Fatty stool or steatorrhea, as it is known, may be an indication of a problem in the body that needs to consult a doctor and determine the appropriate treatment. Is fatty stool dangerous? And how can it be treated?

What is fatty stool?

Fat is part of the stool along with other substances such as protein, salts, etc., and you may notice an increase in the amount of fat present in the stool due to eating a lot of fatty foods, for example, and this may cause steatorrhea.

Causes of steatorrhea

There are reasons behind the presence of fat in the stool in a large amount, the most important of which is the failure of the body to absorb the food in the correct and exact manner, especially the useful and important parts present in the food, and among the causes of malabsorption:

• Cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that affects the mucous glands and the pancreatic glands as well.
• Having a problem with the function of the pancreas, and in general the juices of the pancreas are important in order to digest fats.
• Chronic pancreatitis, which may be the result of smoking or alcohol.

Other causes behind steatorrhea:

• Having an allergy to gluten or some other digestive disorder may be related.
• A blockage in the ducts that carry bile.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Lactose intolerance.

Symptoms of fatty stool

Signs that you may have steatorrhea are:

• pale stool color
• Having an unpleasant odor.
• The stool is huge in size.
• The presence of a greasy layer on the stool.

There are other symptoms associated with the presence of fat in the stool resulting from malabsorption, and these symptoms include:

• diarrhea.
• Gas and colic.
• Lose weight.

Fatty stool treatment

The treatment depends on determining the cause, especially since malabsorption has different causes, but if the cause is related to the diet, the treatment here may be based on avoiding foods that stimulate the appearance of symptoms.

For example, if the reason is lactose intolerance, here you will have to avoid dairy products or get very small quantities and replace them with plant-based milk products, and if the problem you have is digestive or because of gluten sensitivity, then products that contain gluten are supposed to be avoided.

Medications and supplements may be used, depending on the diagnosis made by the doctor. Medications should not be used without a doctor’s prescription.

Is fatty stool dangerous?

Not resorting to treatment may result in more serious complications later or in the long term, and these possible complications include:

• Growth problems.
• Recurring infections.
• Anemia.
• Malnutrition due to diarrhea or vomiting.
• Sometimes surgery may be resorted to, to remove parts of the digestive system in some serious cases.

Fatty stools for infants

You must pay attention to it Greasy, foul-smelling stools for infantsIt may be caused by one of these disorders:

• Lactose intolerance.
• brain paralysis.
• Feeding problems.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Pancreatic insufficiency.

In the event that the symptoms mentioned above appear, a doctor should be consulted in order to prevent any possible development, and in order to confirm the condition and diagnose it correctly and determine the appropriate treatment for it, and the diet that must be followed.