Differential Diagnosis for Yellow Stool
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Giardiasis: This is a common cause of yellow, greasy, and foul-smelling stools due to the infection of the small intestine by the Giardia lamblia parasite. It often presents with diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and weight loss.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Pancreatic Insufficiency: Conditions like chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer can lead to malabsorption of fats, resulting in yellow, fatty stools (steatorrhea).
- Celiac Disease: An autoimmune reaction to gluten can damage the small intestine, impairing nutrient absorption and leading to yellow, fatty stools.
- Bile Salt Malabsorption: Conditions affecting the ileum, such as Crohn's disease, can impair the reabsorption of bile salts, leading to yellow, watery stools.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Hepatitis: Acute or chronic hepatitis can cause changes in stool color, including yellowing, due to liver dysfunction affecting bile production or secretion.
- Biliary Obstruction: Obstruction of the bile ducts, which can be caused by gallstones, tumors, or strictures, can lead to pale or yellow stools due to the lack of bile in the intestine.
- Whipple's Disease: A rare, systemic bacterial infection that can cause malabsorption, leading to yellow, fatty stools, among other symptoms.
Rare Diagnoses
- Carotenemia: Excessive consumption of carotenoid-rich foods (like carrots) can turn stools yellow due to the body's inability to fully metabolize these pigments.
- Pseudomembranous Colitis: An infection of the colon, often caused by Clostridioides difficile, can lead to yellow, watery diarrhea.
- Ampullary or Periampullary Cancer: Tumors in the area where the bile and pancreatic ducts empty into the small intestine can cause obstructive jaundice and changes in stool color, including yellowing.