The key difference between leukorrhea and steatorrhea is that leukorrhea is a vaginal discharge due to physiological or pathological conditions, while steatorrhea is a fatty stool due to fat malabsorption.
Leukorrhea and steatorrhea are two common medical terms that refer to different bodily discharges. Leukorrhea is excessive discharge from genital organs in women, which may be normal or pathological. The amount, color, and consistency of leukorrhea can vary from woman to woman and throughout the menstrual cycle. It is typically the heaviest in the middle of the cycle and before ovulation. Leukorrhea can also increase during pregnancy and menopause. Steatorrhea is a symptom of fat malabsorption. This means that the body has trouble breaking down and absorbing fats. It could affect one or several of your organs, including the pancreas, liver, and small intestine.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Leukorrhea
3. What is Steatorrhea
4. Similarities – Leukorrhea and Steatorrhea
5. Leukorrhea vs. Steatorrhea in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Leukorrhea and Steatorrhea
7. Summary – Leukorrhea vs. Steatorrhea
What is Leukorrhea?
Leukorrhea is a symptom that is associated with excessive body discharge secreted from the genital organs due to a variety of constitutional and systemic conditions. In women, leukorrhea may be physiological or pathological. Physiological leukorrhea is typically transparent to whitish-colored and odorless, occurring as part of the menstrual cycle process. In contrast, pathological leukorrhea is typically yellowish and has a fishy odor. It often discharges in large amounts, causing itching, redness, swelling, a burning sensation in the genitals, and pain during sexual intercourse. Furthermore, it is also characterized by the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vaginal fluid.
If there is more than one polymorphonuclear leukocyte per oil immersion field observed in microscopy, leukorrhea is considered present. Additionally, leukorrhea can be identified by the ratio of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to vaginal epithelial cells, where a ratio of more than one polymorphonuclear leukocyte per epithelial cell indicates the presence of leukorrhea.
Leukorrhea can occur due to noninfectious conditions such as pregnancy, menstruation, and infertility. In addition, it is also strongly associated with genital tract infections like Chlamydia trachomatis in both pregnant and nonpregnant women. The treatment for leukorrhea depends on the underlying cause. If a vaginal infection causes leukorrhea, antibiotics or antifungal medications are generally prescribed. If a sexually transmitted infection causes leukorrhea, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics and recommend that the sexual partners be treated. If leukorrhea is caused by cancer, treatment plans should be developed based on the type and stage. There is no way to prevent leukorrhea completely; however, practicing good hygiene, wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear, and using condoms during sexual intercourse can reduce the risk of developing a vaginal infection, the most common cause of leukorrhea.
What is Steatorrhea?
Steatorrhea is the presence of excess fat in feces. It is a symptom of fat malabsorption, which means that the body is having trouble breaking down and absorbing fats. This problem could affect one or several organs, including your pancreas, liver, and small intestine. Steatorrhea can be caused by several different medical conditions, such as pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, biliary atresia, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, short bowel syndrome, Whipple’s disease, abetalipoproteinemia, cholestasis, bile acid deficiency, and certain medications. The most common symptom of steatorrhea is loose, bulky, pale, or greasy stools. Other symptoms may include stools that float in water, stools with a foul odor, oily anal leakage, weight loss despite eating a normal diet, abdominal pain and bloating, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
The treatment for steatorrhea will depend on the underlying cause. For example, taking pancreatic enzyme supplements is recommended if steatorrhea is caused by pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Following a gluten-free diet is recommended if steatorrhea is caused by celiac disease. In addition to medical treatment, home remedies such as eating a low-fat diet, avoiding large meals, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking vitamin and mineral supplements can help manage steatorrhea.
What are the Similarities Between Leukorrhea and Steatorrhea?
- Leukorrhea and steatorrhea are related to abnormal discharges.
- They can both be caused by a variety of medical conditions.
- Other symptoms, such as foul odor, weight loss, and abdominal pain, can accompany them.
What is the Difference Between Leukorrhea and Steatorrhea?
Leukorrhea and steatorrhea are different medical conditions that affect different body parts and have distinct characteristics. Leukorrhea is a vaginal discharge caused by physiological or pathological conditions in women, while steatorrhea is a fatty stool that occurs regardless of gender due to fat malabsorption. Physiological leukorrhea is typically transparent to whitish, and pathological leukorrhea is typically yellowish. In contrast, steatorrhea is a pale or greasy stool that is loose and bulky. Thus, this is the key difference between leukorrhea and steatorrhea. Leukorrhea may be caused by hormonal changes, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted infections, and cancer. On the other hand, steatorrhea may be caused by several medical conditions, such as pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, biliary atresia, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and other disorders that affect fat absorption.
The infographic below presents the differences between leukorrhea and steatorrhea in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Leukorrhea and Steatorrhea
What infections cause steatorrhea?
Steatorrhea can be caused by several different medical conditions, such as pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, biliary atresia, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, short bowel syndrome, Whipple’s disease, abetalipoproteinemia, cholestasis, bile acid deficiency, and certain medications.
What are the symptoms of leukorrhea?
Leukorrhea often discharges in large amounts, causing itching, redness, swelling, a burning sensation in the genitals, and pain during sexual intercourse. Furthermore, it is also characterized by the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vaginal fluid.
What color is leukorrhea?
Physiological leukorrhea is typically transparent to whitish-colored and odorless, occurring as part of the menstrual cycle process. In contrast, pathological leukorrhea is typically yellowish and has a fishy odor.
Summary – Leukorrhea vs. Steatorrhea
Leukorrhea and steatorrhea are two medical terms that refer to different types of abnormal discharges. Leukorrhea is a vaginal discharge that is typically clear or white, while steatorrhea is a fatty stool. Leukorrhea can be caused by several factors, including hormonal changes, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted infections, and cancer. Steatorrhea is caused by several medical conditions that affect fat absorption, such as pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, biliary atresia, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between leukorrhea and steatorrhea. Therefore, if someone experiences either leukorrhea or steatorrhea, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
Reference:
1. Trilisnawati, Damai, et al. “Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of leukorrhea.” Bioscientia Medicina: Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research, vol. 5, no. 6, 2021, pp. 571–590.
2. Azer, Samy; A, and Senthilkumar Sankararaman. “Steatorrhea.” StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.