Why might a person have green poop? Green stool in an adult

When any changes or problems occur in the body, it signals in various ways. Changes in the color of stool may also indicate any problems in the body, or some kind of disease. Sometimes this may not be related to the disease.

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Among the main causes of green stool in adults, two can be distinguished: bile and food (food coloring, medications, dietary supplements). Let's take a closer look.

1) Bile secreted from the gallbladder is green in color, but as it passes through the intestines it gradually changes color and eventually turns brown. If it passes through the intestines quickly, the color remains original.

This also indicates a possible violation. Depending on the number of bile pigments, the color of the human stool itself is determined. In some cases, color directly depends on the food people eat.

2) Green feces in an adult can appear when consuming large amounts of food containing green coloring substances. These dyes are digested in the stomach, but the color of the stool becomes green. And the more dye there was in the food, the more intensely the stool will be colored.

The appearance of green stool can cause:

consumption of foods containing iron;
taking medications that contain inorganic iron compounds;
eating red meats and fish;
food and drinks containing dyes;
green lettuce leaves, vegetables, and fruits, as well as juices from them;
red bean varieties;
sweets made from licorice syrup;
sugar substitutes;
iodine substances;
dietary supplements containing iron;
medicinal preparations made from seaweed;
multivitamins.

Green poop is more common in vegetarians or vegetable eaters. Stool analysis reveals elevated bilirubin levels.

Green feces in a child - causes and features

In children, after birth, the stool is dark olive, even in some cases black. This is considered the norm. Within 10 days, the stool is characterized by a greenish color of varying intensity. The color of a baby's stool is directly dependent on the characteristics of his diet.

During breastfeeding, green stool may appear, which is directly related to the diet of the breastfeeding mother, especially with excessive consumption of vegetables and carbohydrates.

Green stool in a bottle-fed baby indicates the use of iron-fortified formula. Gray-green stool appears when changing formula.

During the period of introducing complementary foods (fruits and vegetables), green stool may appear - this is also considered a normative option. When teething, sometimes the stool takes on a greenish tint.

But there are reasons, or rather diseases leading to changes in the color of feces. If they appear, you should immediately seek medical help:

Intestinal infection (it can occur even in infants);
Dysbacteriosis.

These diseases are manifested not only by a green tint to the stool, but also by vomiting, hyperthermia, and severe pain in the intestinal area. Feces become frequent and lead to dehydration of the child. If such symptoms occur, parents should immediately take their child to hospital for treatment.

Diseases associated with green stool (possible)

If green feces appear in an adult more than once, then the development of various diseases of the stomach and intestines is expected. The main diseases associated with green feces are:

pathologies of the small intestine (not only a green color appears, but also a putrid unpleasant odor) - enteritis;
dysbacteriosis (fermentation and rotting develop due to a deficiency of normal microbes necessary for the digestion process);
long-term treatment with antibiotics;
intestinal infection (for example, dysentery);
bleeding from various parts of the intestine (with a stomach ulcer, with oncology). In this case, the stool is often black, but it can also be green;
liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
blood diseases, especially those accompanied by hemolysis;
hypolactasemia (indigestion and indigestion of milk sugar).

If there is pathology of the intestinal microflora, you need to start treating dysbacteriosis. Digestion of food with dysbacteriosis in the small intestine occurs incorrectly, resulting in the process of fermentation and rotting. And against this background, elements appear that saturate the feces with a green color.

All these diseases can lead to serious consequences. They are especially dangerous if they do not seek medical help in a timely manner.

Green feces often accompany intestinal infections (dysentery and other conditions). In this case, hyperthermia, a feeling of nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and a feeling of weakness appear.

To accurately diagnose a specific infectious pathology, a series of laboratory tests is required.

Dark green stool, what does it mean?

Dark green stool can appear when bleeding from various parts of the stomach or intestines. Such bleeding is regarded as complications of a peptic ulcer or as a sign of oncology.

The green color is acquired due to the incomplete oxidation of iron found in red blood cells. More than one dark green stool appears, but also signs of anemia, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, pallor, shortness of breath, and weakness.

In diseases of the liver and blood, large amounts of bilirubin appear. This is due to the intensive breakdown of red blood cells in the liver. Bilirubin gives stool a dark green to dark brown color.

Dark green stool can be regarded as a manifestation of mild dysentery. In severe cases, a large amount of water appears in it, reducing color saturation.

Yellow-green feces - what does it mean?

Improper absorption and digestion of carbohydrates from the fibers and connective tissue membrane of plant foods leads to changes in the small intestine and pancreas.

The enzymes do not function as they should and yellow-green stool appears.

This color of stool is considered normal in breastfed babies. But if this color of stool appears in slightly older children, this indicates that the diet does not correspond to age.

You should review your diet, and you may need the help of a pediatrician and nutritionist.

Is green stool with mucus dangerous?

Various factors can cause green stool with mucus:

some types of intestinal infection;
some types of hemorrhoids;
tumor-like neoplasms in the intestine;
congenital intestinal pathology or hereditary factor associated with enzymatic deficiency;
congenital intolerance to milk sugar and gluten protein components;
, causing food stagnation;
manifestation of a gene mutation.

During the inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract, a large number of leukocytes die, which give the stool a green color. In addition, this is accompanied by severe pain in the abdominal area, diarrhea, and green mucus appears in the stool with purulent inclusions.

A coprogram helps confirm the inflammatory diagnosis - a large number of leukocyte cells are detected.

Green feces detected - what to do?

If the color of the stool changes and you feel well, as well as in the absence of other symptoms, you should stick to a diet and remove medications (if possible) that affect these changes.

For young children, the mother should review their food intake. In most cases, after this, the stool improves.

But if signs occur that negatively affect your well-being and manifest themselves in the form of severe pain, hyperthermia, weakness, gas formation or mucus in the stool, you should immediately seek medical help.

Only after a complete examination and on the basis of laboratory tests will the doctor be able to accurately determine the diagnosis and prescribe correct and effective treatment.

Feces are the final result of digestion. It is formed as a result of complex biochemical reactions throughout all parts of the digestive system and is excreted outside the body during bowel movements. The main characteristics of stool are: volume, shape, consistency, smell and color. Normally, parameters can change quite significantly under the influence of certain factors. But all these fluctuations are temporary and return to normal on their own after they are eliminated. But some changes in the characteristics of feces may indicate a serious pathology of internal organs.

What properties of stool correspond to the norm?

To give an adequate assessment of the nature of the stool, it must be described according to the following criteria.

Frequency of bowel movements. The normal frequency of bowel movements is from 2 times a day to two or three times a week. In this case, a prerequisite is the absence of pain and discomfort, as well as the rapid progress of the process. Otherwise, defecation once every few days is considered constipation, and more than three times a day is considered diarrhea.

Number of bowel movements. The normal volume of feces in an adult is within one hundred to two hundred and fifty grams per day. A decrease in the amount of feces occurs with constipation, saturation of the diet with easily digestible food, and a decrease in the amount of food consumed. An upward deviation from the norm may be present with a high consumption of plant fibers, dysfunction of the small intestine, insufficient pancreatic secretion, or insufficient release of bile into the upper intestine.

Shape of feces. According to the “Bristol scale,” it is customary to classify the shape of stool as one of seven types, where two options are considered normal: sausage-shaped and sausage-shaped, containing cracks. The rest regard it as constipation and a tendency to it, or as diarrhea, a tendency to it and severe diarrhea.

The consistency of feces should normally be soft and cylindrical. But with various pathological processes, the consistency of stool can change in this way.

Dense feces, consisting of separate lumps, (sheep) can be caused by:

disturbance of intestinal microflora
presence of staphylococcus
irritation of the intestinal wall in the thick section
exacerbation of peptic ulcer
inflammatory phenomena in the intestines
impaired blood supply to the intestinal wall
insufficient intestinal motility
stress, severe nervous disorders
low fluid intake
insufficient physical activity
surgical intervention

The presence of “sheep feces” in a patient for a long time can cause intoxication of the body, weaken the immune system, provoke the appearance of cracks in the anus, hemorrhoids, and even intestinal prolapse. A tendency to regular constipation should be consulted with a doctor without fail.

Pasty stools may appear due to infectious and inflammatory diseases in the intestines, gastric dysfunction and rotavirus infections. If it is accompanied by mucus discharge, then you can think about a bacterial infection, colds accompanied by a severe runny nose, as well as the consumption of certain foods.

With pancreatitis, mushy stools acquire a gray tint, which may indicate the addition of fermentative dyspepsia, chronic enteritis or colitis with diarrhea.

Diarrhea can develop for other reasons, due to:

Dysbacteriosis
Infectious intestinal diseases
Various forms of tuberculosis
Thyroid dysfunction
Intestinal absorption disorders
Poor nutrition
Kidney diseases
Chronic stress
Avitaminosis
Allergic conditions
Severe digestive diseases
Malignant neoplasms of the last parts of the intestine.

Ointment-like stool has a fatty structure and occurs with inflammatory diseases of the pancreas, the presence of stones in the gall bladder, cholecystitis, hepatitis of any origin, colitis accompanied by malabsorption.

Clay feces most often have a grayish tint. This is due to the high content of undigested fat, which occurs when there is poor outflow of bile from the hepatic ducts and the gallbladder itself. Observed in hepatitis, bile duct obstruction.

Liquid stool can have different shades and appearance.

With an intestinal infection, the stool has a thin, watery consistency.

In infectious diseases, the stool has a green, liquid appearance.

With gastric bleeding in the upper sections, the stool becomes black in color and has a liquid consistency.

In diseases of the upper intestines, stool resembles a light liquid.

If the lower part of the small intestine is involved in the pathological process, then the feces, along with a liquid consistency, have a yellow color. It is watery and foamy and can be repeated up to eight times a day.

Typhoid fever is characterized by the presence of stool in the form of pea puree.

With cholera, the stool has a colorless appearance, similar to rice water.

If diarrhea in adults and elderly patients lasts longer than two weeks and is accompanied by the periodic appearance of blood, then it makes sense to exclude tumors of the small intestine.

Long-term loose stools are observed after surgical interventions on the intestines, as well as with inflammatory diseases of this area of nonspecific origin.

Foamy feces are a sign of the presence of fermentative dyspepsia and indicate that fermentation processes are taking place in the intestines.

Yeast-like stool occurs in the presence of a fungal infection. It may have a characteristic yeasty odor and look like a foamy or curdled mass with the presence of threads resembling fibers of melted cheese.

The color of stool in a normal state ranges from light shades of brown to darkly saturated ones. And it can vary depending on the pathological process present.

Light-colored stools, up to yellow-white and gray, may indicate:

Abuse of rice or potatoes
The use of barium sulfate for X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract
Using medications containing calcium or antacids.
Inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs, cholelithiasis, severe liver diseases (cirrhosis, cancer).

Red stools can occur when:

The presence of dark stools can be caused by:

Taking activated carbon
Using medications containing iron
The presence of blueberries and dishes made from them in the daily diet
Gastritis
Malignant processes in the upper and lower intestines
Ulcerative defect of the duodenum and stomach

The presence of black stool is a warning sign and requires immediate medical attention.

The smell of feces is normally characterized as unpleasant, but not pungent.

The predominance of a pungent odor indicates the predominant content of meat in the diet.

The presence of a rotten smell indicates inadequate digestion of food with the development of putrefactive processes

Sour – accompanies lovers of dairy products and appears after drinking refreshing drinks made by fermentation.

Foul stool appears with exacerbation of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, increased secretion of the large intestine, active proliferation of bacterial flora.

Feces with a putrid odor occur with dyspepsia, impaired digestion in the stomach cavity, colitis, and constipation.

If stool smells like old oil, this is a sign of bacterial decomposition of fatty foods in the intestines.

The presence of a slight, weak odor in the stool indicates constipation and too rapid evacuation of the food bolus from the small intestine.

It is important to understand that a change in the color of stones, as well as any of its other characteristics, can occur for physiological reasons - related to individual dietary habits and the use of food additives or certain medications. In this case, the return to normal occurs independently, without the use of therapeutic methods after eliminating the provoking component.

In another case, the cause of changes in the basic characteristics of feces are pathological reasons - various diseases of the internal organs. In this case, external changes are a consequence of a pathological process, so the patient will not be able to solve this problem on his own. To understand the nature of the disorders and choose the optimal treatment, you need to consult a specialist.

Physiological reasons for the appearance of green stool in an adult

The most common reason for such changes in stool lies in the patient’s dietary habits. In most cases, green stool appears when the diet is rich in foods high in iron. These include:

Red meats
Green leafy crops, including lettuce, broccoli, spinach and their juices
Black licorice
Fish of marine origin
Red bean variety
Stool with greenish tints may appear after consuming foods that contain food colorings ranging from light green to black-green. This could be: colored caramel, marmalade, carbonated drinks, chewing gum.

The color of stool can change when taking certain biological supplements or medications, turning into gray, greenish, and sometimes black-green. This can be caused by:

Substances that contain a high concentration of iodine
Herbal laxatives
Chlorophyll
Glucose
Sorbitol
Vitamin and mineral complexes
Nutritional supplements made from seaweed

When green stool appears in an adult for pathological reasons

The presence of green stool in adult patients can be observed due to the presence of a dangerous pathology, when self-diagnosis and treatment are unacceptable. These conditions include:

Foodborne toxic infections.
Crohn's disease.
Intestinal diseases of an infectious nature (enterocolitis). In this case, the stool not only changes its color, but also a large number of mucous inclusions are determined in its composition.
Internal bleeding of low to moderate intensity. With heavy bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, the stool becomes black.
Increased secretion of the thyroid gland.
Food allergies. It is characterized not only by a change in the color of stool, but also by the presence of mucus and poorly digested food particles in it.
Ulcerative defect of the gastric wall.
Rotavirus infection. It is characterized by green, foul-smelling stools with a high content of mucus against the background of signs of severe intoxication. More typical for children and infants.

All these conditions are life-threatening for the patient, so it is strictly not recommended to treat them yourself. Only a specialist, using additional laboratory methods, can determine the cause of green stool in a patient and prescribe adequate therapy.

Green stool in an adult can be a serious cause for concern. The article examines the reasons for its appearance not only in conscious members of society, but also in newborn babies.

Depending on the content of bile pigment in a person’s stool, the color of the stool itself will change. This explains the fact that stool can be completely colorless or almost black. In addition, their color depends on the food we consume. In a healthy person, color is most often caused by eating foods rich in green dye. And the more green paint they contain, the more intense the color of the feces will be.

However, green stool in an adult can serve as a signal of various ailments of the stomach or intestines. Most often, this condition is caused by a disease of the small intestine - dysbiosis caused by long-term use of antibiotics. With such disturbances, due to the death of digestive microorganisms, fermentation and rotting intensify. As the body fights the emerging disease, a large number of dead leukocytes accumulate in the intestines. They are the ones that give stool a green color, accompanied by an unpleasant, putrid odor.

The appearance of symptoms such as green stool in an adult is the result not only of dietary errors, but also of some serious diseases. These include dysentery - an acute infectious disease accompanied by pain in the intestines, general malaise, nausea and vomiting. The disease is treated strictly in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor. And finally, bleeding in various parts of the intestine can cause such an unpleasant factor as green stool in an adult. In this case, the color change occurs due to the destruction of iron molecules in red blood cells. In this case, obvious signs of anemia appear: weakness, pulse.

So, green stool in an adult can mean the development of the following diseases or their complications:

dysbacteriosis;
bleeding in the stomach or intestines;
blood and liver diseases;
enteritis.

In any case, if appropriate symptoms appear, you should visit a doctor.

Very often, young mothers are frightened by the appearance of green stool in their baby. There's nothing wrong with that. The color of stool in newborns changes from black to green, and after some time - from brown to yellow. This is due to the fact that the baby’s intestines contain meconium, which consists of particles of amniotic fluid swallowed by the baby in the mother’s womb. Meconium is excreted from the child’s body almost within 24 hours. By the end of the first week of life, the baby's green stools become brownish-green in color and become less viscous. After a couple of weeks it should have a yellowish-brown color and a mushy consistency.

In the case of full breastfeeding, a greenish tint to baby feces is the absolute norm. Their color is given by bilirubin, which is excreted in feces. Fluctuations in the amount of hormones in the mother’s milk can affect the consistency of the baby. Although stool in a newborn usually occurs, there is no need to worry about the appearance of green stool if the baby does not feel discomfort.

It can cause real panic in an unprepared person. The first thing that comes to mind is the thought of poisoning, or even a tumor in the intestines or stomach. What actually causes the change in the color of excrement?

Possible reasons

Colors are a reason to think about your health. Doctors say that feces serve as a kind of indicator of the condition of the body. Of course, the reason may be quite harmless. Everyone knows that the basis of feces is the food we eat - it is this that largely determines their color. You've probably noticed more than once that beets turn the contents of the toilet bowl dark red. As for the green color, you may have eaten a product that contained an excess of green dye. By the way, dark green feces are often observed in vegetarians: the culprit is fresh greens, which form the basis of their diet.

Baby feces

I have a small cold, or teeth are being cut, or a tummy ache. Therefore, any changes in the color and consistency of feces in babies cause fair concern among parents. Often the first impulse is to grab the child in his arms and run to the doctor. However, you shouldn't do this. Do not forget that the little man’s body is still developing. Dark green stool in a baby can be caused by artificial feeding - this means that the milk formula you give him is not suitable in composition. Try replacing it with a similar product from another manufacturer. Another fairly common reason is dysbiosis. This disease is a real scourge among infants. It is caused by and is almost always accompanied by intestinal problems. It is natural that this affects the condition of feces.

Dark green stool in an adult

This phenomenon is observed not only in infants, but also in adults. It is not difficult to guess that it is - one way or another - connected with the state of the digestive system. Perhaps the person has impaired absorption of iron into the intestines. You accept. Then there is no doubt - this is the reason. In addition, a strange color of stool may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process or infection. In this case, it is caused by the accumulation of dead leukocytes removed from the body naturally. Also, green impurities are characteristic of gastric bleeding. If this symptom does not go away over a long period of time, you should be examined for stomach ulcers and gastritis. Finally, patients taking antibiotics often complain of green stool. By the way, this often becomes a predisposing factor to the occurrence of dysbacteriosis.

Solution

If you are seriously concerned about your health, follow the advice of experts: pay attention to the accompanying signs. Are you suffering from bloating or gas? Do you feel pain after every meal? It would be advisable to test feces for dysbacteriosis. Do you feel nauseous, weak, or have a fever? You are clearly suffering from an infection. The doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis only after you pass all the necessary tests.

You can learn a lot about a person’s health from a person’s stool; with its help, many troubles in the body are diagnosed. Green stool in an adult– this is a reason to be wary, because it can indicate very serious pathologies in the body.

Green color of stool may be caused by altered hemoglobin which ends up in the liver. In a normal situation, human stool is brown, with a soft and uniform consistency. The color depends on the presence of bile, as well as on bilirubin enzyme, which occurs as a result of the breakdown of hemoglobin cells. The shade of bile can range from pale yellow to dark brown.

As bile passes through the gallbladder and ducts it reaches the intestines, where chemical changes can occur that determine the color of the stool. If everything goes well, the color of the stool will not change. But if the rate increases, then the enzyme and the changes that occur can change the color of the stool. In particular, he can become green.

Much depends on the specific shade of stool:

Specifically, the green color of the stool may appear in fans vegetables and vegetarianism. Diarrhea is possible, as well as increased bilirubin and biliverdin in the masses.
If color yellowish green, then this phenomenon can be associated with carbohydrate fermentation. In this case, we can say that the normal processes of carbohydrate absorption and their breakdown are disrupted in the body.
Black-green stool they say that there is too much iron in the body. This can happen if you take medications that contain this microelement.

If the green color is not so obvious and characteristic, then the following pathologies should be considered as probable causes:

Dysbacteriosis. This happens if the disease has medicinal origin, that is, it arose as a result of the use of antibacterial drugs, and the stage of the disease is already advanced. Then diarrhea may occur, in which the stool will have a greenish tint and a slightly putrid odor. In this case, it is impossible to do without normalizing the intestinal microflora, which requires bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Intestinal inflammation or enteritis. In this case, diarrhea may occur. The inflammation will be located in one area: in the large intestine, ileum or duodenum. It may also be caused by a disease such as colitis.
Bleeding in the stomach or intestines. Then the stool takes on a green tint. An ulcer or tumor is also possible. The reason for the green stool itself will be that the iron in the blood will not be completely oxidized. Chronic diarrhea may be accompanied by pale skin, general weakness, fainting or semi-fainting.
Blood diseases and liver pathologies.

One possible reason for green stool is acute intestinal infection called dysentery. In this case, there will be pain in the intestinal area, possible vomiting and nausea, and severe weakness. This disease can only be treated in a hospital setting under the supervision of a specialist.

If we talk about bleeding, the color will change due to the fact that iron molecules in the blood cells will be destroyed. And the symptoms can be the same as for anemia: weakness, increased heart rate, shortness of breath.

A symptom like green stool color, can greatly frighten a pregnant woman. It may appear if the expectant mother follows a diet or takes certain vitamin complexes. If the complex contains a lot of calcium and iron, the stomach may not absorb them completely, which is why the stool will take on this color.

A green tint to the stool may indicate certain problems in the intestines. It could be irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease. In the presence of inflammation and bleeding, bile and blood mix, which causes a change in the color of the stool.

If you have stool once, and have no effect on the condition of the body, then this phenomenon, as a rule, is not dangerous and goes away on its own. If the stool does not return to normal within a few days, be sure to go to the doctor, since this symptom may indicate a very serious problem that requires exclusively medical or even surgical treatment.

What should the treatment be?

Depending on the cause of the green stool, the necessary treatment measures will be selected. Only a specialist can determine the cause, so you should not engage in amateur activities. As a rule, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the necessary tests.

Usually this is a coroutine, general examinations of urine and blood, as well as an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity to identify certain pathologies in it. Based on the results obtained, as well as a conversation with you, during which important information can be clarified, the doctor will determine the exact cause of this phenomenon and prescribe necessary therapeutic measures.

Treatment can be based on the following areas:

Medications. If an infection in the intestines is determined, sorbents and drugs that kill pathogenic microorganisms may be indicated.
Normalization of the balance of microflora in the intestines. For this you will need probiotics, preparations that contain bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
If an intestinal disorder causes the body to lose a lot of fluid and salt, intravenous drips may be indicated.
If the cause of such a pathology as green chair associated with bleeding, surgery may be necessary. Sometimes it can prevent very serious consequences, including death.

What can you do at home?

You need to take independent measures extremely carefully. If you suffer from diarrhea, you can take a drug that will stop it. You should not take other medications without the permission of a specialist.

Also a very important measure that you can take at home is - normalize the diet. It is advisable to avoid fatty, fried and smoked foods, exclude herbs and spices, alcohol and soda, sweets, and baked goods. Porridge, vegetable soups, and jelly are healthy.

The body must receive enough fluid, so drink enough plain water. This will help prevent dehydration and a number of problems that come with it. This is especially important if you have diarrhea, since with the latter the body loses a lot of fluid.

Green stool can appear for various reasons. Some of them are dangerous, some are quite natural from a physiological point of view. Anyway don't ignore this symptom. Contact a specialist and be sure to listen to his recommendations.