My child has white stools: should I worry?

During the first years of life, it is essential to regularly look at your child's stools.Indeed, a change in color, texture and/or odor can indicate a health problem!If the stools are white (in scientific language, we speak rather of clear or discolored stools), there are 2 possibilities.

Case n ° 1: The stools are discolored but hard

If your child's stools are very clear brown (even whitish) but they remain compact, this may reflect a liver problem.

Normally, the liver produces bile, a yellow-greenish liquid which is stored in the gallbladder, a "small bag" in the shape of a pear.During digestion, the gallbladder contracts and the bile is poured into the intestine: there, its role is to fragment the particle fats, more easily assimilated by the organism.During this process, two waste is produced: Urobiline (which is evacuated in urine) and stercobiline (which is evacuated in stool).

Precisely: it is this brown pigment that colors the stool.Suddenly, when we see a discoloration, it sometimes means that bile is struggling to escape, and that it "remains stuck" in the gallbladder.We are talking about hepato-biliary dysfunction.

The doctor's advice: "If, in addition to the discolored stools, you notice a yellowish coloring of the skin and dark urine, it is an important alert sign, says Dr. Abensur.You have to consult a general practitioner or a pediatrician in the days that follow.»»

Case n ° 2: The stools are discolored and frothy

Your child's stools are discolored (even whitish) but also frothy, floating and smelly?This time, the problem may come from the pancreas.

"Lipases (specialized digestive enzymes) are struggling to" treat "ingested fats," explains Dr. Abensur.Suddenly, there is a defect in absorption of fats: these are almost intact in the stool.We are talking about steatorrhea.»»

However, lipases are produced in the pancreas: when the stools are discolored and oily, we can therefore assume a problem of pancreatic secretion.

The doctor's advice: "If you notice this phenomenon once in a while, don't panic!"After a meal very rich in fats, it is normal to have discolored and oily stools.On the other hand, if the problem returns chronically and if, in addition, the child complains of abdominal pain and/or nausea, if you notice a weight loss, you must go and consult a doctor or a pediatrician quickly.»»

What if these are small white dots?

Your child's stools are normal, but have you found small white points that move?Be careful: it is surely an oxyurosis, intestinal parasitosis caused by a worm, the vermicularis or oxye enterobius.

To check, examine the perimeter of the child's anus to see if there are scratch lesions, and search for small mobile white worms in its stool, on its anus and/or in its underwear.If you have any doubts, go to your doctor.The latter can offer a scotch-test: this examination consists in gluing a transparent adhesive tape on the folds of the anus, to collect the eggs of the parasite.

In any case, an antiparasitic therapy is necessary: to buy in pharmacies!

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