Yellow diarrhea occurs when feces pass through the intestine too quickly and is therefore common for it to be caused by excess stress or anxiety, as these are conditions that excessively stimulate bowel movements.
However, when yellow diarrhea persists for more than 2-3 days, it can also be a sign of an intestinal infection, irritable bowel and even problems with the pancreas or gallbladder. In these cases, it is common for diarrhea to be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, loss of appetite, vomiting or abdominal pain, for example.
Whenever yellow diarrhea lasts more than 3 days or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to consult a proctologist or gastroenterologist to identify the cause and begin the most appropriate treatment. In any case, during periods of diarrhea, it is important to increase your water intake and eat a lighter diet. See what to eat if you have diarrhea.
Main causes of yellow diarrhea
The main causes of yellow diarrhea are:
1. Food
Some foods can cause or worsen diarrhea, especially those containing higher amounts of carbohydrates, dairy products and fructose. These foods are capable of stimulating intestinal contractions, in addition to being more difficult to break down in the intestine, causing diarrhea.
What to do: It is recommended to avoid or reduce the consumption of foods rich in fat, legumes and hard green vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, as they can cause intestinal irritation and cause diarrhea.
2. Anxiety or stress
Anxiety and stress are the main cause of diarrhea, as they cause an increase in bowel movements, making it difficult to absorb nutrients and water, resulting in soft or liquid stools.
Furthermore, anxiety situations increase the flow of blood to the legs, reducing its concentration in the gastrointestinal tract, making digestion difficult and allowing the passage of fats that turn the stool yellow. Therefore, it is common for yellow diarrhea to appear during periods of great stress and anxiety, but this usually improves within 1 or 2 days.
What to do: In this case, it is important to identify the situation that causes stress or anxiety so that it is possible to avoid it, and it is also interesting to adopt habits that help improve mood and relax, such as physical activity, reading or meditation, for example.
3. Irritable bowel
Irritable bowel is also one of the most common causes of diarrhea and, although it does not always cause yellowish stools, in some people it can impair the absorption of fats in the intestine, which ends up giving them a yellowish color. Other common symptoms of this problem include abdominal pain, excess gas and alternating periods of constipation.
Take our online test to find out if you may have irritable bowel:
What to do: To alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel, including yellow diarrhea, it is recommended to make changes to your diet, and it is recommended to identify the foods that tend to trigger symptoms. In general, it is recommended to avoid dark leafy vegetables, avoid alcoholic drinks and coffee, for example. In some cases, the gastroenterologist may recommend the use of some medications to alleviate symptoms. See more details on the treatment for irritable bowel.
4. Changes in the gallbladder
The gallbladder is an organ responsible for storing and releasing bile, which is an important substance for digestion, as it helps to break down fat in food, making it easier for it to be absorbed in the intestine. Therefore, when the amount of bile is reduced, it is common for fat to be eliminated in the feces, making the feces more liquid and yellowish in color.
Furthermore, as it is digested bile that gives normal feces their brown color, it is even more common for diarrhea in these cases to be very yellow, due to the lack of bile pigments. The main cause of changes in bile excretion is the presence of gallstones, which can cause symptoms such as pain in the right side of the belly, fever, loss of appetite and frequent diarrhea. Know how to recognize the symptoms of gallstones.
What to do: In this case, it is important that the general practitioner or gastroenterologist is consulted so that symptoms can be assessed and an abdominal ultrasound performed to confirm the change in the gallbladder. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor may recommend surgery, changes in diet, change of habits and use of medication to relieve pain.
5. Pancreas problems
When the pancreas is not functioning properly, due to inflammation caused by infection, tumor, cystic fibrosis or a blockage in the organ’s canal, it is unable to produce enough pancreatic juice for digestion, which ends up making it difficult to break down fats and other nutrients. , which can result in yellow diarrhea.
In these cases, in addition to diarrhea, other signs may also appear such as a feeling of a very full belly after eating, excess gas, frequent urge to defecate and weight loss.
What to do: If you suspect changes in the pancreas, you should quickly go to the gastroenterologist so that tests can be carried out and the most appropriate treatment can be started, which may involve changes in diet, use of analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, supplementation of pancreatic enzymes or carrying out surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, for example.
6. Intestinal infection
Intestinal infection caused by eating raw food or water contaminated by microorganisms, such as Giardia lambliawhich causes giardiasis, Escherichia coli or rotavirus. These microorganisms cause inflammation of the intestinal lining, which makes it difficult to absorb water, fat and other nutrients, resulting in yellowish diarrhea.
In cases of infection, other symptoms such as frequent vomiting, headache, loss of appetite and fever are common.
What to do: In the case of an intestinal infection, it is important that the person rests, drinks plenty of water during the day and eats a light, easily digestible diet, as this allows the body to recover faster.
7. Liver problem
Changes in the liver, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis or liver cancer, can cause yellow diarrhea, as these situations interfere with the production of bile, reducing the absorption of fat in the body, changing the color of the stool and causing whiter, more liquid stools.
Furthermore, depending on the change, it is possible to notice the presence of other symptoms, such as general malaise, abdominal pain and swelling, yellower skin, red spots on the skin, vomiting and weight loss. See other symptoms of liver problems.
What to do: It is important that the general practitioner or hepatologist is consulted so that an evaluation can be carried out, additional tests can be recommended and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated according to the cause, which can be done with the use of medication, changes in diet , rest, surgery or liver transplant, for example.
8. Use of the medication orlistat
Orlistat, also known as xenical, is a medication that works by preventing the absorption of fat in the intestine from food, making feces more liquid and yellow. Furthermore, it can also cause urgency to evacuate, excess gas and an increase in the number of bowel movements. Check out more effects of orlistat.
This medication should be used under medical supervision to help with weight loss and control high cholesterol and diabetes, controlling weight in the long term.
What to do: It is important that this medicine is used under the guidance of a doctor, as it reduces the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine. Taking this medicine should be done in conjunction with a low-fat diet, avoiding the occurrence of diarrhea.
9. Celiac disease
Celiac disease is a condition in which the body cannot produce the enzyme responsible for breaking down gluten. In some cases, the person can produce the enzyme, but in insufficient quantity. Due to the fact that gluten remains undigested throughout the digestive tract, the immune system is stimulated, causing intestinal damage and interfering with fat absorption, which results in yellowish stools.
In addition to yellowish stools, other symptoms may also be present, such as abdominal bloating, cramps and loss of appetite. Learn about other symptoms of celiac disease.
What to do: It is important to avoid foods that contain gluten, such as bread, pasta and alcoholic beverages, and it is essential to consult a nutritionist for guidance on nutrition.
What can be yellow diarrhea in a baby
Soft and even liquid stools in babies are normal, especially in the first 6 months, when most babies are fed exclusively with breast milk, which contains a lot of water. However, the amount of feces should not come out of the diaper, as when this happens it is a sign of diarrhea and should be reported to the pediatrician.
Furthermore, the yellow color is also very common, as the baby’s intestine works much faster than that of an adult, making it difficult to absorb some fats, especially when the baby is fed with breast milk that has a high amount of fat.
Generally, feces should only be of concern when they are voluminous or have a pink, red, white or black color, as they can indicate problems such as infections or bleeding, for example, and it is important to go to the hospital quickly or inform the pediatrician so that treatment can be started. better treatment. Learn more about baby’s stool and what it means.
