Symptoms Of Pancreatitis To Look Out For

Steatorrhea

Steatorrhea is a term used to characterize when an individual's stools have too much fat content. An individual affected by steatorrhea has stools that are foul-smelling, unusually bulky, and pale. Steatorrhea tends to float and may be covered in a greasy-like film due to the higher fat and gas content. The presence of steatorrhea means an individual's digestive system cannot digest and absorb certain nutrients such as dietary fats the way it should. Certain digestive enzymes and other substances are required to help break down the nutrients in food when they reach the stomach and small intestine. When specific enzymes or digestive substances are not secreted into the stomach or small intestine to assist with digestion, the non-digested nutrients will remain in the stool until it is excreted. When the pancreas is inflamed or infected due to pancreatitis, it cannot secrete digestive enzymes required for the digestion of dietary fats. When these fats remain in the stool when it is excreted, it causes steatorrhea.

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