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 in them. An individual affected by steatorrhea has stools that are foul-smelling, unusually bulky, and pale. Due to the higher fat and gas content, steatorrhea tends to float and may be covered in a greasy-like film. The presence of steatorrhea means an individual's digestive system is not able to 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 the digestion of such components, the non-digested nutrients will remain in the stool until it is excreted from the body. When the pancreas is inflamed or infected due to pancreatitis, it is unable to 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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