Many people complain about spotting white specks in their stool which isn’t that rare a problem. Different foods or medications could be the major reason behind this problem. The normal stool color is brownish as the bile salts, and other digestive agents are made by the liver and stored in gallbladder. But when the bile isn’t able to reach the stool it changes the color and can also give white specks in the stool which means that there is an obstacle that blocks the bile from getting to the small intestine or liver. Thus the bile isn’t produced in sufficient amount which is an abnormal situation. It could also cause diseases of the liver such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.

The stool color is a result of medications, lifestyle, such as the eating habits and the bile amount in the body. In some rare cases the color of stool can reflect a serious intestinal condition. Getting white specks in stool could be a common experience but it is not normal and one should talk to a doctor about it to get evaluated.

Symptoms

One might just experience seeing white specks in the stool, the first thing in the morning. Otherwise they vary according to the cause and medical status of the person. External symptoms such as pain, digestive problems, headaches etc could not be there.

Causes of white specks in stool

Changes in the stool occur due to many reasons so the specific cause for white specks in the stool can be known only after proper evaluation and diagnosis. It is always better to get a stool examination to determine if the specks are because of eggs or larvae. Other possibilities include:

1. Infections because of the parasites. Parasites like worms, tapeworms or giardia can cause white spots or specks. They can be the infective bugs with an inflammatory exudate. If this is the reason then the patient might experience digestive problems and abdominal pain.
2. Indigestion of the fats due to disorders in the liver, gall bladder or intestines. Fatty also look similar to the white in the stool.
3. Diseases such as the irritable bowel syndrome which causes inflammation of the bowel and mucous lining.
4. Improper digestion, lack of a nutritious diet, constipation, weakness in the muscles, diarrhoea or weight loss are some of the other reasons that may cause white specks.
5. Lactose intolerance is another common reason. It means the indigestion of dairy products like butter, milk, cheese amongst others where the consumed products come out in an undigested looking like white spots.
6. Clumps of fungi is a common reason for white specks especially among people with a weaker immune system, – people going through therapies like radiotherapy, chemotherapy or in AIDS.
7. Undigested particles of things like capsule covers, seeds and other eatable that has been consumed.
8. A blocked bile duct is also a reason which further gives rise to tumor or gallstone. The normal brownish color of the stool is because of bile juice which is a result of the liver and gall bladder. It then releases into the intestines to help with the soaking up of fat in the diet. Thus, any problem in the liver that interrupts the production of bile can cause a problem.

Management

Having white specks or spots in the stool shouldn’t be taken casually and one should move ahead to evaluate the cause and get a proper diagnosis to avoid further complications. Some of the ways to treat it are as follows:

• Stool Test

In this test the stool is sent for evaluation to the lab where it goes through a microscopic examination. There might also be a need of a stool culture to reveal the contents of the stools like the ova, fungus, fat etc. It is extremely helpful in evaluating the problem and the cause to further give a direction for investigations. In this case of intestinal imaging techniques are also done. However in most of the cases, the color of stool usually alters due to one’s eating habits, consumption of different types of medicines, and the quantity and process of bile production by the liver. It is essential to know that cases of white specks in stool have to be reported to a doctor for the right diagnosis and a proper treatment.

Conclusion

The causes for white specks or spots in the stool can be mild to critical. Some of the drugs used to treat problems like constipation, indigestion, acidity and diarrhea, can easily be responsible for this problem. But if such is not the case then the patient could be suffering from a severe condition. It is important to see a doctor as he/she will chose a reliable treatment method and medications.