White feces in a child

A healthy child's stool is brown. Their hue is given by the pigment stercobilin, which is the end product of bilirubin metabolism. With the development of certain pathologies, the substance may be produced in insufficient quantities.

White poop can be a sign of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, bile stagnation, pancreatitis and other diseases. But don't panic right away, because there are other conditions that affect the color of feces and do not require treatment.

Physiological causes of white stool in children

The color and consistency of stool depend on the age of the baby. In newborns, the stool is black and viscous; after a few days it begins to lighten. The presence of white or yellowish spots in a baby's stool is considered normal. There are many reasons for the appearance of white feces. If the child does not have diarrhea, fever or other warning signs, then there is no need to worry.

A change in stool color could occur under the influence of physiological factors:

• introduction of complementary foods;
• taking medications;
• violations of personal hygiene;
• insufficient water consumption;
• teething;
• climate change;
• changes in daily routine.

After the influence of such factors stops, the stool acquires a natural color.

Nutrition

In children who are breastfed, the color of stool changes depending on the mother's diet. Unusual coloring of feces is observed within 24 hours, after which they acquire a normal shade. Also, light-colored feces are formed in artificial babies who eat dry formula.

White poop in a child can also be observed after the introduction of complementary foods, which is also considered a variant of the norm. The reason for this phenomenon is the immaturity of the baby’s digestive system. Gradually, the condition will normalize, and the stool will acquire a darker shade.

If the problem is detected in a child after 2 years, you need to pay attention to what the baby ate the day before. If digestion is not impaired, there are no symptoms of the inflammatory process, then the cause is most likely in the excessive consumption of certain foods, for example, dairy.

Effect of medications

In some cases, white feces in a child may be a variant of the norm.

With long-term treatment with antibacterial drugs, the color of stool may also change. This is a sign of dysbiosis, so the child will need treatment that will help restore the intestinal microflora.

White poop may also appear in a child after using other medications:

• antipyretics;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antiepileptic.

If you notice a violation, you need to seek advice from a specialist who prescribed medication. Usually, after stopping the drug, the condition returns to normal.

Causes of white stool

White feces in a child are not always a consequence of any diseases of the internal organs. Consuming cottage cheese and other fermented milk products with a high calcium content in large quantities, including infant formula, can make the stool light.

We list the main reasons for the appearance of light-colored stool in a child:

• Dysbacteriosis is the main reason for the appearance of white feces in children. A 1-year-old child may have white feces due to dysbacteriosis. The intestinal microflora is still very vulnerable and easily susceptible to harmful bacteria that disrupt its natural balance. Intestinal imbalance is expressed in a strong smell of stool. White feces in a 2-year-old child are also likely due to dysbacteriosis. Symptoms of intestinal dysfunction include abdominal pain, fever, and possible rash.
• Rotavirus infection. White feces in a child are observed during periods of illness with the Rotavirus virus, which is accompanied by vomiting and fever. The consistency of stool during this period is clay-like, and the most common form is diarrhea. The feces of a newborn baby and a child of 2 years are equally likely to turn white due to rotavirus infection.
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is a disease unusual for such a young generation, but its possibility cannot be completely ruled out, since cases of this disease have still been recorded in children as young as 3 years old. Disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas can also be observed at earlier stages (from birth), because the organs are not yet formed and a large load on the body can lead to a malfunction of certain organs. Characteristic signs of pancreatitis are pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting.
• Whipple's disease. A rather rare disease begins to actively progress when the child turns 3 or 4 years old. The disease is accompanied by frequent bowel movements, with the stool being liquid and foamy. Light-colored feces have a distinctive, pungent, unpleasant odor.
• Gallbladder problems. Bile contained in the body turns feces brown. A malfunction of the gallbladder (bending, obstruction or twisting) leads to the fact that the stool becomes whitish in color. There is a version that a child under 5 years of age may have light-colored stool due to spasms in the gallbladder. With age, such troubles go away.
• Hepatitis is a disease that frightens parents the most when they see light-colored stool in their baby. The disease is accompanied not only by changes in feces, but also affects other organs. The urine becomes dark and has a strong odor. The presence of such symptoms obliges parents to take the child to a consultation with a specialist for testing so that a true diagnosis can be established.

Pathological causes, diseases

Changes in the color of stool in children are not always harmless. In some cases, this is a sign of serious problems in the body. At the same time, the baby’s general condition suffers, and other unpleasant symptoms arise that cannot be ignored.

Rotavirus infection in children

Changes in the color of stool can occur with rotavirus infection. The pathology is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, acute pain in the intestines, and increased body temperature.

The child may also suffer from other manifestations:

• increased sweating;
• headache;
• respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat).

Fecal masses with this pathology can become clay-like or liquid, foamy, they lighten or acquire a grayish tint. Such changes are noted in the first days after infection or as a reaction to taking medications used to treat the disease.

Dysbacteriosis

A common cause of discolored stool in childhood is dysbacteriosis. In infants, the intestinal microflora is too vulnerable and susceptible to the negative effects of bacteria that upset the natural balance.

The development of the disease can be triggered by pathologies suffered by the expectant mother during pregnancy, the use of antibiotics by the child, and the nutritional habits of the woman and baby. At the same time, the feces acquire a pungent odor and become lighter in color.

In addition, the pathology is accompanied by:

• stool disorders. Diarrhea may alternate with constipation;
• abdominal pain;
• bloating;
• nausea, heartburn.

Pancreatitis

White poop in a child may be a sign of pancreatitis. In childhood, inflammation of the pancreas is rare; the pathology can be caused by medications or poor nutrition, which creates an increased burden on the child’s underdeveloped internal organs.

The baby's stool becomes white and watery, and severe pain occurs in the upper abdomen. The disease is also accompanied by nausea and vomiting, temperature fluctuations, a constant feeling of thirst, and diarrhea.

Hepatitis

Children aged 3-7 years are more at risk of developing hepatitis. You can become infected through food, drinks, and toys. The infection can also enter the body through airborne droplets.

Children may develop hepatitis B, which has a hidden course. Sometimes six months pass before the first symptoms appear. Then the feces lighten, and the urine becomes darker and acquires a pungent odor, and yellowing of the skin is noted.

In addition, the child loses his appetite, sleeps poorly, and his general condition is impaired. Possible fever, nausea and vomiting.

Discoloration of stool is also observed with hepatitis A, which is accompanied by the same symptoms. If you notice warning signs, you should immediately contact a doctor.

Steatorrhea

The cause of steatorrhea is excess fat in the body. The stool becomes oily, its color changes to grayish or white, and blood may appear.

Children also suffer from other symptoms:

• frequent urge to go to the toilet, accompanied by pain;
• cough, runny nose;
• appetite disorders;
• deterioration of general health.

Gallbladder diseases

Bile is removed from the body naturally. It contains a pigment that colors excrement. Some gallbladder diseases affect the color of stool.

When an organ is twisted, bent, or obstructed, it becomes lighter. A patient with such pathologies requires urgent treatment.

Whipple's disease

This is a rare disease that most often occurs between the ages of 3 and 4 years. In this case, the infection affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing the appearance of liquid, foamy feces with a pungent odor and a light gray color.

Evacuations occur more than 10 times a day, in addition, the temperature rises, cramps and bloating occur, the lymph nodes become inflamed and iron deficiency anemia develops.

White feces in a child: causes

Despite the large number of reasons and conditions that can cause the appearance of white stool in children, the first thought that arises in parents' heads when contemplating such a phenomenon is almost always about hepatitis. Discoloration of stool is indeed the most striking symptom of this dangerous condition, but always simultaneously with it there is a clear darkening of the urine: it becomes very concentrated and the color resembles beer. Therefore, if the child does not have this sign (which needs to be checked first when white stool appears), then the reason for the violation of the norm should be sought elsewhere.

It must be said that even among children, the causes of white stool can be quite serious, associated with disorders of the health and functioning of internal organs. The most likely among them, in addition to those already mentioned, are the following:

• Rotavirus infection or flu . These diseases often appear among the reasons for the appearance of light-colored stool in children, and in this case it will have a gray tint. Feces may turn white several days after the onset of the disease and the appearance of the first signs of rotavirus infection (diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, general weakness, fever, etc.), and often even after recovery - as a reaction to drug treatment. .
• Stagnation of bile. The brown color characteristic of normal stools is given by a special pigment that is secreted along with bile. If for some reason the flow of bile becomes difficult, among other things, this can lead to light-colored stools. There are often cases when this occurs due to anatomical features - bending or twisting of the gallbladder, but others are also possible, in particular obstruction of the bile ducts.
• Inflammation of the pancreas . Not the most common disease among children, but it also occurs and can cause light-colored stools. Pain in the abdomen - in the left hypochondrium, in the upper abdomen, in the navel area, which can radiate to the lower back, back - will help to suspect this cause.
• Whipple's disease. A rather rare and insufficiently studied disease, a characteristic symptom of which is loose and frequent light-colored stools with a pungent odor - white-gray, about 10 times a day or even more. The stool may also be foamy or pasty.

And yet, more often than not, white feces in children do not pose serious dangers, but are the result of errors in nutrition. In particular, stool lightening can occur with the abuse of very fatty foods, consumption of large amounts of sweets, foods and medications containing high concentrations of calcium. These are mainly village fatty cottage cheese and sour cream: the stool after them often becomes white-gray, viscous, oily, reminiscent of clay or plasticine.

Also, light (white or gray) feces in a child can be a reaction to taking medications, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and other drugs.

We can come to the conclusion that first of all, if a child has white feces, it is necessary to examine the color of his urine and analyze recent changes and trends in the diet.

White feces in the shape of worms

If a child has stool with white streaks, he may have colitis or dysbacteriosis. To confirm the diagnosis, you will need to consult a gastroenterologist.

White worms also appear in feces due to helminthiasis. In addition, the child’s sleep and appetite are disturbed, weight loss occurs, constipation or diarrhea occurs, and a rash appears on the skin.

If you suspect the presence of worms, you must contact a parasitologist, get tested and begin treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

When should you see a doctor? Diagnostics

White poop in a child is not always a sign of problems in the body. If stool of an unusual color appears, you need to observe the child for 2-3 days. If the color of the stool becomes normal, then there is no need to worry. If the situation has not changed and other warning signs appear, you should consult a doctor.

The following symptoms may indicate the presence of dangerous diseases:

• pain and severe bloating;
• violation of the passage of gases;
• nausea and vomiting;
• yellowing of the sclera of the eyes and skin;
• increased body temperature;
• lethargy, fatigue, loss of appetite;
• dehydration. This is a very dangerous sign. In infants, the fontanelle sinks and weight decreases. In older children, dry lips and a decrease in the number of urinations are observed;
• change in urine color.

Even if at least one dangerous sign appears, you must urgently visit a doctor. Severe pathologies in childhood are characterized by rapid development; it is important to begin treatment at an early stage of the disease.

In order to establish the cause of the disorder, the doctor will recommend urine and stool tests and refer the little patient for additional studies:

• X-ray of the intestines;
• clinical and biochemical blood tests;
• ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs;
• endoscopy, colonoscopy.

To clarify the diagnosis, you may need to consult a gastroenterologist, immunologist, endocrinologist or infectious disease specialist.

Light-colored stool in children: when to see a doctor

It often happens that white feces in a child do not cause him any discomfort and are not accompanied by any painful signs. Mothers on forums share their experience that light-colored stools that appeared for unknown reasons in children also suddenly disappeared after one or two days. Most likely, this phenomenon is due to eating habits or teething. From now on, it is necessary to take a more conscious and responsible approach to compiling children's diets.

However, everything does not always end so well and safely. In some cases, you cannot waste time observing the child’s behavior and changes in stool color, expecting improvements. You should immediately consult a doctor if your child has white stool:

• noticeable darkening of urine;
• diarrhea, very frequent loose stools;
• stomach ache;
• nausea and vomiting;
• fever and/or the appearance of other signs of malaise (weakness, lethargy, moodiness, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite);
• strong thirst.

It is also necessary to consult a doctor if, even with the child’s general good condition, white stool does not go away after two to three days or if it is not the first time it appears. The pediatrician will certainly refer such a patient for examination and, based on its results, will prescribe treatment for white stool in children that is appropriate in each case.

If, in addition to light-colored stool, there are no other signs of illness and the urine is not dark, then just watch the child for a day or two, following a diet: it is very likely that the stool will normalize on its own.

Especially for - Larisa Nezabudkina

Treatment methods for various diseases

The course of therapy is selected individually, depending on what caused the disorder.

Features of the treatment of pathologies that provoke stool discoloration:

White feces in a child: main causes and symptoms of disease

Change in stool color
22.02.2018

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Feces are normally brown in color. This is due to the fact that, along with waste substances, a small amount of bile is excreted through the intestines. The brown enzyme contained in it, oxidizing in the colon, gives the feces a characteristic shade. If the function of producing and excreting bile acids is impaired, the stool becomes discolored.

Parents should not only closely monitor the child’s diet and weight, but also evaluate the appearance of his stool. White feces in children are often a sign of dehydration, bile duct obstruction, inflammation or pathologies of the digestive system. When faced with a similar phenomenon, it is necessary to determine the cause and degree of danger of such changes.

A healthy child's stool should be light yellow or brown. Their color and consistency can be influenced by various factors:

• age;
• appetite;
• Food;
• sleep and wakefulness patterns.

For example, in newborns, mushy bowel movements that are yellowish and even “apricot” in color are considered normal. But after milk or artificial formula with a high calcium content, the stool may be light, thick, viscous, like clay.

In children aged 2 years, the color of feces will change depending on the food they eat during the day: from dairy foods, the feces will be light yellow, from meat foods - dark brown.

Plant products also give stool a characteristic shade:

• beets - red;
• carrots – orange;
• coffee, black currant, blueberry, blueberry, blackberry, mulberry - from rich brown to black.

In this case, the change in stool color occurs without pain or any symptoms from the digestive system.

If the color of the baby's stool changes, it is worth analyzing not only the food, but also the medications that he has taken recently. Pharmacological medications and herbal preparations can also change the color of children's stool:

• bismuth preparations, which are prescribed to children over 6 years old, give stool a black color;
• iron-containing medications – green-black;
• vitamins, anti-tuberculosis drugs and some types of antibiotics – gray-white.

Often the cause of changes in stool color is pathological processes occurring inside the child’s body. Therefore, if the baby’s stools become colorless or gray-white with a greasy sheen (fatty feces), changes are observed in his behavior and general condition, parents need to notify the pediatrician about this. Such changes in children 2-10 years old can be a sign of serious illness.

A syndrome in which there are fewer beneficial microorganisms in the intestines, and more harmful ones. The most common cause of intestinal dysbiosis in children 2-3 years of age and older are:

• prematurity (in babies born weighing about 1 kg 500 g);
• frequent use of antibiotics;
• long-term treatment with hormonal drugs;
• infectious and parasitic intestinal lesions;
• inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis;
• unbalanced diet;
• surgery.

The following symptoms are characteristic of dysbiosis:

• unstable stool (constipation alternates with diarrhea);
• discharge during bowel movements is watery, discolored or white, with mucus particles;
• nagging pain in the intestines, sometimes accompanied by colic;
• feeling of heaviness, fullness in the stomach;
• nausea, heartburn, belching;
• lack of appetite.

Later, signs of dehydration and vitamin deficiency appear:

• fatigue, irritability;
• dryness, flaking of the skin;
• small ulcers on the oral mucosa;
• cracks in the corners of the mouth;
• allergic skin rashes.

Inflammation of the pancreas, in which the digestive enzymes secreted by the gland remain in it and digest the tissues of the organ. The disease rarely occurs in infancy, but cases of this disease have been recorded in children as young as 3 years old.

Disturbances in the functioning of the gland can also occur at an earlier stage - at 1 or 2 years, that is, during the period when the child’s internal organs have not yet fully strengthened and have not adapted to the food or drug load.

The main signs of pancreatitis are:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• severe, monotonous pain in the upper abdomen.

One of the main symptoms of pancreatitis in children under 10 years of age is watery white stool.

A disease of an infectious nature, the causative agents of which are rotaviruses A or B. From the moment the infection enters the child’s body until the first symptoms appear, an average of 24 hours passes, sometimes two days.

In newborns and children under 2 years of age, the period of the disease is accompanied by:

• body temperature 38-39 °C;
• headache;
• sweating;
• cough, runny nose, sore throat.

Stool due to internal bleeding

A day later, the existing symptoms are joined by signs of gastrointestinal disorder:

• vomit;
• frequent diarrhea (up to 10-14 times a day);
• foamy white stools;
• acute pain in the intestines.

With internal bleeding, the stool turns black. The baby becomes lethargic, sleepy, capricious and refuses to eat.

After rotavirus, children develop immunity against infection, but it only lasts for two weeks. For reliable protection against the disease and possible negative consequences, doctors advise vaccinating children.

A condition in which the patient’s stool contains an increased amount of fat. The disease is associated with the body’s inability to completely process and break down fatty substances.

The following reasons can lead to the development of pathology in children:

1. 1. Celiac disease is a genetic disease that is inherited.
2. 2. Chronic pancreatitis.
3. 3. Giardiasis.
4. 4. Excessive content of dangerous microorganisms in the small intestine.
5. 5. Uncontrolled use of certain medications.

Symptoms of steatorrhea:

• the urge to defecate, extremely frequent and painful;
• copious liquid, oily feces that are difficult to wash off the walls of the potty or toilet;
• feces may be light or grayish-white with an oily sheen.

The child develops nausea, dizziness, bone and joint pain, dry cough, the mucous membranes of the nasal and oral cavities dry out, stomach pain, and loss of appetite. Fragments of blood appear in the stool, damage occurs to the cells and blood vessels of the brain, heart, respiratory system, and kidneys. Possible jaundice or paleness of the skin, rash. The baby becomes lethargic and capricious.

Whipple's disease

An infectious disease of the small intestine caused by blockage of the lymph nodes of internal organs by bacterial mucopolysaccharides. The disease mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract.

When the baby turns 3 years old, the disease actively manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• frequent loose, foamy stools;
• discolored or gray stool that has an extremely unpleasant odor;
• cramps, bloating;
• fever;
• weight loss;
• cough;
• pain and swelling of the joints.

Acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the liver, often of an infectious nature. With this disease, stool becomes light gray in color, urine darkens, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting appear. Diarrhea gives way to constipation, loss of appetite, and a slight increase in body temperature.

A few days after the first symptoms appear, the skin and sclera of the eyes turn jaundiced.

Children aged 3 to 7 years are at greatest risk of infection.

The main routes of infection with the hepatitis virus are as follows:

• dirty hands, toys, household items;
• food, water;
• airborne droplets;
• hematogenous - during surgery or tooth extraction.

Types of gallbladder deformation

Disorders of the functions of the biliary system in young children are often associated with deformation of the gallbladder or with inflammatory processes in the organ itself or its ducts:

• inflammation of the bladder walls;
• obstruction;
• inflection;
• twisting;
• bile duct dyskinesia;
• bacterial infections of the bile ducts.

Violation of the contractile function of the gallbladder leads to stagnation of bile. Jaundice develops, and within 1-2 days the stool in a child under 5 years old becomes light gray or white.

A small patient complains of heaviness and attacks of pain in the upper abdomen (especially after eating fatty foods), dryness, bitterness in the mouth, nausea (while eating), odor intolerance.

If the outflow of bile is disrupted, the following symptoms appear:

• increase in body temperature up to 38 °C;
• lack of appetite;
• vomit;
• belching;
• excessive salivation;
• dense white coating on the tongue;
• unstable chair.

If the color of the stool has changed and there is a suspicion that this is due to diet, it is recommended to exclude foods high in fats, carbohydrates and enzymes from the daily diet for several days. If after 2-3 days the child’s stool has not returned to normal, you should urgently consult a pediatrician.

You should also visit a specialist if your baby exhibits the following symptoms in addition to white stool:

• increase in body temperature;
• fever;
• nausea, headache, dizziness;
• lethargy, fatigue;
• bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain;
• foamy stools with a strong odor;
• frequent diarrhea;
• decreased appetite;
• weight loss;
• partial or complete jaundice.

You cannot ignore this problem or hope that everything will go away on its own. The health and sometimes the life of the baby can be in serious danger. In children under 4 years of age, such signs are the result of diseases of the liver, intestines or gall bladder.

Only a qualified doctor will be able to fully examine the child, determine the pathology and prescribe treatment.

Source: https://pancreatus.com/feces/color/belyj-kal-u-rebenka.html

Possible complications

If you ignore the problem caused by the disease, serious consequences may occur:

• the pancreas will stop producing enzymes that help digest food;
• intoxication of the body will occur if the cause of the disorder is helminthiasis;
• dysbiosis will become chronic, which will lead to loss of appetite, constant bloating, vomiting and diarrhea;
• the functioning of the gallbladder and liver will worsen, bile stagnation will occur, and the risk of stone formation will increase.

The color of stool can change for various reasons. Many of them do not pose a danger to the child and do not require treatment. But if the poop remains white for several days, and the baby’s well-being suffers, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. This condition may be a sign of serious problems in the functioning of the body and should not be ignored.

Causes and symptoms

Pathological causes of white diarrhea are diseases of the liver, gall bladder and pancreas with blockage of the bile ducts.

In case of serious health problems, discolored, loose stools appear suddenly and persist for at least 3-5 days.

Diseases with the symptom “white diarrhea”:

• hepatitis;
• hepatic purpura;
• cholelithiasis;
• inflection of the gallbladder;
• cholecystitis;
• hepatocellular carcinoma (liver tumor);
• biliary dyskinesia.

If a child poops with white diarrhea, but with a slight yellowish tint, this indicates an insufficient supply of bilirubin and other enzymes in the intestines. It is also possible to alternate between white and colored feces. The feces contain undigested particles of fat; the feces are not sufficiently colored due to a lack of the pigment stercobilin.

This is typical for diseases:

• helminthic infestation;
• Whipple's disease;
• pancreatitis;
• large neoplasms in the pancreas;
• celiac disease.

White diarrhea is never the only and primary symptom of these diseases. It manifests itself in combination with dark urine, pain in the right hypochondrium, yellowing of the white membrane of the eyes and skin, unbearable itching, fever and vomiting. The child becomes weaker, gets tired quickly and loses weight.

In all these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. Delay may cause liver failure. There is no standard treatment for white diarrhea; you need to treat the disease itself, of which it is a symptom.

For initial diagnosis, contact a pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist. The doctor will evaluate the child's clinical signs and condition. General blood and urine tests, scatological and bacteriological examination of stool, and ultrasound of the abdominal organs are performed. Depending on the results and suspicions of a certain disease, the patient is prescribed additional tests and treatment is selected.

Medicines

Discoloration and watery stool are possible when taking medications that interfere with the excretion of bilirubin into the small intestine.

Most often this happens with long-term use or exceeding the dosage:

• antibiotics (often penicillin group);
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• aspirin and its derivatives;
• antifungal drugs;
• drugs for the treatment of epilepsy, tuberculosis;
• Methotrexate.

White, loose stools are possible 2-3 days after an X-ray examination of the digestive tract using barium sulfate. After removing the drugs from the body, the stool returns to normal within 2-5 days.

Power supply errors

If a child has white diarrhea, the reasons may lie in dietary habits. Especially in young children, when the developing digestive system is sensitive to all changes in diet.

Common reasons:

• transfer to artificial feeding to complementary foods that are not appropriate for age;
• abundance of animal fats in the diet;
• feeding with undiluted cow's (goat's) milk;
• nutritional deficiencies in breast milk;
• predominance of sweet foods in the diet.

In these cases, the color of the stool is unevenly white, as happens with serious pathologies. It contains particles of undigested dairy products or fats and often has a yellowish tint.

As the child’s body gets used to new food or the diet changes, the stool returns to normal. This usually happens within 1-3 days.

Often the symptoms of pathologies with discolored feces are confused with other diseases. Possible causes include dysbacteriosis, rotavirus infection, and even dehydration. The only reason stool becomes white is obstruction of the biliary tract, in which bilirubin does not enter the intestines. All other diseases can develop against the background of this disorder.

Rotavirus infection and other diseases themselves cannot cause stool discoloration. It may be lightened due to the content of mucus, foam and other impurities. But feces are never uniformly white—acholic.