Your poop can tell a lot about your overall health. Changes in the size, content, color, and shape of the poop can help doctors diagnose any underlying condition or issue. If you have noticed that your poop has become foamy, it could be due to several conditions including pancreatitis or celiac disease. The normal shape and color of poop is solid and brown, but there can be different variations of poop.
Foamy poop is caused by a reaction in the body from certain foods, and it could be an isolated incident and can be resolved with hydration and time. However, if you notice that your poop is consistently foamy, you should go visit a doctor since you may have an underlying medical condition.
These conditions could be any of the following:
Celiac disease
This is a disorder of the immune system and is caused by gluten. When you eat food rich in gluten, the immune system reacts to it, and ends up damaging the small intestine. This leads to foamy poop and fat malabsorption. Celiac disease is very common, and the Celiac Disease Foundation revealed that 2.5 million Americans suffer from it.
Infection
Foamy poop could also be due to a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection. These infections which could invade the gastrointestinal tract and cause gas bubbles which appear foamy. The Giardia parasite is the main cause of such infections. You will tend to notice it after consuming contaminated food or water.
Irritable bowel syndrome
This is a disorder of the large intestine, and causes abnormalities in the intestine. There are different types of IBS conditions which affect stool consistency. It affects about 15% adults in America. Most doctors believe that IBS is caused when the muscles or nerves of the intestine become spastic or overactive. This can cause your poop to become foamy.
Pancreatitis
This disease causes the pancreas to inflame, and it disrupts your entire digestive system. The pancreas is an important of your digestive system. It releases enzymes that help break down and help digest food in the body and regulate the blood sugar levels in your body. Pancreatitis causes the enzymes to start digesting the pancreas instead of the sugars.
This can result in major problems for your digestive system, and can even result in hospitalization if you are suffering from chronic or acute pancreatitis. It can also result in foamy stools and fat malabsorption.
Abdominal surgeries
If you have had abdominal surgeries, then you may experience digestive issues. This is because most abdominal operations are related to removing a portion of the small or large intestine. A change in the digestive system may cause foamy stool or chronic diarrhea, but this condition may only be temporary and will disappear when the body heals. However, if it has been a long time since your abdominal operation and your stool is still foamy, you should get in touch with a doctor.
