Yellow Brown Stool Symptoms

Normal stool colors include all brown shades and also green. Stool color may change colors depending of what foods have been consumed and how much bile is present in the stool. The Mayo Clinic says that only rarely does bile color indicate a serious medical condition.

Celiac Disease

• The most common condition that may cause stool to appear yellowish is celiac disease, a condition that occurs when the body has an immune response to gluten. Gluten is a protein found products containing wheat, rye or barley. Celiac disease is diagnosed using endoscopy exams and blood tests.

Other Conditions

• Other possible causes of yellow or pale colored stool can stem from malabsorption or the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver and pancreas.

Time Frame

• Stool color may change from time to time without a medical cause. However, if stool color remains consistently pale or yellow for several days, you should consult your doctor.

Identification

• A physician may need to perform blood tests and conduct a stool sample analysis to determine if an underlying condition is causing the yellowish-brown stool color. An endoscopy or colonoscopy can check for digestive disorders.

Treatments

• Treatments depend upon what condition is causing the stool discoloration. If celiac disease is the cause, your doctor probably will recommend a gluten-free diet.