Stools - pale or clay colored

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Alternative names
Acholic stools

Definition
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).

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 medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting pale or clay-colored stools in detail may include:

• Time pattern
  o When did this first occur?
  o Is every stool this way?
  
• Medications
  o What medications are being taken?
  o Have you changed medication in any way?
  
• Associated symptoms
  o Is there any Abdominal pain ?
  o Is there any jaundice?
  o Has there been darkening of the urine?
  o Is there diarrhea?
  o 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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