Yellow stool can be an indicator of liver problems, as the liver is responsible for breaking down old red blood cells, and a byproduct of this is what gives stool its typical brown color. However, this would typically accompany other symptoms, most notably jaundice, which is the yellowing of skin and eyes.
The color of stool can vary depending on a number of factors, including diet, vitamin intake, and, in some cases, medical conditions. It is important to be aware of what may be causing yellow poop and what can be done to resolve it if needed. This article looks into the potential causes of yellow poop, how common it is, and when it is important to contact your doctor about it.
What does yellow poop look like?
Yellow poop is stool that has a yellow-beige color. Its consistency can vary depending on the cause. Sometimes, pale stool may look similar to yellow poop, but the two have different causes. A good rule of thumb is that yellow poop will have less of a gray tint and more of a slimy consistency.
Learn more about pale stool here.
What consistency is stool?
As the consistency of yellow stool can vary, it is important to know the scale of stool texture used by doctors. This is the Bristol stool chart, and it categorizes stool into seven types based on consistency or texture.
type 1: nut-like small separate lumps that are hard to pass
nut-like small separate lumps that are hard to pass type 2: sausage-shaped and lumpy
sausage-shaped and lumpy type 3: sausage-shaped and cracked
sausage-shaped and cracked type 4: sausage-shaped, smooth, and soft
sausage-shaped, smooth, and soft type 5: blob-shaped and soft with defined edges
blob-shaped and soft with defined edges type 6: a mushy stool of fluffy pieces and ragged edges
a mushy stool of fluffy pieces and ragged edges type 7: a watery liquid with no solid pieces
Of these Bristol stool chart categories, types 3 and 4 are generally healthy shapes and textures for stool. The other types may indicate complications with bowel movements.
Is yellow poop common in infants, and why?
Yellow poop is very common among newborn babies. Over their first 6 weeks, an infant will typically have yellow or green stool regardless of whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. This is nothing to be concerned about.
It is worth noting that if you are breastfeeding, your child can have more varied stool colors, as your own diet and any medications you take can impact this.
What are the causes of yellow stool?
The color of your stool can vary depending on a number of factors. The sections below look at some of these in more detail.
Dietary causes
As with other stool colors, your diet can contribute to yellow poop. Eating lots of foods rich in yellow pigments or yellow food coloring can make your stool appear yellow, so it is important to think about what you recently ate if you produce yellow stool.
Medical causes
Yellow poop can occur due to some medical conditions, including the following.
Gastroenteritis
If you have yellow diarrhea, it can be a result of gastroenteritis. This will usually clear up on its own. However, if you also experience fever or dizziness, or if the diarrhea persists, contact your doctor for advice. Learn more here.
Celiac disease and other malabsorption disorders
Yellow poop can also occur due to celiac disease and other malabsorption disorders. This is due to the presence of excess fat in stool that your body is not able to absorb. This typically applies if your yellow stool is also greasy and foul smelling. Learn more here.
Giardia and giardiasis
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The intestinal parasite Giardia may also make your stool yellow by forcing food to move more quickly through your gastrointestinal tract. Giardia also tends to cause cramps, diarrhea, and nausea, and bright yellow poop can be a symptom of giardiasis, which is the infection that Giardia causes. Learn more here.
Biliary system causes
Your biliary system, which comprises your liver and gallbladder, is responsible for breaking down red blood cells, and they contribute to the typical brown color of stool. Any dysfunction in your biliary system can cause your stool to become a different color.
This can be due to a number of diseases that affect the biliary system. However, if your biliary tract is causing your yellow poop, you would also likely have other symptoms, such as jaundice, fatigue, fever, and itchiness.
If you have your gallbladder removed, you may have yellow or green stool. Pancreatitis may also result in yellow stool, as pancreatic insufficiency may lead to the production of fatty, yellow stool.
How do doctors diagnose the cause of yellow poop?
If you visit your doctor with yellow poop and any other symptoms, they will run a number of tests. These tests can depend on which other symptoms you have, if any.
If your doctor suspects giardiasis, they will run tests on your stool samples to look for the Giardia parasite. It can take several samples before the parasite is found. Similarly, foodborne viruses are also diagnosed through stool samples (as well as through blood samples).
However, if your doctor believes that your biliary system may be contributing to the color of your yellow stool, you may require further tests. Tests can include:
blood tests
a CT scan
an MRI scan
an ultrasound scan
a liver biopsy
If your stool is occasionally yellow and you have no other symptoms, it is unlikely to be anything to be concerned about.
However, if you do have any of the other symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible so that they can provide the correct diagnosis and treatment.
What are the treatments for yellow poop?
Treatments for yellow poop vary depending on the cause.
Gastroenteritis treatments
Typically, gastroenteritis clears up on its own without medical intervention. Self-isolate to prevent spreading it to others, and make sure you take in plenty of fluids and get as much rest as possible.
If your condition does not start to improve after a few days, or if you are experiencing any other symptoms, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. These related symptoms can include:
constant vomiting
severe dehydration
fever over 100.4°F (38ºC)
Giardia and giardiasis treatments
Persistent cases of giardiasis are usually treated with medications such as metronidazole. This is an antibiotic that helps your body heal from the infection.
Celiac disease treatments
There is no easy treatment for celiac disease. The best approach is to avoid foods that contain gluten. This helps prevent the lining of your intestines from becoming damaged and prevents the associated symptoms.
What does the color of my stool mean?
Stool may appear in other colors besides yellow. The color of your stool can have various meanings, which include the following.
Brown stools: These are healthy, regular stools and are the color they should be.
These are healthy, regular stools and are the color they should be. Green stools: These can be due to having eaten a lot of green vegetables, but they can also indicate food moving through your large intestine too quickly.
These can be due to having eaten a lot of green vegetables, but they can also indicate food moving through your large intestine too quickly. Yellow stools: These could be due to the presence of excess fat, which may be due to malabsorption conditions such as celiac disease.
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These could be due to the presence of excess fat, which may be due to malabsorption conditions such as celiac disease. Black stools: These may be due to internal bleeding, potentially from an ulcer or cancer. They may also occur if you take iron supplements.
These may be due to internal bleeding, potentially from an ulcer or cancer. They may also occur if you take iron supplements. Red stools: These may occur as a result of eating lots of red foods, such as beets. However, they can also be due to polyps, cancer, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures.
These may occur as a result of eating lots of red foods, such as beets. However, they can also be due to polyps, cancer, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures. Light or white stools: These may be an indication of a bile duct obstruction, but they can also result from taking certain medications.
Learn more about different stool colors here.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some other frequently asked questions about yellow poop.
Does yellow poop mean infection?
Yellow poop can indicate an infection such as gastroenteritis or giardiasis. Typically, these infections will clear up on their own without treatment. If they persist, however, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help your body heal from the infection.
When should I be concerned about yellow poop?
Since yellow stool can be a result of diet, you should only be concerned if you have any other symptoms alongside it, if your stool continues to be yellow for several weeks, or if the yellow stool cannot be explained by your diet.
Can dehydration cause yellow poop?
If you are dehydrated, your body will draw water from the stool in your colon, which can lead to constipation, as the stool is too dry to pass easily. Although yellow poop is not usually hard or dry, dehydration may be playing a part in your unusual bowel movements.
What color is your stool if you have liver problems?
Yellow stool can be an indicator of liver problems, as the liver is responsible for breaking down old red blood cells, and a byproduct of this is what gives stool its typical brown color. However, this would typically accompany other symptoms, most notably jaundice, which is the yellowing of skin and eyes.
Summary
There are a number of potential causes of yellow poop. However, it is important to remember that diet plays a huge role in the color of your stool. For this reason, if you only notice yellow stool once or twice, it is likely nothing to be concerned about.
If yellow stool persists, or if it accompanies other symptoms, seek medical advice. Your doctor will be able to advise on any necessary tests and treatments.
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