White blotches that appear in the stool are almost always a sign of a deviation from the norm.
What could be the reasons? What possible diseases does this symptom indicate? How is the diagnosis carried out, what is the further treatment? This and many other things will be discussed now.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
This is a functional disease characterized by the following symptoms:
- White patches in the feces of a mucous nature.
- Chronic abdominal pain.
- Discomfort.
- Bloating.
- Intestinal disorders.
This syndrome manifests itself in the fact that the intestines look normal, but do not normally function. Usually the trigger is one of the following:
- Violation of the nerve connections between the part of the brain that controls the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the intestines.
- Motor problems.
- Dysbiosis. So calledincreased growth of bacteria in the small intestine.
- Unhe althy diet, junk food abuse, lack of dietary fiber, fiber.
- Heredity.
- Intestinal infections.
Diagnosis and treatment of IBS
If a patient is suspected of having IBS, the doctor will prescribe the following procedures:
- X-ray examination of the intestine.
- Anorectal manometry.
- Contrast enema.
Diagnosis is necessary to exclude the possibility of a deficiency of vitamins B12 and B3, as well as iron deficiency anemia.
As a rule, for the treatment of the syndrome is prescribed:
- Anspasmodics ("Drotaverine", "Mebeverine").
- M-anticholinergics ("Riabal", "Buscopan", "Metacin").
- Antidepressants (Citalopram, Fluxetine, Imipramine).
- Astringents ("Tanalbin", "Smekta").
- Prokinetics ("Debridat", "Itopride", "Metoclopramide", "Tegaserod").
- Probiotics ("Bifiform", "Laktovit", "Hilak-Forte").
- Laxatives (Ramnil, Tisasen, Kofranil).
There are many drugs, and only a doctor can prescribe the right course of drug therapy, taking into account all the symptoms and characteristics of the patient's body.
Also with IBS, you will need to follow a diet, go to physiotherapy and massage, do physiotherapy exercises, and also change your lifestyle. After that, after some time, white patches in the stool will go away, as well as other symptoms.
Crohn's disease
This is a severe inflammatory disease of a chronic nature. Often it affects all parts of the gastrointestinal tract, starting with the oral cavity, ending with the rectum. Mostly because of the disease, the terminal segment of the ileum suffers.
Currently, the exact cause of Crohn's disease has not been established. But common reasons are:
- Exposure to viruses and bacteria.
- Influence of a food antigen to which an abnormal immune response occurs.
- Exposure to autoantigens located on the intestinal wall.
Symptoms are as follows:
- Regular diarrhea.
- White, mucus-like stools in feces.
- Pain in the abdomen that recurs very often.
- Abscesses and infiltration.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Perforated fistulas and ulcers, fraught with bleeding.
- Large joint damage.
- Skin rash.
- Impaired vision.
Diagnosis and treatment of Crohn's disease
To exclude other pathologists having similar symptoms, the person will have to undergo an instrumental examination, such as:
- Colonoscopy.
- Irrigography.
- Computed tomography.
- Laboratory studies (blood, feces).
- Ultrasound.
- Endoscopic examination.
The goal of treatment is to localize and reduce inflammation in the gut, andalso reduce the frequency and duration of flare-ups.
Usually prescribed drugs are:
- Salicylates (Pentasa, Mesalazine, Sulfasalazine).
- Glucocorticoids ("Methylprednisolone", "Prednisolone").
- Tumor necrosis factor blockers (Golimumab, Adalimumab, Etanercept).
- Immunosuppressants (Methotrexate, Azathioprine).
- Topical hormones ("Budenofalk").
- Integrin receptor blockers ("Vedolizumab").
In addition, antibiotics (Metronidazole, Ciprofloxacin), probiotics, D vitamins, oxygen treatment can be prescribed. In especially severe cases, an operation is prescribed.
Ulcerative colitis
This chronic inflammatory disease is characterized by bleeding, non-healing ulcers and areas of necrosis on the colon mucosa. The long course of this disease increases the risk of developing cancer.
Symptoms are:
- White patches in adult stool.
- Pain in the abdomen of a cramping nature.
- Loose stools or diarrhea (often with pus or blood).
- Constipation after diarrhea.
- Meteorism.
- False urge to defecate.
In 10% of cases, extraintestinal symptoms occur - joint lesions, eye disorders, thrombosis, damage to the bile ducts and liver, rashes on the mucous membranes and skin.
Genetic heredity, autoimmune process, as well as some infectious agents are involved in the formation of this disease. provocativefactors include infections, unbalanced nutrition, genetic mutations, stress, drugs and shifts in the intestinal microflora.
Diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis
If this disease is suspected, the doctor sends the patient for a colonoscopy. Thanks to this method, it is possible to examine the inner walls of the large intestine and its lumen.
You may also need to go through procedures such as:
- Irrigoscopy.
- Tomography.
- Bacteriological culture.
- X-ray examination using barium.
- Coprogram.
- Occult blood test.
- Biopsy of the altered part of the colon wall.
Treatment is aimed at smoothing out clinical symptoms and reducing the intensity of the inflammatory process. Both surgical and therapeutic methods are involved - it all depends on the course of the disease and the patient's condition. If we talk about medications, then the following drugs are usually prescribed:
- Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs (Sulfasalazine, Dipentum, Salofalk).
- Corticosteroids (Prednisolone, Metyprednisolone).
- Antibacterial drugs ("Tienam", "Cifran", "Ceftriaxone", "Ciprofloxacin").
- Immunomodulators (Azathioprine, Infliximab, Cyclosporine, Methotrexate).
Also prescribe vitamins K, C, A and calcium. If purulent complications begin to develop, or infections join, thenuse antibacterial systemic agents.
Physiotherapy is also sometimes appropriate. In particular, exposure to alternating current, interference therapy, diadynamic therapy.
White grains in feces
They are usually found by people with weakened immune systems, as well as patients undergoing radiation or chemical therapy. In this case, the cause of white patches in the stool in an adult is, as a rule, candidiasis. And these dots are clusters of fungi.
I need some clarification. The fungus Candida is present in every organism. It is essential for food processing and nutrient absorption. But, if a person's immunity is suppressed, or the pH balance is disturbed, his growth becomes uncontrolled. As a result, the fungus destroys the intestinal walls, as a result of which it enters the bloodstream. And this causes the release of toxins.
Associated symptoms are:
- Fatigue.
- Bad breath.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Allergy for no reason.
- Joint pain.
- Sudden cravings for sweets.
- Unable to concentrate.
- Low libido.
- White coating on the tongue.
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
If candidiasis is diagnosed according to the test results, then first of all you will have to give up sweet and sour milk. After all, such products are food for the fungus. Eat more vegetables and fresh fruits.
Diet will be in addition to taking antifungal drugs prescribeddoctor on an individual basis.
White Grease Spots
Many also face them. Dark or black stools with white spots resembling spots indicate problems with the digestion of fats. And this, in turn, speaks of hepatitis, cholecystitis and pancreatitis.
Also other possible causes include an allergic reaction and intolerance to certain foods.
Most often, greasy spots are the result of the inability of the body to absorb gluten. In this case, a number of other symptoms are observed - fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, mouth ulcers, constipation or diarrhea, depression and anxiety, brittle teeth and bones, anemia, etc.
Slightly less often, such a reaction of the body occurs with allergies to wheat and lactose, and also with hypercalcemia (increased calcium levels).
Other factors
Feces with white patches in an adult is not always a sign of pathology. Sometimes it is the result of the use of drugs such as antacids, or preparations containing aluminum hydroxide. In some cases, the grains are what used to be an antibiotic capsule.
Don't be afraid if the feces are white. These points may be fragments of undigested food. For example, particles of swallowed fig or pomegranate seeds, undigested cottage cheese grains, banana fibers, oatmeal.
If grains appeared in the feces only once, then you should not worry. To cleanse the stomach, you can drink a decoction of wild rose.
He helps food go fasterdigested, and also partially relieves the burden on the digestive tract.
But if white blotches began to appear too often, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible - a general practitioner or a gastroenterologist.
Scattered feces in children
The reason for this phenomenon in the case of babies lies in nutrition. Feces with white patches in a child are a consequence of incompletely digested milk.
Babies just have an immature fermentation system, so that's okay. But, if white blotches in the feces of a child appear too often, you should worry. Sometimes this phenomenon indicates lactose intolerance.
In some cases, such a chair indicates the presence of pathologies in the child's body. The most common are:
- Candidiasis.
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Inflammation in the large or small intestine.
- Parasitic invasion.
Preparing for diagnostics
Regardless of who has white patches in the stool - in an infant or in an adult - it is necessary to sign up for an examination.
In all cases, the first thing they do is donate blood and masses obtained as a result of stool for analysis. You need to prepare for the procedure. Here's what to do:
- Relieve the need, carry out hygiene measures, after which the perineum must be wiped dry.
- In a clean and dry container, collect feces (5 g).
- You need to deliver your biomaterial to the laboratory within two hours.
