Stools - floating

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Lower digestive anatomy

Overview

Treatment

Stools - floating

Alternative Names:

Floating stools

Home Care:

Floating stools alone do not indicate an illness or problem, and they do not require home care. If a change in diet has caused problems, try to find and eliminate the offending food.

Call your health care provider if:

It is important to discuss a change in stool characteristics with a doctor if it has been present for more than a couple of weeks. If blood, fever, or dizziness accompanies these changes, consult a physician immediately.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

A health care provider will normally take a family history and disease history, and perform a physical examination.

A stool sample and blood tests may be requested. In most cases, however, this will not be required.

Medical history questions documenting floating stools in detail may include:

Family history (general information about the health of family members)
When were floating stools first noticed?
Does it happen all the time or intermittently?
What is the basic diet?
Does a change in the diet change the stools?
Are other symptoms present?
Are foul-smelling stools present?
Are the stools an abnormal color (especially pale or clay-colored stools)?

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis. Strictly follow your provider's instructions, including prescribed diets.

Review Date: 5/8/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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