Health Care Encyclopedia
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Stools - pale or clay coloredDefinition: Stools that are pale, or clay- or putty-colored may result from problems in the biliary system (the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas).
Alternative Names: Acholic stools
Considerations: Jaundiced (yellow) skin often accompanies clay-colored stools. The liver excretes bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. Obstruction to the flow of bile out of the liver (you may see the word "cholestasis"), or liver infections like viral hepatitis, may produce clay-colored stools.
Common Causes: Possible causes for clay-colored stool result from problems in the biliary system, and may include: - Cancer or benign tumors
- Strictures (narrowings)
- Congenital anatomic problems (present at birth)
- Gallstones
- Cysts
- Medications
- Sclerosing cholangitis
- Biliary cirrhosis
- Protein or infectious infiltration
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Viral hepatitis (A,B, or C)
The underlying cause should be investigated.
Home Care: Follow prescribed therapy.
Call your health care provider if: If clay-colored or pale stools, dark (bloody-looking) urine, or jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyeballs) appears, contact your health care provider.
What to expect at your health care provider's office: The doctor will examine you and ask questions such as: - Time pattern
- When did this first occur?
- Is every stool this way?
- Medications
- What medications are being taken?
- Have you changed medication in any way?
- Associated symptoms
- Is there any abdominal pain?
- Is there any jaundice?
- Has there been darkening of the urine?
- Is there diarrhea?
- Is there any fever, chills, or night sweats?
The physical examination will include emphasis on the abdominal region. The findings may indicate a need for surgery. Your doctor may perform: - A full history, noting any medications or habits, such as heavy drinking or intravenous drug use
- Blood work, including liver function tests and tests for viruses
- Imaging studies, such as an abdominal ultrasound
- Endoscopy studies with a long, flexible scope passed through the mouth to the small intestine (ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
After seeing your health care provider: If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to pale or clay-colored stools, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.
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| Review Date: 1/23/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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