Patient's question:
My child is two years old. Recently, he has started refusing to eat or drink. Whenever he sees food, he says it smells like rotten poop. He didn't like drinking water to begin with, and now he doesn't drink a drop. The color of his poop is pale, and he keeps burping. Just now, I gave him an appetite regulator. What could be wrong?Doctor's answer:
Regarding the absorption of bile salts, feces are typically brown. A digestive system with insufficient bile salts can lead to pale stools. Severe liver diseases, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, can increase the production of bile salts. Bile duct obstruction can prevent bile salts from entering the small intestine. White stools are usually abnormal unless there is a special reason. The liver produces bile, and the gallbladder stores bile. Bile salts aid the body in digesting and absorbing fat. It is recommended to have your child tested for liver function.