Most of the time, we don't look closely at our stool. But if you inadvertently find that you have white spots on your stool, it usually attracts attention, which is not normal after all.
So, what's going on here? Don't worry, the change in stool may indicate a health problem, but it may also be caused by diet or medication, the key is to figure out the reason behind it yourself.
1. You eat certain foods
When some foods are not digested as thoroughly as others, they may appear as white spots in the stool. For example, corn may pass through the digestive tract and can be seen in the stool. Sesame seeds and some nuts, such as almonds, also appear as white spots.
In addition, if you have recently eaten a whole seed-containing food, such as a pie sprinkled with sesame seeds, this is more likely to happen. Because the seeds have a hard shell, they are protected from passing through the digestive system intact. If you notice white spots in your stool shortly after eating the seeds, you usually don't need to worry.
2. You are taking some medication
Some pills have a very hard shell, the body can absorb the drug, but can not absorb the casing, so it may appear in the feces. These include metformin, analgesics such as OxyContin, and antidepressants such as venlafaxine, which are used to treat diabetes. Some people see casings of pills appear in the stool and worry that the medication is not working. In fact, you don't have to worry, but if you are still not at ease, you can ask the doctor to prescribe some alternative drugs for yourself, such as changing to liquid drugs.
3. You have parasites in your gut
White spots in the stool may also be tapeworms or pinworms. Although tapeworm infections are uncommon today, they are still possible. If you see white or yellow spots, you may be tapeworms, which are usually flat, square, and the size of a grain of rice. Some people may have no symptoms, but some may develop stomach pain or diarrhea. People usually get tapeworms by eating raw or undercooked meat. Tapeworm infections are easier to treat, and a single pill is enough to kill tapeworms, which are excreted from the feces.
Pinworm infections are more common, especially in children. Pinworms are small, white, and as big as a staple. They usually look like white lines, so they are also called nematodes. Pinworms usually live in the lower part of the intestine and lay eggs on the skin around the anus, which can cause discomfort and itching of the anus. People are often infected with pinworm eggs from other people's stools, so washing your hands thoroughly after going to a public restroom is a basic common sense to avoid pinworm infection. Medicines to treat pinworms are generally taken in two divided doses, and everyone in the family needs treatment to make sure they are not infected. In addition, it is also important to wash clothes and bedding regularly to avoid re-infection, wash your hands frequently, and keep your nails too long.