Yellow stool, sometimes called pale stool, has several different causes. The yellow color can come from a problem with your liver not being able to produce enough bile, or it could be from a bacterial infection.
Yellow, pale brown, or gray: Giardiasis can cause bright yellow diarrhea. Pale yellow or gray stool can result from problems in the liver or gallbladder.
Yellow poo can be caused by a condition called bile acid diarrhoea, where bile stays in the stools without being reabsorbed, and hence discolours the poo. Yellow, fatty poo often smells bad too and can be described as 'greasy'. People with IBS can sometimes have symptoms when they eat fat in their diet.
If your poop is light-colored, yellow, clay-colored, or very light brown, this may be a sign of: An infection or inflammation (swelling) in your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.
Yellow/Pale Brown/Grey: Bright yellow diarrhea can signify a condition known as Giardiasis (see sidebar). Stool that is yellow or pale can also result from reduced production of bile salts, since a normal, brown-coloured stool acquires its hue from breaking down bile.
A virus that can cause a stomach bug followed by pale stools is hepatitis A. This type of stomach bug is a viral infection that affects the liver. Other types of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B and C, can also cause pale stools, but these are less common.
Bile is what gives your poop its brown color. If your liver or gallbladder are having trouble making bile or if the bile is blocked from getting out, your stool may have a pale or yellowish color and your poop may be diarrhea at times.
a high temperature (fever) severe abdominal (tummy) pain. blood or mucus in your stools. diarrhoea that lasts longer than 2 or 3 days.
Yellow stools sometimes result from changes to the diet. Eliminating yellow foods, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and turmeric, from the diet may make the yellow color go away. A person should avoid high fat foods, such as fast food and processed meats, as these speed up digestion and can produce yellow stool.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and pain. In severe cases, you may become dehydrated and have an electrolyte imbalance. Bacterial gastroenteritis is sometimes treated with antibiotics.
Lack of bile in the stool can cause it to be light-colored or yellow. Liver disorders – If there is a problem with your liver, the bile canals inside of it become narrowed and bile production is decreased. Some liver conditions that cause yellow stool include cirrhosis and hepatitis.
Yellow stool may be caused by: Bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections that may be causing malabsorption. One of the most common is giardiasis (also called giardia infection), caused by a microscopic waterborne parasite.
COVID-19-related diarrhea and nausea
Diarrhea caused by COVID-19 tends to be more watery, yellow or green in color. It may be accompanied by cramping and bloating. If you have COVID-19, you will likely develop other symptoms within a day or two, such as fever, cough, congestion and/or loss of taste and smell.
As such, if you have been suffering from diarrhea that is persistent and isn't easing but appears to even be getting worse after a period of more than 2 days, then you should head over to an emergency room as soon as possible to have yourself examined and attended to.
Yellow Poop
This shade is also normal for many people. It's common for babies, especially those who breastfeed. But if you have yellow poop that looks greasy and smells very bad, it may have too much fat. That could be a sign your body isn't digesting food properly.
Some people may experience yellow diarrhea or smelly poop after gallbladder removal. The larger amounts of bile reaching the colon may cause irritation resulting in diarrhea with a yellow hue. The increased amounts of bile salt can also make one's bowel movements have a more potent smell as well.
Consult your health care provider if you're concerned about your stool color. If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention. Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea.
Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea — bloody diarrhea usually means you have a different, more severe infection. Nausea, vomiting or both. Stomach cramps and pain. Occasional muscle aches or headache.
One of the first things people tend to notice when they're having a UC flare is the stool is becoming more liquidy, Dr. Higgins says. Next, people will often notice small traces of mucus or even pus in the stool. “Pus is a marker of inflammation,” he points out.
Biliary tract-related causes of yellow stool
The bile duct blockage might lead to a build-up of bile in the gallbladder. The gallbladder and bile ducts can become inflamed. This is called cholecystitis and cholangitis. During acute episodes, in addition to upper abdominal pain, fever, and chills can occur.
IBS is a bowel disorder that causes diarrhea, pain, and discomfort during times of stress. IBS is also known to cause yellow stool. It is considered a separate issue from anxiety, but the two have been linked in many studies and many of those with IBS appear to have developed some type of anxiety disorder.