Diarrhea can be caused by various reasons, ranging from foods to serious pathologies in the body. At the same time, there are many differences in the symptoms of diarrhea, in the characteristics of its course and specific signs, which can be used to navigate and immediately begin the right measures to eliminate not only the symptoms, but also the causes of the unpleasant condition. Among the special signs of diarrhea, the color of stool is very indicative. What does orange diarrhea signal, and what are the treatment methods for this stool disorder?
Causes of orange diarrhea
The color of stool is determined by many factors. They can be divided into two categories:
- nutritional features;
- pathological phenomena.
In the first case, the reasons for the appearance of orange liquid stool are as follows:
- frequently consumed orange-colored foods (carrots, apricots, pumpkin);
- high concentration of carotene in preferred food;
- taking certain medications;
- the use of vitamin complexes with orange dye or a high dose of retinol.
The appearance of orange diarrhea for these reasons does not cause harm to the body. It is enough to change your diet, choose other multivitamins, and diarrhea will disappear on its own in a few days.
If it is clear that orange-colored diarrhea is not caused by medications or carotene-rich foods, then the cause should be sought in a serious pathological process. It is necessary to immediately contact a medical facility and undergo an examination to establish a diagnosis.
Orange diarrhea can be a symptom of the following diseases:
- hepatitis, other liver disorders;
- gastritis, peptic ulcer;
- stones in the gall bladder and bile ducts;
- lesions of the pancreas;
- renal pathologies;
- diseases of the pulmonary system;
- cystitis, pathological changes in the bladder;
- hormonal imbalances;
- infectious lesion.
There is a relationship between the color of stool and the severity of the disease.
The more intensely colored the discharge, the more pronounced and acute the pathological process. In addition to diarrhea, the listed pathologies may be accompanied by the urge to vomit, abdominal pain, and increased body temperature.
Orange diarrhea can occur not only in adults, but also in infants. In a newborn baby, feces of an unnatural color are a sign that the absorption of mother's milk or artificial nutrition in the digestive tract has not occurred completely, and there are metabolic problems.
If orange diarrhea in a baby is accompanied by vomiting and fever, then the most likely cause is intoxication of the body. Also, yellow-orange stool can be a signal that the baby is experiencing a pathological process in the liver or biliary system. In the latter case, the yellowish color of the stool is given by bile produced in excess.
A baby's stool may turn orange after taking Plantex. In this case, there is no need to worry.
In women, an orange tint to stool may be associated with hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause, and is also observed in cases of thyroid dysfunction and diabetes.
Why does stool color change?
After conceiving a baby, a restructuring of the functioning of the woman’s body occurs, as the mother’s body prepares to bear the fetus. Due to “global” hormonal changes, the expectant mother may change the color and thickness of her stool. During pregnancy, the color of stool can vary from green to black.
The hue of feces is largely influenced by the diet of a pregnant woman. If the expectant mother decides to consume large quantities of leafy green vegetables while carrying the baby, then green feces awaits her. And eating large quantities of blood sausage, liver, currants, and blueberries will color your stool black.
Also, the color of feces can be affected by taking medications . The well-known “Activated carbon”, which is taken for digestive disorders, accumulation of gases in the intestines, food poisoning, salts of heavy metals, alkaloids, leads to the coloring of excrement black. Therefore, if a pregnant woman takes several tablets of “Activated Charcoal”, for example, for bloating, then in a day or two she will have dark stool. During pregnancy, it is necessary to take even long-familiar medications with caution, since it is unknown how the body of the woman carrying the baby will react to them. The same “Activated carbon”, in addition to removing toxins from the body and coloring feces, leads to the removal of useful substances: vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates. And this negatively affects the development of the baby.
Black feces during pregnancy may be a consequence of taking a vitamin-mineral complex designed specifically for women expecting a baby, since all dietary supplements for expectant mothers contain a substance such as iron. It is vitally necessary for the body in order for the hematopoietic function to function properly and the level of hemoglobin in the blood to remain normal. During the period of bearing a child, a pregnant woman's need for iron doubles. Therefore, quite often expectant mothers are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, which can lead to health complications. To avoid this condition, obstetricians and gynecologists prescribe vitamin and mineral complexes containing increased amounts of iron to pregnant women. But not all of the iron in the dietary supplement is absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract, since the stomach can only absorb 2 milligrams of this mineral during the day. All other iron is excreted from the body along with feces, which leads to dark stool in pregnant women taking vitamin-mineral complexes for expectant mothers.
Diagnostics
If the symptoms indicate that orange diarrhea is caused by pathological processes in the body, you should not delay going to a medical facility. At the first stage, the doctor collects an anamnesis. It is necessary to answer all the questions asked: what foods were consumed the day before, what medications were taken, and what symptoms were noted.
The following diagnostic measures are carried out:
- stool enzyme analysis;
- blood and urine tests;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- proctological examination for the presence of pathological formations in the intestines;
- endoscopic procedures to identify pathologies of the upper digestive tract;
- determination of the degree of dehydration.
Orange stool in an adult
Diarrhea can be caused by various reasons, ranging from foods to serious pathologies in the body. At the same time, there are many differences in the symptoms of diarrhea, in the characteristics of its course and specific signs, which can be used to navigate and immediately begin the right measures to eliminate not only the symptoms, but also the causes of the unpleasant condition. Among the special signs of diarrhea, the color of stool is very indicative. The reason that stool appears orange may be due to eating foods that contain natural or artificial dyes. Also, the use of certain medications leads to the fact that in some cases people experience a change in the color of their stool.
Treatment for orange diarrhea
Therapy is prescribed after identifying the disease that provoked loose stools.
If the cause of orange diarrhea is an inflammatory process, then complex treatment is used, including taking anti-inflammatory medications, relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration. Medicines are prescribed by a doctor.
If the cause of diarrhea is an infectious lesion of the body, then hospitalization of the sick person is required. In a hospital setting, measures are taken to normalize the water-salt balance, prevent dehydration, and restore the intestinal microflora. To destroy pathogenic microorganisms that cause diarrhea, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Auxiliary medications include sorbents, immunostimulants, and enzymes. Most often this is:
- "Regidron" - prevents dehydration;
- “Smecta” is a sorbent based on natural ingredients that eliminates excess gases and removes toxins from the digestive tract;
- “Creon” is an enzyme preparation for normalizing digestion;
- “Enterol” is an immunostimulant and probiotic, inhibits viral infection, normalizes intestinal microflora;
- “Enterofuril” is an intestinal antiseptic, eliminates manifestations of intoxication, and prevents complications.
An excellent fixing agent is rice water. For 2 tablespoons of rice you need to take 0.5 liters of water. Boil water, add cereal to it, bring to a boil again, cook for 40 minutes over low heat. Strain the finished product. Take 1/4 cup every 2 hours until the condition improves.
Food should be consumed often and in small portions. The menu should include fastening products:
- slimy porridge;
- baked apples and pears;
- bananas;
- vegetable broths;
- white flour toast.
With diarrhea, a large amount of fluid leaves the body. To replenish it, you need to drink as much water as possible (but only non-carbonated), herbal teas, fresh squeezed juices, fruit drinks, dried fruit compotes.
After eliminating diarrhea, you must adhere to dietary rules for another 2 weeks, drink enough water and herbal teas with a strengthening effect.
After curing diarrhea, you should thoroughly wash the toilet with a disinfectant and wash hygiene and bedding. You should not go to work and send your child to school immediately after illness - it is advisable to remain on sick leave for at least 2 more days.
Medical diseases - orange stool
Diarrhea and diarrhea is a syndrome in which bowel movements occur more than twice a day and are accompanied by the release of loose stools. At its core, diarrhea most often has certain disturbances in the functioning of the digestive organs, but in some cases diarrhea occurs and is not associated with damage to the digestive tract. Usually, in each individual case of diarrhea, several of the listed mechanisms are involved at once. It is difficult to find a person who has never suffered from diarrhea in his life - such a problem happens to each of us more than once. If diarrhea develops, you need to remember the main alarming symptoms that require immediate consultation with a doctor: If you notice at least one of the listed symptoms, you can’t hesitate. But this does not mean that in other cases seeking medical help is not necessary.
Acute intestinal infections are a group of infectious diseases of about 30 types that are caused by various pathogenic microorganisms: viruses, protozoa, bacteria; affect the gastrointestinal tract.
WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE TOPIC: Dysbacteriosis – School of Dr. Komarovsky
Prevention
Prevention of intestinal disorders involves:
- compliance with hygiene rules;
- Thorough hand washing after going to the toilet, visiting public places (especially during infectious diseases), before preparing food;
- washing dishes and kitchen utensils with hot water and detergent;
- separate placement of raw and cooked food;
- storing perishable food in the refrigerator;
- monitoring the expiration date of products;
- thoroughly frying and boiling food.
Orange diarrhea is an abnormal phenomenon that definitely needs to be paid attention to. Even if there are no other symptoms, it is worth seeing a doctor to find out the cause of the disorder. Prescribed therapy, a recommended diet and adherence to a drinking regime will help you cope with unpleasant symptoms quickly and without complications.
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Decoding the analysis in children
Unlike adults, it is quite common to see orange colored stool in children, and in most cases this is not a deviation from the norm. Orange-colored feces in a baby may be the result of a regular banana eaten the day before. In this case, it does not matter whether the child ate this banana himself or received it from the mother along with breast milk.
Eating low-quality ingredients can cause your baby to have bright orange-colored stool with a liquid consistency, which indicates disorders of the child’s digestive system.
The presence of pus and blood in the stool indicates the development of dysentery or more serious pathologies. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Decoding a coprogram in children is somewhat different from in adults. One of the important indicators is the volume of feces. Thus, an excessively large or small amount of feces indicates that the child is experiencing a disturbance in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
The consistency of the feces is equally important. Pasty stools may indicate colitis, and liquid ones may indicate that intestinal secretion is greatly increased.
The change in the color shade of feces in infants depends on what diet the nursing mother is on. In some cases, stool may change color as evidence that the baby has begun to have intestinal problems, so young mothers during lactation should follow a strict diet prescribed by a doctor.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of orange-colored stool includes a number of the following measures:
- As with any other disease, to determine the cause of orange-colored stool, it is necessary to conduct a general analysis of stool and urine.
- Advanced stool analysis - coprogram.
- Genetic testing for diseases such as Gilbert's syndrome and celiac disease.
- An ultrasound examination will help to see the condition of the liver and pancreas, as well as establish an accurate diagnosis.
In general, it is not difficult to establish the reason why the stool is orange; the most important thing in this case is to promptly contact a specialist who can accurately diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment.
First aid for diarrhea and methods of treatment
Now, after taking the first and mandatory measures, you need to seek help from a doctor. He needs to fully describe all the symptoms, and also tell him what you ate during the previous day or what medications you took. After this, the doctor usually conducts a diagnosis. First of all, a laboratory analysis of feces is carried out and its enzyme composition is studied, which may indicate certain pathological changes in the body. Further, if required, additional diagnostic examinations are carried out. They include blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound examinations, in-depth study of the state of the digestive organs, etc.
Treatment options depend on the cause of the diarrhea. If orange diarrhea is caused by inflammatory processes, then in addition to preventing dehydration and eliminating acute symptoms, anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out. Only the attending physician can make specific prescriptions.
If the disease is infectious, the patient is urgently hospitalized. In this case, in addition to general measures to restore the water-salt balance and prevent the severe consequences of dehydration, drugs are prescribed to restore the intestinal microflora. In addition, to combat the pathogenic organisms that provoked this patient’s condition, they are treated with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. In severe forms, a course of antibiotics is also possible. As you can see, the categories of medications are quite serious, so they must be taken strictly on the recommendation of a doctor and under his supervision. Self-medication in this case can have serious consequences.
You also need to be prepared for the fact that if during the examination it is discovered that stones have formed in the gall bladder, surgery may be necessary if it is not possible to cope with them with medication.
Many people who are worried about diarrhea turn to traditional medicine. Of course, you shouldn’t completely reject its effectiveness, but it’s also dangerous to trust it thoughtlessly. Using various herbs and other ingredients without consulting a doctor can significantly harm your body. Because allergic reactions or other serious changes may occur. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis, then, together with the doctor, determine the tactics and treatment regimen. In this case, traditional methods can provide significant support to the body.
