the biliary tract.
In the presence of rotovirus infection, stool color may also change to whitish.
Why is the child feces light?
The color of feces in childhood can vary depending on the presence of the following:
- in the diet there is an abundant amount of fermented milk products (sour cream, butter);
- Some types of drugs (aspirin, paracetamol) contribute to the coloration of the child's feces of white color.
Dynamic monitoring of the child is necessary and if in a few days the color of the stool is normalized, then there is no cause for concern. However, if a child has white stool for a long time or passes for an indefinite period and appears again, this is the reason for seeking medical help.
It is important to track the child's presence or absence of the following accompanying symptoms:
- increased body temperature;
- pain in the abdomen;
- change of color of urine;
- a violation of appetite;
- nausea or vomiting;
- enlarged abdomen size.
White feces in the child: causes
Staining of feces in white indicates most of the presence of abnormalities in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Most often white feces are observed with such diseases as:
- hepatitis;
- obstruction of the biliary tract (bend of the gallbladder);
- dysbiosis;
- Whipple's disease: it is quite rare and is characterized by frequent acts of defecation (more than 10 times a day), an unpleasant odor, an admixture of mucus or blood.
However, parents should not immediately diagnose their child when a change in stain color is detected. Dynamic monitoring is necessary for five days. If the symptom does not disappear, it is important to seek medical help on time in order to avoid serious diseases of the digestive system, liver and pancreas.