Stoolscan come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
When there are white specks in the stool it is often fromundigested food.
It can also be an undigested pill or an intestinal parasite.
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This article will discuss all the causes and their details.
It will also cover treatment options for finding white specks in stool.
Below covers those causes and provides details.
Food
Undigested pieces of food can appear as white specks in stool.
It might be from undigested seeds, vegetables, or nuts.
Seeds, vegetables, and nuts areinsoluble fiber.
The intestines have a hard time digesting the insoluble fiber that helps promote bulk to the stools.
Parasites
Tapewormsandpinwormscan be found as small white specks in stool.
The worms, pieces of the worms, or their eggs can look like tiny bits or threads.
They may cause itching around the anus, especially at night.
Other symptoms associated with parasites are diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained weight loss.
This happens more often with extended-releasemedicationsthat are formulated to deliver the medication slowly.
Another concern some people have is fat in the stool.
This is known assteatorrhea.
Steatorrhea does not present with white specks in the stool.
The stool is lighter colored, pale brown or yellow, and greasy looking.
People who have steatorrhea are not absorbing fat properly and may have a malabsorption condition.
The stool sample needs to be obtained when someone is not taking antibiotics or on an antidiarrheal medication.
There may need to be more than one stool sample taken.
Untreated Parasite Symptoms
If an intestinal parasite infection goes untreated it can lead to several unpleasant symptoms.
Not having a diagnosiscan be difficult, so it’s important to continue looking for answers.
Many times, the white specks are sparked by undigested food which do not need to be treated.
When the white specks are from medications, treatment is not necessary.
White specks triggered by aparasitic infectionare treated with oral medications.
It’s important to perform good handwashing during and after treatment to prevent reinfection.
Keeping Track of Food and Pooping Patterns
Changes in bowel movements can be difficult to track.
Keeping a diary of bowel movements can help you and your healthcare provider find trends to determine a cause.
To keep a stool diary, use theBristol Stool Chartto assess each bowel movement.
However, it can be a sign of a parasite infection.
They also could be from an undigested pill casing or from an intestinal parasite.
It’s important to contact a healthcare provider if you are unsure of the cause.
They will likely request a stool sample for testing to help determine the cause.
Treatment will vary based on the cause but could include an oral medication.
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