ENLmedical.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia: Stools

Stools - floating

Considerations:
Stool normally is denser than water and sinks. Abnormal stools may float if they contain increased amounts of gas (as from fermentation of unabsorbed sugars) or fat from malabsorption. Floating stools may be associated with conditions as simple as diarrhea to more complex diseases. Floating stools may occur in conjunction with an extremely foul odor (See stools - foul smelling).

Common Causes:

cystic fibrosis
gluten-induced enteropathy ( sprue , celiac disease )
idiopathic steatorrhea (fatty stools with no known cause)
disaccharidase deficiency (insufficient amounts of the sugar-digesting enzymes lactase, sucrase, or isomaltase)
short bowel syndrome
biliary atresia
abetalipoproteinemia

Note: There may be other causes of floating stools. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for floating stools, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
Home care depends on the specific diagnosis. Strictly adhere to your health care provider's instructions, including prescribed diets.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

floating stools develop.

What to Expect:
Floating stools are a single symptom of a disease complex. Other symptoms and signs are generally present. Your health care provider will normally take a family history and disease history, then complete a physical examination .

Medical history questions documenting floating stools in detail may include:

family history (general information about the health of family members)
time pattern
- When did you first notice that the stools were floating?
- Does it happen all the time or off and on?
- Have you noticed any pattern?
dietary history
- What has the diet been?
- Does a change in the diet change the stools?
other
- Are other symptoms present?
- Are there foul-smelling stools ?
- Are the stools an abnormal color (especially pale or clay-colored stools )?

Diagnostic tests:
A stool sample will be obtained for laboratory analysis. Other laboratory studies may be indicated.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to floating stools to your personal medical record.