What Causes Poop With Foam?

Poop with foam is a stool that has a foamy, frothy, or bubbly appearance, usually due to having too much fat or mucus in your stool. This symptom can be caused by various health conditions, gastrointestinal (GI) infections, or your diet.

Occasional poop with foam generally clears up on its own, but having consistently foamy poop may be the result of an underlying issue. A healthcare provider can help determine the root cause and recommend a treatment plan.

What Does Poop With Foam Look Like?

Poop with foam describes poop with a frothy or bubbly appearance, which is different than the solid brown poop that experts consider to be a healthy stool.

When you have foamy poop, your stool may appear softer or even look oily. Some people report the stool as having light-colored foam or mucus on top—or the entire bowel movement may be foamy.

Foamy poop can vary in consistency, intensity, and duration. It's possible to experience poop with foam for a few days in a row, or it could be a frequent occurrence. Depending on the root cause, foamy poop may also present with symptoms like stomach bloating, bulkier stools, or diarrhea.

Causes of Poop With Foam

Experiencing foamy poop can be the result of a number of underlying causes—from eating a particular food to having an underlying health condition.

Malabsorption

A main cause of frequent poop with foam is malabsorption, a state that affects how your body breaks down certain nutrients (like fat) and interferes with the digestion process. In general, foamy stools can develop when you consume more fat than the body can digest.

Several conditions cause malabsorption, including:

• Celiac disease: This autoimmune condition triggers the body to react when gluten (a protein in grains) is consumed. Because this condition damages the intestines, people with celiac disease can't fully absorb nutrients, prompting symptoms like foamy poop.
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can happen as a result of issues like gallstones, elevated triglyceride (a type of fat) levels, and excessive alcohol consumption. The pancreas doesn't produce enough enzymes to digest food, leading to malabsorption and potentially frequent poop with foam. Pancreatitis may resolve itself after a short occurrence, or it can be chronic (long-term).
• Short bowel syndrome: This condition occurs when part of the small intestine is missing or surgically removed. It makes nutrient absorption difficult and often results in chronic (and sometimes foamy) diarrhea.
  

Additional symptoms that can develop with a malabsorption issue include:

• Greasy, foul-smelling poop
• Bloating
• Gas
• Appetite changes
• Unintended weight loss

Other Health Conditions

Small amounts of mucus in your stool is relatively normal, as mucus can help the body pass a bowel movement. Having too much mucus that looks like (or appears alongside) foam can happen with certain health conditions:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This common digestive disorder affects how quickly bowel movements pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) system, as well as the signals between the gut and brain. IBS can trigger an increase in mucus in the stool, possibly causing poop with foam. Additional IBS symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and the feeling of having an incomplete bowel movement.
• Cystic fibrosis (CF): This genetic disorder causes the production of thick mucus in various parts of the body—including the digestive system. It slows the movement of food through the digestive tract, which may result in foamy stools. You might also experience other digestive-related symptoms, like stomach pain, cramping, and gas.
  

Infections

Infections that affect the GI system can also trigger poop or diarrhea with foam. This may result from gassy bubbles in the digestive tract passing along with stool or the immune system producing excess mucus in response to the infection.

Here are some of the potential triggers:

• Gastroenteritis: Also known as the stomach flu, this is typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection after ingesting contaminated or undercooked food.
• Giardiasis: This parasitic infection develops after consuming contaminated food, swimming in contaminated water, or being exposed to infected poop.

Infections generally present with symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramping.

Diet

Foamy poop can be caused by something you ate. For example, eating foods that are fatty or greasy can lead to excess fat in your stool—known as steatorrhea. If this is the case, you may also notice stools that are:

• Bulky
• Foul-smelling
• Pale or clay-colored
• Floating

Consuming foods you're sensitive or allergic to may also trigger more mucus in your stool, giving it a frothy or foamy appearance. People with a condition like IBS may be more likely to experience these issues.

General signs of a food intolerance or allergy include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Cramps

If your poop with foam is the result of a temporary dietary issue or reaction, it should clear up after the food has left your system.

When To See a Healthcare Provider

It's generally a good idea to check with a healthcare provider if you notice any differences in the appearance of your stools or in your bowel movement habits.

Experts recommend seeking medical attention if you're experiencing a bout of foamy poop that lasts longer than a few days and is accompanied by one or some of the following symptoms:

• A fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.8 degrees Celcius) or higher
• Vomiting
• Bloody stool
• More than six loose stools in 24 hours
• Severe abdominal pain
  

During a medical appointment, you may be asked to describe the appearance of your poop with foam—including its color, size, and consistency. The healthcare provider might also ask about any abnormal odors, how long you've been experiencing foamy poop, and any other symptoms.

A variety of tests, such as blood, urine, stool, and imaging tests, might be ordered to help make a diagnosis.

Treatments for Poop With Foam

Having bowel movements that are regular and normal for you is important for overall health. A main goal of treating poop with foam is to get rid of this symptom.

Specific treatment options can vary based on the root cause of foamy poop and may include:

• Medications: An underlying GI condition could require medications to help control digestive symptoms. Antibiotics or antiparasitics are often prescribed for a GI infection.
• Dietary changes: A gluten-free diet is necessary to manage a chronic condition like celiac disease. For food intolerances or allergies, avoiding irritating dishes like fatty or spicy foods may be recommended.
• Supplementation: If malabsorption is the cause, a healthcare provider might suggest oral (taken by mouth) or injectable supplementation of specific vitamins and minerals.
  

How To Prevent Poop With Foam

Specific prevention tactics will vary based on your diagnosis. But in general, there are a few tips that experts recommend to maintain normal, regular bowel movements—and help keep foamy stools at bay:

• Eat plenty of fiber and stay hydrated to encourage soft, bulky, healthy stools
• Incorporate stress-reduction techniques into your day, as chronic stress can trigger flare-ups of digestive disorders like IBS
• Limit foods that may trigger digestive symptoms, like dairy products or spicy foods
• Avoid catching germs by washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces often
  

Complications

If your foamy poop is triggered by a malabsorption issue and it's left untreated, there could be some long-term complications as a result of the body not being able to absorb enough nutrients properly. These include:

• Nutrient deficiencies: Low levels of certain nutrients in the body
• Gallstones: Hard masses that develop abnormally in the gallbladder
• Anemia: Low levels of red blood cells
• Kidney stones: Hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys
• Osteoporosis: A condition that causes thinning and weakened bones
• A weakened immune system: When the body can't fight off infection effectively

Some factors may increase your chances of developing long-term malabsorption, such as taking certain drugs like antibiotics and laxatives for an extended period of time or having intestinal surgery.

A Quick Review

Poop with a foamy or frothy appearance may happen occasionally due to too much fat or mucus in your stool or as a result of something you ate. Foamy poop can also be caused by gastrointestinal (GI) infections or health conditions like celiac disease, pancreatitis, or IBS.

See a healthcare provider if you notice frequent poop with foam, along with any other concerning symptoms or changes to your bowel movement habits. Treatment specific to the underlying condition can help resolve the foamy issue.