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Conditions and Diseases > Digestive and Bowel Disorders Forum > Possibility of bilirubin metabolism disorder
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Q: Possibility of bilirubin metabolism disorder
asked by: DoctorQuestion on May 4th, 2009
My seventeen month old grandson has had trouble with bowel movements ever since he was born. But recently his feces has been white for 3 or 4 days now. What could this mean?


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Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD
replied on May 5th, 2009
Digestive and Bowel Disorders Answer A6534


White feces is usually related to bilirubin metabolism disorder. Bilirubin is a part of the bile. In the intestines it is transformed into sterkobilin which gives the feces it characteristic brown color. Without it the feces is white.

Since the bilirubin is also needed for fat absorption, the feces might be oily. You might want to take your grandson to a pediatrician and check his gastrointestinal tract including the bile production and excretion.




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