A normal stool is a semi-solid medium brown structure excreted from the anal opening of the body. White spots or specks in your stool or poop, as you may call it, may appear because of a number of reasons. The severity ranges from mild to moderate, it could be because of undigested food or a side effect of medication.
The poop or stool tells a lot about the overall health of a human being which is why tracking bowel movements is necessary. If you find tiny white spots in your poop, do not worry. Observe
what other lingering symptoms are, and then decide to contact your nearest gastroenterologist.
What Does White Specks In Poop Mean?
White specks mean a strand; tiny spots or dots of white color are present on the otherwise brown poop. Some of the reasons are:
Undigested Food
Small white specks on poop are majorly caused because of undigested food such as nuts, quinoa, high fiber veggies, etc. These items move directly through the digestive tract and look like small dots in the stool.
Malabsorption of Nutrients
Impaired nutrient absorption from undigested foods is also the reason for white specks appearing in the stool. Increased Malabsorption results in heavier, pale-colored poop. Some of the medical conditions linked to it are:
- liver disease
- pancreatic insufficiency
- intestinal inflammation
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
Other lingering symptoms maybe
Celiac Disease
It is an autoimmune disorder that results in an abnormal immune response to gluten–protein. This entry causes gut inflammation and decreases the ability of the intestine to absorb nutrients, and as a result, malnutrition occurs. Some symptoms of this disease include:
Medication Side Effects
Some medicines cause white specks to appear in the poop. This condition is more prevalent in capsule users. Incomplete digestion of the medication and sometimes the cover layer itself results in white spots in poop.
Parasitic Manifestation
Many different kinds of parasites cause white dots to appear in the stool. Segments from tapeworms look like huge white patches on the stool, like that of a post stamp size. You may feel nausea, vomiting, and weakness along with white poop.
Fungus
Candida overload causes yeast infection, which causes the white matter to appear in stools.
Diagnosing the Issue
A stool test is enough to know about the parasites of fungal growth in it. However, certain other tests are also available for differential diagnosis.
CBC – complete blood count. The blood is taken from your arm and sent to the lab to count the number of RBCs, WBCs, and other components. This test helps detect many things such as the presence of an infection, anemia, etc.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy, along with blood tests, help detect celiac disease. A small piece from the intestine is taken out and sent for biopsy, after which the diagnosis is confirmed.
CT scan or Ultrasound
A visual checkup of the gallbladder or liver through imaging is a great way to detect abnormalities.
Conclusion
White specks in the poop go away as soon as the underlying cause is treated. At Gastroenterology Diagnostic Center, we make sure to analyze the issue and provide apt treatment deeply. Call us today at 281-357-1977 for information.