White stool: Should I be concerned?

What would cause a 16-month-old to have chalky, white stool?

- Kathy / Ohio

Answer

White stool at any age is not normal and should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. White stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem in the liver or biliary tract.

Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Stool gets its normal brownish color from bile, which is excreted from the liver into the small intestine during the digestive process. If the liver doesn't produce bile or if bile is obstructed from leaving the liver, stool will be white.

Medical conditions that may cause light-colored or white stool include:

• Liver infections, such as hepatitis
• Biliary cirrhosis
• Gallstones
• Anatomic abnormalities of the intestines or bile ducts present at birth (congenital)
• Inborn errors of metabolism
• Sclerosing cholangitis
• Narrowing (strictures) of bile ducts
• Cysts
• Tumors
• A side effect of certain medications, such as some antibiotics, antifungal drugs and antacids

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Gallstones
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

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