What does steatorrhea look like? (+3 observations)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will discuss the characteristics of steatorrhea and why it happens. Steatorrhea often goes unnoticed in the early stages.
What does steatorrhea look like?
Steatorrhea looks like a bulky, soft, sticky stool with a pale colour. Sometimes steatorrhea can be foamed, frothy, and filled with mucus. The colour of the faeces is often light-brown, but orange, green or yellow faeces may also seen.
These sticky faeces float in water and are often difficult to flush. The faeces are often foul-smelling. The sticky nature of the faeces may go unnoticed in the early stages of steatorrhea.
If you have steatorrhea then it means that food (especially fats) is moving through your gastrointestinal tract without properly getting absorbed. It can also happen if you have recently consumed high-fat food (1).
What are the characteristics of steatorrhea?
The characteristics of the faeces which can enable you to identify steatorrhea include:
- Appearance and texture: The faeces will appear to have a thick, greasy surface. Sometimes foaming and frothing might also occur.
- Colour: The colour of faeces may vary if you have steatorrhea. Most of the time it is light brown.
- Consistency: The faeces will be bulkier, more massive, non-seedy, and wobbly in consistency.
- Undigested fat: Excreting less than 7 grams of fats in 24 hours is considered normal. If the fat content is higher in faeces they will look sticky and the patient will defecate frequently.
How do you know if you have steatorrhea?
Observing the faeces after defecation is the first step to identifying steatorrhea. Other accompanying symptoms might include:
- Stool sticking: If the stool sticks to the toilet bowl more than normal after flushing then it is an early sign of steatorrhea.
- Floating: Due to the higher fat content in the faeces, steatorrhea tends to float on the water of the toilet bowl.
- Loose stool: Although steatorrhea is different from diarrhoea, the patient might experience loose stools but they will be bulkier.
- Weight loss: Due to the malabsorption of fats, the patient will begin to lose weight.
- Bloating sensation: Abdominal discomfort and bloating sensations are common in steatorrhea.
- Indigestion or heartburn: Due to food malabsorption, the patient might feel acid reflux and heartburn.
What medical conditions may cause steatorrhea?
Steatorrhea might occur due to malfunctioning of the pancreas, biliary tract, and intestinal abnormalities (2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
| Disease | Cause |
| Intestinal causes | |
| Infection | Intestinal infection caused by Clostridium difficile |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | As Crohn’s disease affects the small intestine, it may cause malabsorption of fats |
| Short bowel syndrome | This occurs due to physical loss or decreased functioning of the small and/or large intestine. It leads to malabsorption of fats and other nutrients. |
| Biliary tract causes | |
| Biliary atresia | If refers to an impaired bile acid flow. Biliary atresia is a congenital disorder in which the tubes carrying bile from the liver to the gallbladder become obstructed. |
| Bile duct strictures | It can cause gallbladder stones, secondary biliary cirrhosis, pyogenic liver abscesses, and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency. |
| Tumor of the biliary tract | Ampullary carcinomas may cause steatorrhea due to malabsorption. |
| Pancreatic causes | |
| Inflammation | Due to the loss of acinar cells and pancreatic inflammation the chances of steatorrhea increase. |
| Cystic fibrosis | It is a genetic disease and causes impaired total bile salt secretion. |
| Congenital lipase enzyme deficiency | It is due to a rare form of exocrine pancreatic failure that causes the deficiency of lipase enzymes. Lipase enzyme is required to break down triglycerides into free fatty acids. |
| Other causes | |
| Diabetes | Steorrhoae may occur in diabetes mellitus Type I. |
| Medication | Certain cholesterol-lowering medicines like simvastatin can cause steatorrhea. Orlistat (slimming) pill is also known to cause steatorrhea. However, some medications like sucralfate (an antiulcer drug) might make the faeces look paler, but it does not mean that you have steatorrhea. |
How to manage steatorrhea?
The treatment of steatorrhea is often dependent on the underlying cause and disease. It can be easily managed at home, however, your doctor would suggest clinical interventions for severe steatorrhea.
- Hydration: Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
- Diet: Take a diet that is not high in fibre and fats.
- Fat-soluble vitamins: These include vitamins A, D, E, and K.
- Antidiarrheal medication: To reduce the frequency of defecation, antidiarrheal drugs like loperamide and bismuth salicylate can be taken.
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy: These medications contain proteases, lipases, and amylases.
- Omeprazole: It can be given to patients with cystic fibrosis. Omeprazole improves fat digestion and absorption (7).
As a pharmacist, I often observe my pee and faeces. The change in colour and consistency can lead to early detection of a more complicated disease. You should consult your doctor if you are defecating frequently as it may cause electrolyte imbalance and other complications.
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References
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Azer SA, Sankararaman S. Steatorrhea. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541055
2.-
Moura FA, Goulart MO. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: The Crosslink between risk factors and antioxidant therapy. InGastrointestinal Tissue 2017 Jan 1 (pp. 99-112). Academic Press. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128053775000072
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Donohoe CL, Reynolds JV. Short bowel syndrome. The surgeon. 2010 Oct 1;8(5):270-9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1479666X10001605
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Okajima K, Nagaya K, Azuma H, Suzuki T. Biliary atresia and stool: its consistency and fat content, another potentially useful clinical information. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2016 Jan 1;28(1):118. https://journals.lww.com/eurojgh/FullText/2016/01000/Biliary_atresia_and_stool___its_consistency_and.22.aspx
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Dumonceau JM, Delhaye M, Charette N, Farina A. Challenging biliary strictures: pathophysiological features, differential diagnosis, diagnostic algorithms, and new clinically relevant biomarkers-part 1. Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology. 2020 Jun;13:1756284820927292. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1756284820927292
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Peretti N, Marcil V, Drouin E, Levy E. Mechanisms of lipid malabsorption in Cystic Fibrosis: the impact of essential fatty acids deficiency. Nutrition & Metabolism. 2005 Dec;2:1-8. https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-2-11
7.-
Proesmans M, De Boeck K. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, improves residual steatorrhoea in cystic fibrosis patients treated with high dose pancreatic enzymes. European journal of pediatrics. 2003 Nov;162:760-3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13680386
