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In many cases, complex diagnostic procedures are not required to determine a health problem. The functions of the human body, their color and texture, can tell a lot about the state of the human gastrointestinal tract, the state of his liver and gallbladder. The color of feces is a kind of indicator of the activity of internal organs, giving a signal about the problems of their functioning. One of the disturbing signs is the green color of feces in adults and children.
Causes of green stool in adults
Green-tinged feces are common during the summer months when people consume a large amount of plant foods. If the feces of a newborn baby become black-green, in the first month of a baby’s life, this circumstance can be considered the norm. In the future, the stool becomes dark olive, later – light brown. If the condition of the child does not inspire fear, these changes are not unusual.
In contrast, the green tint of feces in an adult is a prerequisite for serious diseases. Dark green stool may be a symptom of gastrointestinal bleeding due to a peptic ulcer in these parts of the gastrointestinal tract. If there is a complete oxidation of hemoglobin in the blood, the stool becomes black.
Additional bleeding symptoms:
Anemia,
Frequent pulse;
Pallor;
Dyspnea;
Weakness.
The green color of feces may appear with dysentery – an intestinal infection, the treatment of which is carried out in a hospital under the guidance of an infectious disease specialist.
Additional symptoms of dysentery:
Weakness;
Nausea and vomiting;
Hyperthermia;
Severe pain in the epigastric region.
Dysbacteriosis can also cause green stools. With this pathology of the small intestine, the death of lacto- and bifidobacteria occurs, which provokes fermentation and rotting of food. The human body is trying to cope with the disease, dead leukocytes accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. This circumstance gives the feces a green color. Similar phenomena occur with the stool as a result of long-term use of antibacterial agents.
In liver pathologies and blood diseases, hemoglobin erythrocytes break down, producing an excess of bilirubin. It stains the patient’s feces dark green.
Diseases that provoke changes in the color and consistency of feces:
salmonellosis,
Reflux esophagitis,
Diabetes,
Crohn’s disease,
Ulcerative colitis,
food poisoning,
Allergy to lactose and fructose;
Pathologies of the endocrine system (thyroid gland);
Inflammation of the small intestine.
To clarify the pathology that caused the changes in the stool, the results of the analysis of feces are not enough. Most likely, the doctor will prescribe an additional examination to help determine the characteristics of the disease.
Causes of green feces in a child
The appearance of a green tint of feces in children of different ages can appear for many reasons. A chair with such a shade in a newborn baby is a sign of the immaturity of the liver and the entire gastrointestinal tract. It is possible that while breastfeeding, the baby is not getting enough nutrients due to the fact that he is not able to completely empty the breast.
When breastfeeding, it is important to take into account some of the nuances. The so-called “forward” and “hind” breast milk have different nutritional values. Milk, which enters the baby’s stomach first, has a small proportion of fat. It is designed to quench thirst and replenish the lack of fluid in the body. “Hinder” milk is saturated with nutrients, its fat content gradually increases. If the baby does not fully suck milk from the mother’s breast, he may not receive important nutrients, which will affect the structure and color of the feces.
If the child is bottle-fed, the color of his stool is also unstable. The composition of milk mixtures varies, they contain various trace elements, including iron, which gives the feces a green color.
During teething, the structure of a baby’s stool can change because bacteria enter the intestines from toys and objects that the baby tries to gnaw. The introduction of complementary foods is another reason for the appearance of a green tint of feces. It’s not even the color of the fruit or vegetable introduced into the diet, but the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract. It is finally formed only by the age of 12, so a green shade of stool can appear in a child of any age.
When a nursing mother is poisoned, toxins from food are transferred to the baby along with breast milk.
Symptoms of intoxication:
Rash on the skin;
Strong smell of faeces;
Hyperthermia;
Change in stool color.
What to do if green stool appears?
If a change in the shade of feces is detected, it is important to remain calm and be sure to seek the advice of a specialist.
If for some reason this cannot be done immediately, you can take preventive measures:
If dysbacteriosis is suspected due to prolonged antibiotic treatment, the intestinal microflora can be restored using probiotics (Bifikol, Lactobacterin) in the form of tablets, rectal suppositories.
Treatment of the consequences of food poisoning, as a result of which the stool has acquired a green color, is neutralized with activated charcoal tablets (1 pc. per 10 kg of weight).
With the appearance of nausea and vomiting against the background of a change in the characteristics of the stool, Regidron is used, the diet is changed.
During breastfeeding, it is important for a woman to follow a diet with strict requirements. It is especially important to adhere to the following rules in the first months of a baby’s life:
It is forbidden to use sweets, especially chocolate;
Citrus fruits are banned;
Other fruits and vegetables should be carefully introduced into the diet, not more than 1 species in 2-3 weeks.
This tactic will help identify foods that provoke an allergic reaction in a baby. It is possible that such manifestations are temporary, and a few months later the child will be able to eat the same product without harm to health.
When should you see a doctor?
Dangerous symptoms accompanying changes in the shade of feces – blood in the feces, a pronounced smell of decay. The coprogram prescribed by the doctor will help to find out the reason for such changes.
What will the laboratory test show:
Microscopic analysis of feces;
Physical and chemical properties of the stool;
The presence of helminths.
In addition, according to indications, the doctor prescribes ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs, gastroenteroscopy of the stomach and intestines.
After examining the condition of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, the cause of the inflammatory process and possible infection with parasites, the doctor chooses the tactics of treatment. Perhaps the patient will be prescribed pre- and probiotic therapy, diet therapy, treatment in an infectious or surgical hospital.