Cucumber stools may be green. Dark stool: causes in adults. Dark green stool

The color and texture of feces can tell a lot about a person's health. This is one of the original litmus tests of the body, letting you know about problems. If you are attentive to your condition and observe changes in excrement, you can recognize latent processes in time.

The causes of green stools are divided into physiological and pathological.

Normally, human stool is moderately soft, of a homogeneous consistency and has a color from light yellow to dark brown. However, there are natural factors that affect its coloring in a greenish tint, these include:

Physiological causes do not have any additional symptoms, the person feels good. However, if nausea, weakness or diarrhea appear, this is already a sign of the disease.

Pathological causes

Serious diseases or disorders in the body are always manifested by a number of pronounced symptoms. In addition to the color of feces in green, the following signs may be observed:

Important! If several symptoms appear at the same time, you should consult a doctor. Self-treatment with simple activated charcoal may not help if the disease is severe.

Diseases that cause green stools

Salmonellosis. A type of bacterial infection caused by salmonella. Infection occurs through unboiled water and thermally unprocessed products: animal meat, fish, milk, eggs. Cases of infection directly from animals are known. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as:

A chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the mucous membrane is affected, and granulomas (nodular formations) appear on it. Factors provoking the development of pathology: weakened immunity, past infection, stress, allergies. Symptoms do not appear immediately, but gradually accumulate, they include:

general weakness;

significant weight loss;

elevated temperature;

pain in the joints and muscles;

conjunctivitis.

In the acute course of the disease, the following symptoms are connected:

An infection transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets or household contact. Another name for the disease is intestinal flu, since the virus affects the gastrointestinal tract to a greater extent. Typical symptoms:

weakness;

cramping pain in the abdomen;

temperature rise;

frequent greenish stools with blood impurities;

tachycardia;

pallor;

dizziness.

increased gas formation;

diarrhea with foamy stools from light yellow to yellow-green in color with a characteristic sour smell.

If greenish loose stools were observed once, perhaps we are talking about ordinary food poisoning. In this case, after the complete cleansing of the intestines from feces and toxins, relief comes, which is not characteristic of other diseases.

Treatment

With frequent diarrhea, accompanied by green feces, as well as infections, of course, the help of specialists is needed.

To begin with, on the basis of external symptoms, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis, and depending on it, the patient is placed either in the infectious diseases department, or, if his condition is critical, in the intensive care unit. In some cases, treatment is possible at home, for example, if the cause is dysbacteriosis or lactose intolerance.

To make a clear diagnosis, the following measures are prescribed:

After research, it becomes clear what kind of disease contributes to the release of green stools.

Depending on the type of pathology, certain measures may be prescribed.

In case of intestinal bleeding, an emergency operation is prescribed.

Important to remember! Folk remedies are not suitable for use in case of green stools. Due to the fact that the cause of the disease state is initially unknown, one can only harm one or another decoction or tincture.

Prevention

To prevent the appearance of liquid green feces, you must follow simple rules:

undergo an examination of the body at least once a year in order to detect the presence of hidden pathologies in time;

eat right: exclude fast food, alcohol and an abundance of fatty, fried foods;

Proper nutrition is the key to health

take medications only as prescribed by a doctor;

exercise moderate physical activity;

observe hygiene: wash hands thoroughly before eating and after visiting public places.

The health of every person is in his hands. The percentage of severe hereditary pathologies is extremely small, and if you maintain the condition of your intestines in the norm, then it will work like a clock, and the problem of diarrhea and green feces is unlikely to arise.

Video - What the color of the stool says

Green stool has various causes. They can be both completely physiological and pathological. A change in the color of excrement is most often observed in newborn children, but such a change is not excluded in adults. In no case should this symptom be ignored, since green feces with an admixture of mucus can serve as a sure sign that a malfunction has occurred in the functioning of the digestive system. And it is precisely this that should first of all be identified and eliminated by prescribing the correct course of treatment.

Physiological causes

Usually the reason for the discoloration of feces in adults lies in the diet. Dark green stool is usually observed if an adult begins to consume a lot of foods that contain iron. These include the following:

red meat;
broccoli, dill, spinach and other green leafy crops;
sea fish;
black licorice;
Red beans;
juices and purees made from green vegetables.

Green feces often appear in those people who consumed a lot of foods with bright dyes the day before, in particular, with green. These include:

caramel sweets;
marmalade;
carbonated drinks;
various chewing gum and more.

Dark green stools can also be caused by an adult taking certain pharmaceuticals and supplements. Usually, a change in the color of excrement is observed when taking such drugs:

drugs that contain high doses of iodine;
laxatives of plant origin;
sorbitol;
chlorophyll;
glucose;
Dietary supplement with high concentration of glucose;
mineral and vitamin complexes;
preparations, the main active ingredient of which is seaweed.

Pathological causes

It is important to remember that not only dietary habits can affect the color change of excrement. Often, green feces are a sign of the progression of dangerous pathologies in both an adult and a baby. Therefore, in the event of its repeated isolation, mucus impurities in it, as well as the manifestation of a pronounced clinical picture (vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.), you should immediately contact for the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying pathology. Only a qualified specialist can say why dark green feces appear. Self-diagnosis in this case is invalid. Especially if a child has green feces.

Pathological causes:

green stool in children

Green feces most often appear in children, in particular in newborns. In the case of newborns, green feces are evidence of the immaturity of the digestive system, especially the liver.

A change in the color of feces in infants can also occur due to a change in nutrition. This is especially often observed when a mother transfers a newborn child to artificial feeding. The composition of milk formulas for newborns is stable, but the set of trace elements may vary. In particular, in certain mixtures, an increased iron content can be noted. The use of such food can cause a change in the color of feces in a newborn child.

Very often, a change in the color of excrement in infants is observed during the period when the first teeth begin to erupt. Naturally, the child begins to gnaw on everything, and usually such things are not sterile. As a result, many bacteria enter the body of the baby, the pathogenic activity of which can lead not only to a change in the color of feces, but also to the progression of various diseases. In this case, the clinical picture will be supplemented by hyperthermia, vomiting, pain in the abdomen. There will be mucus or even streaks of blood in the excrement.

Often the cause of a change in the color of feces in a baby is the wrong diet of his mother. This means that toxins from foods that the mother may have consumed end up in the milk that the baby will then eat. As a result, these substances will penetrate into his body.

Therapeutic measures

First of all, it is necessary to clarify why green feces appeared. The diagnosis is usually made by a gastroenterologist. If the reason lies in the diet, then the treatment is quite simple - normalizing your diet and excluding raisins, gooseberries, cucumbers, kiwi, drinks with dyes from it. The following drugs may also be prescribed:

Smecta;
Regidron.

If all of the above measures did not bring the proper result, then this means that a person is progressing any disease. The main method of therapy in this case is medication. The patient may be prescribed the following drugs:

antibacterial;
antispasmodics;
anti-inflammatory;
probiotics;
vitamin complexes.

The green color of feces in adults has a different nature.

The stool changes color when there is life threatening a person or a disease develops at an early stage, provoking severe disturbances in the functioning of systems and organs.

In rare cases, this is due to the diet.

It is possible to determine the true causes of the pathology with confidence after receiving the results of the tests.

If the stool changes color once, this is not a cause for concern. Its color also depends on the products used for cooking.

Cereals are able to repaint feces in shades of green. However, even after one-time use, but in a large amount of feces for a couple of days or more, they retain the stability of the new color.

To digest cereals, which have a double protective shell, the body releases more bile so that the food processing process is more productive. So when emptying the intestines, green feces are released in adults.

What foods change the color of stool from brown to green?

Some foods have pigments that turn feces green. This is connected and with excess iron in some of them. Therefore, this phenomenon is not always associated with diseases. Influence the color of feces:

eating green leafy crops - cabbage, spinach, bulb feathers, broccoli, lettuce, parsley or dill;
excessive eating of jelly or caramel, marmalade with a high content of food colors - then the stools acquire a pronounced shade of light green color;
foods that contain chlorophyll, especially seaweed;
the presence in the menu of red beans, sea fish or red meats.

Pigments stored in the body up to 5 days, so the color of feces during this period may remain unchanged, even after the cessation of eating these foods.

In pregnant women

Among the main reasons for the appearance of green feces in the first place is the diet. It is desirable for a woman in an interesting position to receive the necessary vitamins and minerals for the normal development of the child and successful delivery.

But green leafy crops should not be abused either. Thanks to the presence chlorophyll - green pigment, eaten spinach, green onions or cabbage, give the stool a characteristic color.

This does not apply to pathology, but there are a number of diseases in which this symptom is present.

Vitamin complex

The use of vitamins by a pregnant woman, which are prescribed to ensure the healthy development of the child and maintain the normal condition of the expectant mother, can color the stool in shades of green.

The intake of vitamins in the female body occurs along with the necessary minerals. Iron and calcium not digested in the intestines, are excreted along with feces, staining them in characteristic colors.

Bowel disease

Pathological processes localized in it are able to change the color of feces from brown to green during pregnancy. This is usually associated with malfunctions in the intestinal sections due to Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, in which its walls become inflamed.

When processed food passes through the intestinal cavity, blood begins to be released from areas where the tissues are deformed by the disease.

Then bleeding mixed with bile which is released in excess, and the stool looks black and green at the exit.

Premature emptying

When the transport of processed food residues through the large intestine becomes abnormal and deviates from the norm, a greenish color of feces is observed.

The time it takes feces to pass through the intestines depends on how long the food will be in its thick section before it is released in digested form from the rectum. When reducing transportation period through the large intestine, feces become green.

Excess bile

In inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines, bile can be produced in greater quantities than necessary. First, it is transported to the duodenum, having a green color. Food that has got there from the stomach mixes with bile and acquires a shade of green.

During diarrhea, the feces do not have time to turn brown under the influence intestinal microorganisms, bile comes out with the stool.

Taking antibiotics

Medicines taken by a woman during an interesting situation often provoke the appearance of greenish feces during bowel movements. At the end of the course or after reducing the number of tablets taken, the color of the stool returns to normal. If this does not happen, you can not do without consulting a doctor.

What does green stool mean in adults?

Normally, its color should be brown. due to bile pigments. The color of feces depends on their concentration - it will be light, green or even black. The color of feces is affected by the consumption of certain vegetables, sweets or red meat.

When diagnosing a pathology, it is important to know its real cause in order to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal department.

If there are a lot of foods containing iron, the feces will turn a shade of green. This occurs as a result of the appearance in the diet of black licorice, vegetable or fruit juices and purees, fish from the deep sea. Carbonated water, kissel, confectionery cream with an abundance of dyes also leads to the same effect.

Dietary supplements can also recolor feces. This occurs with the systematic use of a laxative with plant extracts, biologically active components with an excess of iron, drugs from seaweed. Iodized preparations, sorbitol and glucose medicines, minerals or vitamins are capable of giving the stool a greenish color when emptying the intestines.

A greenish tint of feces is observed during illness with dysbacteriosis or long-term use of antibiotics. Then changes in pigmentation accompanied by a foul odor rot. This means that you need to visit a doctor's office and undergo an examination.

What diseases cause feces in an adult to become green?

If pathology progresses in the body, feces not only change color, the process is accompanied by characteristic symptoms related to certain diseases.

Intestinal infections

With any of them, including dysentery, cholera, there is an increased temperature, nausea, which turns into vomiting, worries. The body is weakened, appear pain of a different nature.

Dysbacteriosis

Violation of the microflora is fraught with an increase in the number of pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal cavity. Beneficial microorganisms die. The accumulation of an abundant mass of leukocytes that have died is observed in the process of exacerbation of inflammation.

The intestines are no longer able to digest food normally, which provokes its decay and fermentation. In this case, components are released that change the color of the feces when it is emptied.

Bleeding

It occurs against the background of an exacerbation of a stomach ulcer or due to a cancerous tumor in one of the departments. gastrointestinal tract. After the release of blood and its entry into the stomach or intestines, the process of oxidation of iron, which is part of the blood cells - erythrocytes, occurs.

If the oxidation is incomplete, the stool will turn green. When bleeding begins, blood pressure drops, heart rate increases, shortness of breath and a sharp feeling of weakness are observed, the skin turns pale.

Hepatitis

Diseases associated with liver pathologies, and the pathological processes that occur in this case, lead to to the mass decomposition of erythrocytes.

Then the liver lacks hemoglobin, from which bilirubin must be produced. This pigment is responsible for the brown color of the stool.

If it is not enough in the intestines, the feces will be greenish. The same happens with blood diseases.

food allergy

Some foods may be intolerable to the adult body, and their elements are not absorbed by the intestinal walls. This leads to an inflammatory process and dysfunction of the digestive organs, which contributes to the release green feces.

Take care of yourself and diagnose pathological changes in time.

Green stool in an adult can be a sign of malnutrition, infectious diseases, or taking a number of drugs.

If the color of the feces changes once, most likely, the reason is the use of provoking foods. When a change in shade is observed for a long period, accompanied by diarrhea, mucus, or the release of drops of blood during bowel movements, you should consult a specialist to make an accurate diagnosis.

The main factors that provoke a change in the color of feces

The norm is considered to be bowel movements once every 1-2 days, while the color of feces should have a brown tint. What can be a slight deviation from accepted standards?

There are a number of physiological and pathological factors:

Eating food that affects various processes in the body or has a large amount of coloring substances in its composition.

An imbalance in the bacterial environment of the body, an infectious disease, poisoning, allergic reactions, the development of pathologies of internal organs, in particular those related to the digestive tract.
Taking certain medications.

Changes you shouldn't worry about

Fans of sweets, such as marmalade, jelly, and other foods high in dyes, may occasionally notice greenish stools.

In addition, other products also affect the color of feces:

In this case, a revision of the diet will help to normalize the situation. If a few days after the exclusion of provoking foods, the color of the feces has not changed, then other reasons must be considered.

Change in stool color when taking medication

Feces can turn green when consumed:

Iodine preparations.
Laxatives, in particular herbal medicines.
Sorbitol.
Glucose.
Chlorophyll.
Vitamin complexes.
iron-containing drugs.
Medicines based on seaweed.

Usually, a possible change in the color of feces is mentioned in the annotation to the drug. If you cancel such drugs, then within 5 days the feces acquire a characteristic dark brown hue. If you take a radiopaque substance, the stool may become gray, but after 2-3 days the condition returns to normal on its own.

Antibiotics with prolonged use disrupt the intestinal microflora, causing dysbacteriosis, which entails a change in the normal color of feces to green.

A consequence of the development of a pathological environment

Feces in an adult can acquire a peculiar shade with the appearance of gastrointestinal diseases.

Most often diagnosed:

Dysbacteriosis. Due to the imbalance of intestinal microorganisms, the process of digestion of food is disrupted, food residues rot, which may be accompanied by a violation of the frequency and color of the stool.
Dysentery. The condition is characterized by acute pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The patient develops weakness, the temperature rises sharply.
Salmonellosis. Entering the body, an intestinal infection causes a sharp rise in temperature, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Rotavirus infection. The stools have a liquid consistency with an admixture of mucus and an unpleasant odor. The patient has signs of intoxication, weakness and a sharp rise in temperature.
Enteritis. The inflammatory process in the intestine is manifested by diarrhea, nausea, pain in the abdomen, weakness.
Tumors of various etiologies, internal bleeding or complication of an ulcer. Green color occurs when iron is oxidized in erythrocytes.
Diseases of the circulatory system. When the decaying red blood cells begin to produce insufficient amounts of bilirubin from hemoglobin, there is not enough pigment to color the feces, and they are excreted in an unchanged green color. Liver problems such as hepatitis also lead to the same consequences.

With infectious lesions of the intestine, a bright green hue of the stool, a rise in temperature, weakness and an admixture of mucus in the stools are observed. In case of poisoning, these symptoms are accompanied by vomiting and severe abdominal pain..

Allergies to food can be manifested by a change in the color of the stool, along with the presence of mucus and undigested food debris in it. With gluten intolerance, liquid feces with an unpleasant odor are observed. And lactose indigestion is characterized by the onset of diarrhea with green stools immediately after eating dairy products.

In babies under 6 months, green stools may indicate an increase in bilirubin. At this age, the condition can normalize on its own.

Often a change in shade is associated with a transition to another mixture. This is due to the immaturity of the digestive system. The food of a breastfeeding mother also plays a role in many respects, since all substances from the products penetrate into the milk.

What color of feces indicates a disease of the internal organs?

Many do not know what diseases change the shade of feces. It should be noted that these are mainly pathologies of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, stomach and intestines.

Green feces may be the result of inflammation of the intestine or the development of a tumor of this organ, intoxication of the body, celiac disease.
Red-brown indicates the presence of minor internal bleeding in the lower digestive tract. Observations show that this means damage to the intestinal walls. When the feces move through the intestine, the mucous membranes are injured, blood is released through small cracks and enters the feces.
Black may indicate bleeding in organs located in the upper parts of the digestive system.
Yellow-green indicates carbohydrate fermentation. This condition occurs with diseases of the pancreas, for example, diabetes mellitus.
Gray-green or white indicates the absence of bile in the intestine. Pathology occurs with liver disease and when the gallbladder has stones or a tumor that clogs the excretory ducts.

Symptoms associated with green stools

If the color change occurs due to the intake of medications or provocative products, then there are no other signs of the disease. When the problem is caused by the ingress of pathogenic microorganisms, the development of ailments of internal organs, hidden bleeding, the following symptoms occur simultaneously with green feces:

Abdominal pain. Usually its localization indicates the location of the diseased organ.
Nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Bad smell of stool.
The presence of mucus or.
Elevated temperature.
General deterioration of health: headache, dizziness, weakness, fatigue.

green stool in pregnant women

Expectant mothers try to monitor their diet, so they consume a large amount of plant foods. Spinach and broccoli contain chlorophyll, which can cause faecal discoloration.

In addition, to prevent anemia and destruction of bone tissue during pregnancy, vitamin complexes rich in iron and calcium are prescribed. Also, black feces can be the result of taking activated charcoal during gas formation.

The color of feces, with a temporary change, does not affect the condition of the baby. But if, after the abolition of provoking foods and drugs, the condition does not change, this may indicate the presence of various diseases, and the tar-black shade indicates internal bleeding.

Dysbacteriosis is a frequent companion of pregnant women. In this case, diarrhea begins, stools are green.

When making this diagnosis, the doctor prescribes Smecta or Imodium to remove toxins. It is recommended to include whole grain cereals, sour-milk products, green tea in the diet.

In order to prevent serious complications during the period of bearing a baby, for any violations or changes in the color and consistency of the stool, you should consult a doctor.

First aid at home

When changing the color of feces, nutrition should be reviewed, excluding sweets and food rich in chlorophyll and containing dyes from the menu.

With diarrhea, you must take Smecta or Regidron. This will normalize the water-electrolyte balance and avoid dehydration.

Atoxil is an excellent sorbent, which is used to remove toxins, especially when vomiting. But the drug should be taken after gastric lavage.

With severe dysbacteriosis, it is useful to drink probiotics. If no improvement is observed within a few days or the condition is accompanied by a rise in temperature, stools with blood inclusions, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, then you should consult a doctor.

After a series of tests, the specialist will make a diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. It can be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial drugs, antispasmodics, vitamin complexes. With internal bleeding, urgent hospitalization is indicated, followed by surgical intervention.

Tests to determine the cause of a change in stool color

For a correct diagnosis when green feces appear, when they are not associated with food intake, a series of examinations should be performed:

Complete blood count with the determination of the leukocyte component.
Analysis of urine.
Blood test for biochemistry and electrolytes.
Analysis of feces for bacterial environment.
Abdominal ultrasound.

If indicated, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, CT or MRI of the abdominal cavity may be prescribed.

The green color of feces, like other uncharacteristic shades, may be the result of a number of pathologies. To determine the cause and exclude the presence of the disease, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner and do the necessary tests. Self-medication can worsen the situation, lead to dehydration and damage to internal organs.

The green color of feces in an adult happens for various reasons. Feces change colors when there are threats to human life or diseases develop in the early stages, and also provoke disorders in the functioning of the system and organs. Sometimes the cause of this problem is the wrong diet. To understand the real cause of pathologies, it is imperative to pass all the necessary tests.

Reasons for the green color

The main reason for the change in the usual color of feces is a bilirubin fat-soluble compound that enters the main structure of bile and penetrates the gastrointestinal tract.

At a normal speed of passage of food through the intestinal tract, the oxidation of bilirubin begins, it also pigments and gives the feces a brown color.

If there is a violation of digestion or processed food moves very quickly through the intestinal tract, then bilirubin does not have time to oxidize and, when emptied, it comes out naturally, not oxidized, that is, the feces become green.

And there are many more reasons why green feces appear. Another common cause is the content of inorganic iron compounds in foods and medications.

Such products include:

red fish and meat;
red bean varieties;
foods and drinks with food coloring;
sweets based on licorice syrup;
iron supplements;
medicines containing seaweed;
drugs that replace iodine;
sugar substitute.

One of the main causes of constipation and diarrhea is use of various drugs. To improve bowel function after taking the drugs, you need every day drink a simple remedy ...

What does the color of feces mean

Normally, the feces should be brown due to the yellow pigment. The color scheme of the feces completely depends on the concentration of the pigment - it will be light, green or even black.

When examining a problem, you need to know its true cause in order to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

If you eat foods that contain a lot of iron, the stool will turn green. When taking carbonated water, jelly, confectionery cream with an abundance of dyes, a similar situation will eventually occur.

green stool in pregnancy

The causes of changes in fecal mass in pregnant women can be very different factors. One of them is the nutrition of women, which directly affects the color and consistency of feces.

In order for the child to develop well in the womb, and the woman to feel normal, it is necessary to follow and use all the necessary components.

There are situations when the expectant mother tries to eat as much green food as possible. But it is these plants that have the maximum amount of chlorophyll. When ingested (especially in large quantities), the feces become dark green in color. Women should understand that this condition is by no means a pathology.

Green foods can cause stools of the corresponding color

Many pregnant women take vitamins for the development of the fetus and support their body. Calcium and iron, which are part of vitamins, may not be completely absorbed. The rest is passed out with feces. This is another reason for green stools.

If a woman has irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease during pregnancy, the intestinal walls will become inflamed accordingly. Read more about IBS.

When processed food passes through deformed tissues, which merges with bile. As a result, we have a black-green color of feces.

Doctors do not recommend taking antibiotics during pregnancy. But there are times when they are simply necessary. In such a situation, a woman develops feces with a green tint.

After the course of treatment is over, the color scheme of feces will return to normal.

When does stool turn green?

Doctors distinguish a number of diseases, due to which the feces are forced to change their normal color. And also the patient develops other symptoms that are characteristic of certain problems.

If it is an intestinal infection, then the patient will feel pain in the abdomen. Green feces can lead to nausea, vomiting, fever, loss of strength.

If dysbacteriosis, then the microflora of the digestive tract deteriorates, as a result, almost all beneficial bacteria die.

Then leukocytes collect in the intestines, and the products are not digested, rot and begin to ferment. During this period, the bowel changes color.

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Green stool with mucus

Green mucus with feces can be provoked by many factors:

Various intestinal infections often accompany mucus and a green tint in the stool.
Doctors distinguish three types of hemorrhoids, which form with a green tint, which accumulates near the anus.
Tumor-like neoplasms that are located in the intestines can manifest themselves as yellow or green secretions through the anus with mucus.
Another cause of mucus is congenital intestinal fermentopathy or hereditary pathology in the structure of the upper intestine.
Milk sugar intolerance.

Treatment

If you have at least one of the above symptoms, you first need to determine the cause. If you feel normal, there are no more changes, you need to go on a diet and temporarily not take any medication.

If a nursing baby has such a problem, a woman needs to reconsider her diet.

In any situation, you cannot make decisions on your own, you need to undergo a diagnosis and get a full recommendation from doctors.