If your child's stool is green. Should you panic about your baby's green stool? Can a baby have green stools?

Very often, young parents are concerned about their baby's green stool. How can you tell whether green stool in a child - an infant or a child 2 - 3 years old - is this normal or a sign of some disease? Let's figure out together why the child's stool suddenly turned green, and is it necessary to go to the hospital?

Green feces in a baby

Meconium in newborns- the child’s first stool is a viscous substance, rich dark green (to black) color. Meconium is excreted during the first day of a newborn's life; on the second and third days, the color of the stool changes to light brown. By the end of the first week, normal infant stools are established. At the same time, yellow-green feces in an infant during the 1st month are not an indicator that something is wrong with the baby. As a rule, this is due to a natural process - the excretion of bilirubin with feces, and in no way affects the health and development of the baby.

Nutritional dyspepsia- digestive disorders that occur in infants with a rapid transition to formula, overfeeding, improper introduction of complementary foods, and disorderly feeding. The main symptoms are:

repeated vomiting
restlessness and frequent crying,
regurgitation,
flatulence,
dyspeptic stools - 8 times a day.

Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician and includes food fasting (reducing the amount of food taken, excluding new foods from the child’s diet, taking enzyme and enterosorbent drugs, probiotics)

Why does my baby have green stool?

To understand why your baby has “green” poop, you need to know the main possible reasons for such stool. So, such feces can occur in the following cases:

if several hours have passed since the bowel movement. In this case, the poop “turns green” due to an oxidation reaction in air;
if the baby was prescribed antibiotics or iron-containing drugs;
with dysbacteriosis;
with excessive amounts of sugar in the diet;
if the baby is breastfed and the mother ate vegetables of the same color (zucchini, cucumbers, etc.);
if the child is fed an adapted formula (with a high iron content).

These are the main causes of green poop in babies aged 0 to 3 years.

When to start panicking?

If you find green liquid stool in your child, do not panic! First of all, you need to find out how the baby is feeling. It is clear that a one-year-old toddler is unlikely to be able to explain that his stomach hurts. Therefore, parents, having discovered green feces in a 1-year-old child, should pay attention to the general condition of their son or daughter. Has their appetite worsened? Has your sleep been disturbed? Has their behavior changed? If greens appear in the stool of a 2-year-old child, then he himself will be able to tell you about his health.

The most alarming signs are the following changes:

the appearance of a rash;
frequent crying for no reason;
presence of mucus and putrid odor.

What to do?

Depending on your medical history and after consultation with your doctor, you should cancel recently prescribed medications. medications, give less sugar, and if we are talking about infants, then replace baby formula or review the diet of a nursing mother.

If, apart from the color of the stool, nothing else has changed in the baby’s behavior and condition, then do not rush to go to the doctor, watch the baby for a couple of days. Most likely, in two or three days everything will pass and the poop will be the same as before! And if suddenly the picture changes for the worse, and other symptoms appear, you can tell the doctor about them in more detail.

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Green feces in a child often occur in the summer and autumn - when the menu is full of juicy vegetables and fruits. But it is necessary to treat such changes with caution, since some infectious or inflammatory diseases have such symptoms. In what cases is color change considered normal, and when is a doctor's help needed?

The color of infant bowel movements is influenced by various reasons:

Type of feeding;
The diet of the parent (if the baby is breastfed);
Composition of the mixture;
Underdevelopment of the gastrointestinal tract of infants.

The body of an infant is not yet fully ready for the digestive process - there are not enough enzymes and beneficial bacteria.

All newborns have a dark green first stool. It is called meconium. This almost black, sticky substance is secreted by the baby the first two to three days after birth. Then the feces become lighter in color. They are usually light brown, . However, it is also normal for a tiny baby to poop green. Especially if mom’s menu contains a significant amount of cucumbers, parsley, spinach, green pears or apples.

Situations when stool turns light yellow or even white are also dangerous. The table below shows photos of feces in a child, which is normal, as well as feces that signal danger, as in the case.

In artificial animals, a yellow-green tint to the excrement may appear due to the use of mixtures with a high iron content.

In a bottle-fed baby, greenish-colored feces with mucus are possible when switching to a formula with an unusual composition. If the baby pooped like this once or twice, and then everything got better, then everything is fine. But if problems continue, you should find a suitable mixture.

Several more factors why a small child may have green stool:

Excess sugar in mom's food;
Digestive problems (both for the baby and the parent);
Improper absorption of breast milk;
Introducing complementary foods to a child 4–5 months and older.

During the period when the first teeth appear (at 7 months - 1 year), the excrement may turn green. If, in addition, a one-year-old child has no pathological signs, then treatment is not required.

Changes in the color and frequency of stool are possible in a 2-month-old baby. If a one-month-old baby has bowel movements after every meal, then a two-month-old baby may have breaks even for a couple of days. At 2 months, an enzyme crisis occurs in the baby’s body. But at 3 months everything gets better.

Pathologies leading to changes in stool color in babies

Green bowel movements often appear in children aged 1–3 years due to dysbiosis - a disruption of the correct microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.

Risk factors for illness vary. During teething, the child chews on toys and other things. At the same time, bacteria enter the gastrointestinal tract, leading to microflora disturbances. Dysbacteriosis appears after taking antibiotic drugs, with an incorrect diet, or with ailments of the digestive system. This disease is characterized by the following changes:

Stool disorders;
Yellow-green or gray-green stool with mucus and foam;
A specific sour smell.

Dysbacteriosis is accompanied by colic and frequent regurgitation. Bloating and painful sensations in the tummy lead to the baby being capricious, unable to sleep, and losing appetite and weight. But the main sign of dysbiosis is green mucus in the stool.

To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to do a stool test for dysbacteriosis, which determines the qualitative composition of the intestinal microflora. After this, the doctor will recommend the necessary medications to get rid of the disease.

Liquid green stool in preschool children, including newborns, is possible due to dysentery. This is a dangerous infectious disease that threatens to dehydrate the body. Its symptoms:

Diarrhea (more than four times a day),
Gray-green color of excrement with bloody inclusions;
Disgusting putrid “aroma”.

With each bowel movement, the amount of excrement decreases. The toddler is acting restless, he is feeling sick, and his temperature is rising. With moderate severity of the disease, the process of defecation normalizes after seven to eight days.

What to do if the contents of the diaper are green?

If a preschool child over four years old can tell about what hurts, then a baby is not capable of this. Parents should carefully monitor the child’s behavior - whether he is restless, capricious, or crying. Signs such as diarrhea in a child, fever, vomiting, excessive mucus in a child’s stool are reasons to call a pediatrician. Such a clinical picture indicates an infectious disease.

To clarify the diagnosis, you will need to conduct certain studies:

General blood analysis. Check: the level of hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets;
Scatological analysis of stool. Check: the severity of damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Bacteriological analysis of stool. They check: the presence of infectious pathogens and susceptibility to antibiotic drugs.

You can give your child enterosorbents (“Enterosgel”, “”). Those made with activated carbon can also change the color of bowel movements. It will become closer to black and green.

Liquid green stool in a baby with normal general health indicates a slight digestive disorder, which is not dangerous. The main thing is to avoid dehydration. Saline solutions, made independently or purchased at a pharmacy, will help with this.

Prevention measures include establishing the correct diet for the nursing mother, precise selection of formulas for artificial infants, careful introduction of complementary foods, and regular medical examinations.

Why do children from three to five years old have green stool?

A child’s stool will reach an “adult” dark brown color at about 2 years of age. At this time, the baby completely switches to a general diet.

In a child 3–6 years old, the color of excrement can change as a result of infatuation with certain foods, indigestion or excess sugar in food. Bright green feces will be found in a baby who loves cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, and other vegetables and fruits of this color. Red beans, licorice, sea fish, drinks and sweets with dyes can give stool a light green tint.

Other reasons for the occurrence of green excrement in preschool children and primary schoolchildren may be:

Intestinal infections;
Lactase deficiency;
Allergies;
Enteritis and colitis;
Congenital diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Taking vitamin-mineral complexes, iodized products, chlorophyll, and other dietary supplements.

If the baby really has problems not only with the color of excrement, he will become apathetic and sleepy. Appetite will worsen. There may be an increase in temperature and pain in the abdomen. The smell of excrement will be especially fetid, and an unpleasant “aroma” will be added from the mouth. A rash, vomiting, sudden weight loss, the presence of blood and mucus in the stool are reasons for an urgent medical examination.

Thus, salmonellosis can cause problems with feces in children. It is usually contracted through improperly cooked chicken eggs and meat.

With this serious infectious disease with severe dehydration and intoxication, the excrement becomes liquid, swamp-colored, and smells sour. The desire to go big often occurs and is accompanied by pain, gagging, and fever. If these signs are detected, you should immediately call a doctor.

If your baby has greenish stool, there is no need to panic. It usually does not require treatment. Only if serious symptoms of an infectious disease or inflammation occur will medical attention be required.

Remember that only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis; do not self-medicate without consultation and diagnosis by a qualified doctor. Be healthy!

Green stool in a child is a common phenomenon that confuses almost all mothers. Changes in the color and consistency of stool are characterized by several reasons. Green stool is sometimes considered normal, but in some cases green stool is a sign of illness. It is impossible to guess when a symptom is normal and when it is a disease without visiting a pediatrician and taking tests. Therefore, a timely examination by a doctor will help to accurately determine the cause of problems with the baby’s stool.

You can understand why a child has green stool using the reasons that influence color changes. There are a lot of factors, they can be divided into 2 groups: normal and disease. Don't panic right away, you need to calm down and go to the doctor.

Harmless factors affecting stool color

The baby's body, along with feces, excretes a special substance - bilirubin, which is what colors the feces greenish. The following factors affect the color of stool:

Diet of a mother who feeds her newborn with breast milk.
High iron content in formula milk during artificial feeding.
Hormones in breast milk also affect the color of stool.

It is important to know that on the first day of life, green feces in a child are considered normal if there is no discharge with mucus.

Dangerous factors affecting the color of stool

The following symptoms should make you worry about your baby's health.

When the first symptoms appear, you should immediately consult your doctor. The specialist will conduct an examination and answer the question of why the child has green stool.

Green stools with foamy discharge and an unpleasant odor.
Diarrhea in the form of liquid feces of dark green color.
The stool is green and smells rotten.
Green feces with mucus discharge and capricious behavior of the child.
Blood discharge along with green stool.

A green toilet with foam indicates a nutritional deficiency in the child’s body. Green stool may indicate an infectious disease. When breastfeeding, introducing new foods into the mother's diet will help correct the situation. You should not suddenly change the menu; you need to approach this issue with caution. After introducing a new food, you need to observe the baby’s reaction, especially his stool. If the bowel movements have returned to normal and taken on their usual shade (yellow, yellow-brown), then your child is healthy, but it won’t hurt to go to the pediatrician.

If a newborn is fed with formula milk, then a doctor’s consultation is required so that he can recommend the ideal formula for the child. If, when changing porridge, the stool does not return to normal, it is worth taking a stool test to identify harmful bacteria (E. coli, etc.).

If you notice that your child has gray-green stool with blood and mucus, it means that the baby has serious problems with the digestive system. This happens if the mother does not monitor her diet during breastfeeding or the newborn has an infectious disease.

It is important to pay attention to some symptoms that may occur along with bowel problems:

drowsiness and weakness, sudden weight loss;
constipation or, conversely, diarrhea, the child’s legs are drawn up to the stomach;
poor appetite for any food, as well as refusal of breast milk;
coli, discomfort, slight increase in temperature, lethargy.

The reasons for the appearance of such symptoms are influenced by the age of the child. For example, if children aged two years have such signs, then most likely it is an infection, and in a baby under the age of 3 months such symptoms indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

To determine exactly why a child has green stool, you need to take a test to the laboratory, and then the result of the study will give you a diagnosis.

Toilet problems in older children

The cause of green stool in children aged 2 to 7 years can be infectious diseases. The symptoms are exactly the same as in newborns. A common diagnosis at this age is intestinal dysbiosis. An imbalance in the body can occur for several reasons. This is mainly due to poor nutrition or the use of antibiotics, which tend to disrupt the microflora of the young intestine, thereby causing gray-green stool in the child. This disease can manifest itself in different ways, but the main thing is that the prescription of medications must be done by a specialist. Here is a list of the most common diseases whose symptoms are green feces:

Infectious diseases (rotavirus, etc.).
Worm infestation, diarrhea.
Allergies, congenital gastrointestinal pathologies, enterocolitis.

These diseases can only be identified by contacting a laboratory, so when the first symptoms appear, there is no need to delay going to the clinic, otherwise this will lead to serious complications and the purchase of expensive medications.

If the baby is not examined in time, this will lead to serious pathologies in the future. First of all, it completely disrupts the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If symptoms such as nausea and vomiting appear, it is imperative to go to the hospital, since such symptoms can lead the child’s fragile body to a state of dehydration. If the disease is not treated, it will develop into a more complex form. In severe cases, this leads to the spread of inflammatory processes and rottenness in the organs. It is better to visit the doctor once again and make sure that everything is fine and the child is completely healthy than to miss an important moment. This can lead to pathological changes in an underdeveloped organism.

Children of absolutely all categories and ages should be taken to the pediatrician more often. The health of your child depends entirely on your behavior.

Green poop in a child can be due to many reasons, including those that do not affect the baby’s health. When observing such an unusual phenomenon, it is extremely important to pay attention to the frequency, duration of bowel movements, consistency of stool, as well as the presence of certain impurities in it.

If green poop occurs very often in your child, and it worries you greatly, then it is better to consult your pediatrician and not use medications yourself.

basic information

If your child's poop is green, you should also remember that the feces left on the diaper oxidize quite quickly. Therefore, such an unusual phenomenon may be an elementary consequence of stool oxidation when it interacts with air.

Lactase deficiency

It is no secret that the amount of enzymes, as well as their activity, directly affect the quality of the child’s gastrointestinal tract. A green baby is often associated with a deficiency of these same enzymes. First of all, this concerns a lack of lactase. The substance mentioned is intended to break down carbohydrates in breast milk, or lactose.

If the baby sucks only foremilk, the level of lactose in the stool increases significantly. This process can quite easily lead to the development of bloating and colic. When the consistency of the baby's stool becomes more liquid. In this case, the color of stool is greenish.

It should also be noted that with artificial feeding, the child also has a risk of developing such a pathological condition. In this case, the pediatrician may recommend the use of low-lactose mixtures.

How to help a child with lactase deficiency?

To diagnose this condition, doctors recommend testing stool to determine the amount of lactose. Next, the pediatrician prescribes enzymatic agents. The duration of their application is usually short. The baby’s body should only be helped a little, but in no case should you do all the work for it. This is due to the fact that enzymes can become addictive quite quickly. It should also be noted that such drugs can cause allergic reactions, constipation or diarrhea.

Diarrhea and green stool

Is green poop (for a one-year-old child) accompanied by profuse diarrhea beyond the norm? In this case, the reasons for this stool color may be:

If your baby has green stool and diarrhea at the same time, you should immediately consult a doctor. After all, this phenomenon poses a particular danger to the child.

Examination and treatment

If green stool bothers the parents more than the baby itself, then it is better to immediately visit the hospital. To identify the causes of this condition, doctors recommend doing a bacteriological analysis of stool, as well as culture of the intestinal microflora. Such examinations should only be prescribed by a doctor. You can get tested at a regular children's clinic.

If cultures and other tests turn out to be normal, and the baby’s condition confirms this, then you should not worry about green stool. If during the examination any pathogenic pathogens are identified, the pediatrician is obliged to prescribe appropriate treatment.

In order to prevent the development of serious diseases in the baby, experts recommend more carefully monitoring the frequency of his stool, the smell and the presence of various impurities (for example, mucus, foam, blood, etc.). If such phenomena occur against the background of the child’s poor condition, it is better to immediately seek medical help.

If your baby has green stool, then there is no need to worry ahead of time. The main indicator of a child’s healthy condition is his behavior and mood, but not the unusual color of his stool.

Green feces in a child can be either a sign of gastrointestinal diseases or infections, or a consequence of feeding certain foods. There are some symptoms that should alert parents. If they appear, you must immediately consult a doctor to avoid serious consequences, which may include dehydration, poisoning, multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest and even death.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW! Changes in the color of stool, diarrhea or diarrhea indicate the presence in the body... >>

1 Reasons

Green stool can be either a symptom of gastrointestinal dysfunction or a consequence of changes in the child’s diet.

Main reasons:

1. Intestinal infection - salmonellosis, yersiniosis, hepatitis, norovirus, rotavirus, giardiasis, helminthic infestation.
2. Disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, dysbacteriosis, decreased acidity of gastric juice.
3. Enzyme deficiency - lactase, maltase, etc.
4. Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) in a nursing mother, infection from the maternity hospital, respiratory tract at home.
5. Allergy to milk formula, intolerance to gluten, casein, and other substances in food.
6. The child’s consumption of greens and colored foods.

The first five reasons can be manifested by the baby's restlessness, crying, in addition to changes in the color of the stool.

Light-colored stool in a child: causes, clinical manifestations, treatment

1.1 Intestinal infection

A small intestinal infection is one of the most likely causes of dark green stool. Salmonella, E. coli of various types (enterotoxigenic, adhesive, hemorrhagic, pathogenic), Yersinia are bacteria that cause digestive disorders. These microorganisms are factors that provoke inflammation of the intestinal wall.

Due to damage to the small intestine, the absorption of bile acids, which cause the green color of stool, is affected. This leads to their discharge into the large intestine, irritation of the mucous membrane, burning and liquid, foamy stool. The processes of digestion and absorption are disrupted. The child experiences pain in the abdomen. There may be blood in the excrement.

Rotavirus, norovirus, and infectious hepatitis can cause digestive upset. Botkin's disease (hepatitis A) sometimes manifests itself in the form of gastrointestinal disorders. The development of infectious processes in the gastrointestinal tract is facilitated by problems with the production of digestive juices and protective factors - antibodies (secretory immunoglobulin A). Immunodeficiency is one of the causes of chronic giardiasis.

White feces in a child: main causes and symptoms of disease

1.2 Impaired functioning of the liver, pancreas, stomach

Liver problems - insufficient bile secretion, hepatitis - phenomena typical for children under 5-8 years of age. In this case, digestion is disrupted, namely the emulsification of fats, which leads to osmotic diarrhea - water diarrhea with accelerated intestinal function. Fatty stools of various colors, including green, are characteristic if dysbiosis with the participation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms is associated.

Enzymatic insufficiency of the pancreas or spasm of the sphincter of Oddi negatively affects digestion - a deficiency of enzymes (proteases, amylase, lipase) that break down food leads to stool disorders. The feces have a putrid odor due to the breakdown of protein substances and are green in color due to secondary malabsorption. This is often accompanied by a disturbance in the microbial composition of the intestine.

The stomach is important in digesting food, especially those containing proteins. With a lack of hydrochloric acid, the child suffers from diarrhea, hypovitaminosis, and allergic rash.

What does black stool indicate in adults?

1.3 Enzyme deficiency

Not only the pancreas, but also the intestinal mucosa is involved in digestion and the secretion of enzymes. It secretes various enzymes - lactase, maltase, isomaltase for digesting carbohydrates.

With infections, inflammation and congenital fermentopathy, the small intestine stops secreting enzymes that digest lactose and other sugars. At the same time, a baby on breastfeeding at the age of 6-9-10 months to one, two, three years appears green feces, regurgitation, and diarrhea. Intolerance to breast milk and formulas containing lactose may also occur.

1.4 Maternal mastitis, nosocomial infection

Inflammation of the mammary gland and the presence of pus in it leads to infection of the milk by pathogenic microorganisms, leading to dysbacteriosis. The main dangerous bacteria are Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus.

The infection penetrates from the mucous membranes of the mother and people in the same room with the baby (in the maternity hospital).

1.5 Intolerance to formula milk

Some infant formulas contain casein, lactose, and soy protein, which sometimes cause allergic reactions and intolerance in children. This replacement of breast milk disrupts digestion, is difficult to digest, and causes hypovitaminosis, urticaria, and diathesis in addition to changes in stool.

1.6 Food

The greens that the baby eats can color the stool the appropriate color. Food dyes affect the appearance of intestinal contents.

2 Symptoms

Children aged 1, 2, 3 years experience restlessness, crying, screaming due to pain caused by colic, and the discharge of liquid green stool. With food intolerance, regurgitation is possible.

At 4 years, 5-7 years and older, the baby complains of abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. With chronic dysbacteriosis, the baby develops diathesis, signs of vitamin deficiency - sticking in the corners of the mouth, “geographic tongue”.

3 Conclusion

If the color of your stool changes, you should consult a doctor for help as soon as possible. It is recommended to take a stool test for intestinal infections and dysbacteriosis.

If there is excessive diarrhea or vomiting, the baby should be given more fluids to avoid dehydration.

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Green stool in a child is something that often worries parents. There are many reasons for such changes in stool: both ordinary physiological and pathological. Newborn babies are a separate issue; their bowel movements can be very surprising to unprepared parents, so it is necessary to understand everything in order to keep the situation under control.

Why does my baby have green stool?

Green feces in newborns

In babies, all the gastrointestinal organs finish forming in the womb. Until children are born, they swallow amniotic fluid, their own secretions, and particles of their own desquamated skin. All this, entering their body, is processed, and as a result, original feces - meconium - are formed in the intestines.

Meconium in newborns

As soon as the baby is born, in the first day and the next few days, feces come out; it has a marsh-green color and can be pasty or mushy in consistency. This is the absolute norm.

When a child receives his first food, and most often this is breast milk, a portion of bacteria enters his stomach, and they already begin to establish the digestion process. The stool gradually changes color to yellow, and then, after a while, when nutrition is improved, to brown.

Normal stool in a baby

Causes of green stool in children under 1.5 - 2 years old

Since the gastrointestinal tract is initially immature and does not have enough enzymes to process food, some malfunctions are possible, which will be accompanied by green feces.

Green stool

The following factors can affect the green coloration of stools:

changing the diet of a nursing mother (if breastfeeding is natural);
replacing the mixture with another;
excess sugar in the mixture;
excess iron in the mixture;
indigestion in a baby;
introducing the first solid food into the baby’s diet;
teething, when a child pulls various objects into his mouth and thus introduces bacteria into the stomach.

Green stool may be due to incorrect mixture selection

Here you have the opportunity to track the child’s reaction and eliminate some of the reasons yourself, for example, choose a suitable formula, adjust your diet, or postpone the introduction of complementary foods.

It is better to postpone the introduction of complementary foods if the baby’s stool has changed its color to green.

If after such changes the stool still remains green, consultation with a specialist is necessary, because perhaps the reason lies deeper.

For reference! If a breastfed baby is not properly applied to the breast and sucks out only the liquid front milk, but not the richer rear milk, then his stool may be more liquid and have a green color. Therefore, it is so important that the baby drinks the rear nutritious portion of mother’s milk.

Change in stool color in children over 2 years of age

Older children no longer feed on formula or breast milk; their diet contains a lot of foods. Stool may turn green when eating foods such as:

green vegetables and fruits;
Red beans;
sea fish;
red meat;
juices, chewing gum and sweets with dyes.

Green fruits and vegetables

Sweets with a lot of dyes

However, foods are not always the source of green stool; the reason may lie in:

helminthic infestation;
lactase deficiency;
allergic reaction to certain food groups;
enterocolitis;
dysbacteriosis;
infectious disease;
taking specific medications and vitamins;
congenital pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

The child may have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, dysbacteriosis

If the stool is green, but the child is cheerful, cheerful and there are no additional changes, most likely there is no cause for concern. You should be alert if you experience the following symptoms:

temperature increase;
chills, cold sweat;
nausea, vomiting;
diarrhea;
poor appetite;
child's lethargy and moodiness;
abdominal pain;
the presence of impurities of blood, mucus, pus in the stool;
the appearance of a rash;
bloating.

You need to be wary if your child has a stomach ache and a fever.

Abnormal stool color combined with blood and mucus in it indicates inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Fever, vomiting and diarrhea indicate either acute poisoning or an infectious disease.

Vomiting and diarrhea may be signs of infection

Therefore, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor, since the child’s body in this case begins to dehydrate, and the infection and toxins spread further.

Intestinal infections: classification

1. Bacterial

· dysentery;

· salmonellosis;

· cholera;

· typhoid fever;

· yersiniosis;

· botulism.

2. Viral

· enterovirus;

· rotavirus;

· adenovirus;

· coronavirus.

3. Protozoans

· giardiasis;

· amoebiasis.

What to do if your child's stool is green

As mentioned above, if there are no additional symptoms, you can either take a wait-and-see approach or try to cancel some innovations in the diet.

If alarming symptoms are present, you should consult a pediatrician, who, in turn, can refer you to a gastroenterologist, allergist and immunologist.

It is important to contact your pediatrician in time

In order to understand the cause of the child’s condition, it will be necessary to undergo tests:

blood;
urine;
feces;
anal swab.

How to take a urine test from a child

In a conversation with doctors, it is necessary to talk in detail about the child’s reactions to food, his diseases (if any), and what new things the baby has tried recently.

In some cases, children undergo an ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract; they are prohibited from undergoing other procedures such as colonoscopy and endoscopy.

Carrying out an ultrasound

Based on the test results, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Treatment

If the child’s condition worsens, he begins to vomit and have frequent diarrhea, it is necessary to give him special solutions, for example, Regidron, before the ambulance arrives, to normalize the water-salt balance in the body. You can also give any sorbents that are available in your home medicine cabinet, for example, simple activated carbon, Polysorb or Smecta. They will absorb at least some of the toxins from the intestines.

"Polysorb"

Attention! Giving any additional medications (especially to infants) without the consent of a doctor is dangerous, because the cause of green stool and general malaise is unknown.

If a child is admitted urgently by ambulance with a diagnosis of green stool and vomiting, he can either be assigned to an infectious diseases department with closed boxes or to an intensive care ward.

Children's infectious diseases department

Depending on each case, the following procedures can be performed:

The doctor may prescribe:

antibiotics;
antiviral drugs;
absorbents;
enzymatic agents;
probiotics and prebiotics;
antifungal agents;
antibacterial drugs;
anthelmintic drugs.

Doctor prescribes medicine

After stabilization of the child’s condition, it is necessary to organize the child’s nutrition. Breastfed babies should be put to the breast more often and given boiled water from a bottle to replenish lost fluid. The beneficial substances in mother's milk will help improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The baby needs to be put to the breast more often

Formula-fed babies need to choose a suitable lactose-free formula.

Children over the age of one year need to establish a gentle diet, which will include vegetable purees and soups, low-fat fermented milk products, water-based cereals, unsweetened compotes, black tea, and fruit juice.

Vegetable puree is good for babies

Prevention of green stool in children

Don’t be immediately alarmed by the appearance of green stool in your baby, because it often happens to adults, too. Monitoring the general condition of the child is the main task of parents. Then, even in the event of suspicious changes in the baby’s body, it will be possible to promptly provide assistance.

Video - A child has green stools: reasons, what to do

The color of a child’s stool is a direct indicator of the proper functioning of the entire digestive tract. When it changes from normal to green, you should immediately find out the cause of the problem. In children, pathological conditions can progress over several hours, and only a qualified doctor can help them.

Why does my baby have green stool?

Normal stool color in a child

After childbirth, the first five days, baby feces have a color close to olive, sometimes the stool becomes black, which should not cause concern to the mother and doctors. This condition is associated with the ingestion of blood during passage through the birth canal.

From the third day, the baby's diaper may show inclusions of a lighter color, but the stool is still green in color.

Greenish chair

After 6-10 days, the color of the stool changes to greenish-brown. Further, due to growing up, the feces will change their color, becoming the same color as adults. After establishing a diet, dark green, marsh-colored feces, with foam, interspersed with blood and undigested food, are dangerous for the child.

Normal stool in a formula-fed baby

Attention! The color of stool in breastfed children is influenced by the mother's diet. The more unhealthy foods she eats, the higher the likelihood of digestive disorders in the little patient.

The main causes of green stool in children

The following problems can provoke such a violation:

Attention! Parents cannot make an accurate diagnosis on their own, since in many cases additional tests are required. Only by their results is the cause of the violation determined.

Diagnosis of disorders with green stools

To make an accurate diagnosis, additional laboratory and functional studies are required.

Ultrasound	Allows you to identify possible disorders in the functioning of the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract.
Stool analysis	Allows you to find out how unhealthy the intestinal microflora has become.
Blood chemistry	Provides an opportunity to control the level of liver and pancreatic enzymes.
Scatological analysis of stool	Assess the degree of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa by the number of leukocytes, epithelium and erythrocytes.
Vomit analysis	Carried out if salmonellosis is suspected.
General analysis of urine and blood	Allows you to assess the general condition of the patient and the presence of inflammatory processes by the level of leukocytes.

General rules for preparing for stool analysis

Attention! Usually only a few examinations are prescribed, since during a face-to-face examination the doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis. But if the symptoms are vague, you should undergo all laboratory and instrumental procedures.

Common causes of green stool in children under one year of age

Green stool in children may appear due to the large amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet of the baby or the mother if she is breastfeeding. But feces rarely have a pronounced green color; it is still closer to natural. You should consult a doctor if, after eating fruits and vegetables, the patient experiences abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and nausea.

Greens and green vegetables can discolor the stool. Don't worry if you don't have a stomach ache or diarrhea

As soon as children start teething, their stools become abnormally colored due to excessive saliva production. It also enters the gastrointestinal tract, which causes a change in the color of the stool. Against this background, the child may develop diarrhea, abdominal pain, and frequent regurgitation.

Attention! In children under one year of age, inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, dysbacteriosis and other pathologies cannot be ruled out. To accurately diagnose the baby’s condition, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician so as not to put the child’s life at risk.

The main causes of green stool in children after two years

After two years of age, green stool is always associated with obvious disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or pancreas. Most often, the pathology is associated with food poisoning and rotavirus infection, especially when the child attends kindergarten.

After transferring the baby to the common table, parents should carefully monitor his nutrition. He should not be allowed to consume large amounts of food rich in carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates, fats and salt. If children do not have congenital problems with the digestive system, proper nutrition virtually eliminates any likelihood of green stool in toddlers and adults.

Healthy nutrition for children from one to three years old

Green feces due to dysbiosis in children

The most common cause of change in the color of stool in a child, not counting food poisoning. The disease is provoked by a pathological change in the intestinal microflora. The cause of this disease is the widespread spread of bacteria. They can enter the body with dirty vegetables, fruits, or due to insufficient hand hygiene after using the toilet or going outside. Children should not be allowed to lick toys and foreign objects, as microorganisms located on their surface also cause disruption of the intestinal microflora.

Causes of dysbiosis in children

In some cases, the disease occurs under the influence of antibacterial drugs, insufficient nutrition with a large number of unhealthy foods. Diseases of the liver and pancreas can also cause dysbiosis, since diseased organs do not produce enough enzymes for normal digestion of food.

The disease can be recognized by severe bloating, flatulence, stool has a strong sour odor, and is green in color with a gray tint. The feces are very foamy and may contain traces of mucus and bloody clots. To confirm dysbiosis, a stool test is performed.

Dysbiosis is easy to distinguish from food poisoning. With food poisoning, the baby may suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, but the stool is rarely green and never foams.

Attention! Children under one year old with dysbacteriosis suffer from severe colic and often regurgitate. Because of this, they do not receive enough nutrition and can quickly lose weight.

Therapy of dysbiosis in children

Video - Dysbacteriosis

Green stool in a child due to dysentery

The disease is also provoked by a large number of pathogenic bacteria; they enter the body in the same way as in the case of dysbacteriosis. With dysentery, bright green stools are observed, the consistency of which resembles diarrhea. Blood is visible in the feces, and the smell has a pronounced putrid character.

Additionally, the baby has a high body temperature, he is constantly capricious, and may vomit. With timely treatment, the child’s condition can be normalized within a week.

Dysentery

Characteristic symptoms of dysentery

To confirm the disease, it is necessary to take a stool test to identify the pathogen, as well as conduct a scatological examination. Sometimes general urine and blood tests are prescribed.

Green stool due to salmonellosis in children

Salmonellosis is a dangerous infectious disease caused by salmonella, which enter the body most often from chicken eggs. With this pathology, the patient complains not only of bright, marsh-colored feces, but also of severe vomiting and diarrhea. The feces have a strong sour aroma, the process of defecation is painful, and severe abdominal pain is recorded. Body temperature often increases.

Salmonellosis

To confirm the diagnosis, a biochemical blood test should be performed, feces and vomit should be examined to determine the pathogen. Only after this can treatment begin.

Attention! Salmonellosis or suspicion of it is a reason to immediately seek medical help. With this pathology, the disease quickly leads to dehydration and poisoning of all body systems, which can cause the death of a small patient.

Treatment of green stool in a child

Immediately when signs of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract appear, it is necessary to use special drugs that can restore water balance, eliminate the influence of bacteria and normalize the functioning of the stomach and intestines.

"Regidron" and "Oralit"

These medications are used orally to restore water balance and protect the child from dehydration. For treatment, one dose of Rehydron or Oralit should be diluted in a liter of clean boiled water; for children after three years of age, it can be diluted in filtered water. Up to a year, a child needs to be given a teaspoon of solution every five minutes until all the water is used. After a year, a liter of liquid should be divided into equal portions and the baby should be given water every hour. Such drugs are usually used for no more than 1-3 days.

"Regidron"

"Oralit"

"Polyphepan"

The drug has an absorbent effect, removing pathogenic bacteria from the body, which restores normal gastrointestinal function. You can use Polyphepan from the first month of life. In childhood, the medication should be used in the form of a solution. A tablespoon of the active substance is diluted in a glass of water. Children under one year old are prescribed one teaspoon of solution, from one year to seven – one dessert spoon, after seven years – 15 ml of the drug. Take it three times a day for 3-7 days.

"Polyphepan"

"Neosmectin"

A more modern analogue of the classic smecta, it is available in several berry and fruit flavors. It has an antidiarrheal and anti-heartburn effect, and helps relieve abdominal cramps. You can take it from the first month of life. For treatment, the contents of the sachet are dissolved in 100 ml of water and taken 3-4 times a day in equal portions. Children after two years of age are prescribed 2 sachets of neosmectin per day, and from three years of age - 3 sachets. Therapy can be continued for up to seven days.

"Neosmectin"

"Furazolidone"

Used in the presence of intestinal infections. For children, the dosage is selected taking into account their age and weight only by a doctor. Furazolidone eliminates the spread of pathogenic bacteria, which protects against vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The medication is taken in the form of tablets; for children under one year of age, they can be mixed with breast milk, water or formula. There are 4 doses per day. The duration of treatment is no more than 10 days, the usual course of therapy is 3-7 days.

"Furazolidone"

"Linex"

Used to improve microflora as an auxiliary component during the main treatment. Linex is a source of probiotics that displace pathogenic organisms and bring the condition of the intestinal mucosa back to normal. In childhood, the drug is taken in the form of a powder, soluble in water. The medication is taken daily for 2-4 weeks. Up to one year, the dose is 1 sachet per 50-100 ml of water, from two years old - 2 sachets per 100 ml of liquid, from three years - 2-3 sachets per 100-150 ml.

"Linex"

"Bifiform"

A drug for the treatment of dysbiosis of any nature, normalizes stool and prevents vomiting from developing. The oil solution can be used from the first days of life at a dose of 0.5 g of the active substance 1-3 times a day, taking into account the child’s condition. Treatment with bifiform can be continued for three weeks. From one year onwards, the medication can be used in capsule form. The dose from one year onwards is the same for all children and is 1 capsule three times a day. The appointment time can be any. The duration of treatment is also no more than three weeks.

"Bifiform" drops

"Bifiform" capsules

"Cerucal"

An antiemetic drug, it can be used for vomiting of any nature from the age of two. At home, the medication is used in the form of tablets, they are taken 30 minutes before meals. The dose is selected individually for each child; it can be 0.25-1 tablet of cerucal up to four times a day. Treatment is continued until vomiting disappears completely. Well tolerated in complex treatment.

"Cerucal"

"Nifural"

The drug is available in the form of tablets and suspensions; it is recommended to use the drug in liquid form for up to six years. "Nifural" is approved for use from two months. Allows you to eliminate diarrhea caused by pathogenic organisms. Babies under six months should use a single dose of 5 ml or 2.5 ml in the morning and evening. From six months, Nifural is prescribed in a dose of 5 ml three times a day. The course of treatment is up to 10 days.

"Nifural"

Activated carbon

The simplest and most classic remedy for treating diarrhea and removing toxic substances from the body. Before use, the tablets must be dissolved in clean water; 50-100 ml of water should be taken per dose. Activated carbon is recommended to be taken from 1.5-2 years. The dose is 1 tablet for every 10 kg of weight. Take charcoal 1-3 times a day for no more than five days.

Activated carbon

"Hilak Forte"

A drug against diarrhea, to normalize intestinal microflora, eliminate colic and abdominal pain. You can take Hilak Forte from the first days of a child’s life; it is available in the form of drops. The dosage of the active substance depends on the age of the baby. The medication must be taken before or after meals. Up to one year, a single dose of Hilak Forte2 is 15-30 drops, from one year onwards – 20-40 drops. Drink the medication three times a day for an individually selected time.

"Hilak Forte"

The drug can be given to children from a spoon

Attention! If the problem is associated with an inflammatory process in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment can only be prescribed by a pediatrician or gastroenterologist. For such processes, drugs are used that can only be used in a hospital setting; they are administered in the form of droppers and intramuscular injections.

Traditional methods of treatment

Before using traditional recipes, you should consult your pediatrician. They are not always compatible with traditional medications and, if the dose is incorrectly selected, can do more harm than good.

Chamomile and mint

To prepare the solution, you need to mix both components in equal quantities. It is recommended to grind both ingredients. 2-5 g of the mixture is poured into 250 ml of boiling water and left for 30-45 minutes, filtered. The resulting infusion should be taken five times a day in equal portions of 50 ml 30 minutes before meals. Treatment cannot continue in childhood for more than seven days. It is not recommended to give this mixture to children under two years of age. During treatment, chamomile and mint have a quick antiseptic effect, relieve pain and normalize the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dried chamomile and mint

Congee

This remedy is used for severe diarrhea and dehydration of the child. In order for the decoction to have the necessary effect, it is important to prepare it correctly. To do this, mix one part rice with three parts water. The cereal is boiled until completely cooked, the broth is squeezed out. It should be given in 10-50 ml doses, taking into account the baby’s age. Up to a year, it is better to give 10 ml of rice water every two to three hours. From two years of age, the dose is 30-50 ml every 4-6 hours. From three years of age and older, the dose is 50 ml of decoction every 4-6 hours. Treatment with rice water is continued until diarrhea stops, but not more than five days.

Congee

Hawthorn

10 g of fruits should be poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left under a tight lid for an hour, the hawthorn should be completely filtered. The resulting solution should be used 30 minutes before meals, 50 ml from the age of three. The course of treatment is 1-5 days, not used if there are heart problems. Hawthorn has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Hawthorn tea

Common cuff

One teaspoon of dry crushed raw materials is poured into 500 ml of boiling water and kept under the lid until it cools completely. After this, filter the herb well and apply the product three times a day, one teaspoon at a time. You need to drink the cuff 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is no more than three days. Used to restore microflora, suppressing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

Ordinary cuff in packaging

Dry leaves of the plant

Attention! Traditional methods containing herbs and their extracts are recommended to be used only from 5-6 years of age. In this case, it is necessary to constantly monitor the child’s condition, since at this age plant components can increase unpleasant symptoms due to increased sensitivity to them.

Diet for green stool in children

Not only the child, but also the mother should adhere to the diet during treatment and for some time after it, if she supports lactation. To stabilize your health, you need to completely eliminate foods such as:

foods rich in fats and sugar;
sour, smoked and salty foods;
carbonated drinks, coffee and strong tea;
fruits and vegetables;
any sweets and rich products;
whole milk and foods containing it;
pasta, especially soft varieties.

Natural yogurt

Rice, lean boiled or baked meat are healthy. It should not contain salt or seasonings.

Boiled chicken and rice

Attention! A child should not be given compotes with raisins and other dried fruits. They have a laxative effect, which will only worsen the baby’s condition. Water, green tea and chamomile decoction are beneficial.

Prevention of green stool in a child

To reduce the risk of dysbiosis and inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, you need to follow a number of tips:

Attention! If a child has digestive problems from birth, there is a high risk of developing gastrointestinal pathologies in adulthood. A proper diet and timely diagnosis of the patient’s condition are the key to the child’s health in the future.

When the first signs of a digestive system disorder appear, you should immediately consult a pediatrician. After an in-person examination, palpation of the abdomen and ordering the necessary tests, he will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate therapy. Under no circumstances should children under three years of age self-medicate. In addition to medications, it is important to follow the prescribed diet and take preventive measures to prevent green stool in children.

Video - A child has green stool: reasons, what to do?

Reasons for changes in the color of feces in children under two years of age

The color of infant bowel movements is influenced by various reasons:

Type of feeding;
The diet of the parent (if the baby is breastfed);
Composition of the mixture;
Underdevelopment of the gastrointestinal tract of infants.

The body of an infant is not yet fully ready for the digestive process - there are not enough enzymes and beneficial bacteria.

All newborns have a dark green first stool. It is called meconium. This almost black, sticky substance is secreted by the baby the first two to three days after birth. Then the feces become lighter in color. They usually have a light brown, yellowish tint. However, it is also normal for a tiny baby to poop green. Especially if mom’s menu contains a significant amount of cucumbers, parsley, spinach, green pears or apples.

Situations when stool turns light yellow or even white are also dangerous. The table below shows photos of normal feces in a child, as well as feces that signal danger, as in the case of white feces.

In artificial animals, a yellow-green tint to the excrement may appear due to the use of mixtures with a high iron content.

Several more factors why a small child may have green stool:

Excess sugar in mom's food;
Digestive problems (both for the baby and the parent);
Improper absorption of breast milk;
Introducing complementary foods to a child 4–5 months and older.

During the period when the first teeth appear (at 7 months - 1 year), the excrement may turn green. If, in addition, a one-year-old child has no pathological signs, then treatment is not required.

Pathologies leading to changes in stool color in babies

Green bowel movements often appear in children aged 1–3 years due to dysbiosis - a disruption of the correct microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.

Stool disorders;
Yellow-green or gray-green stool with mucus and foam;
A specific sour smell.

Liquid green stool in preschool children, including newborns, is possible due to dysentery. This is a dangerous infectious disease that threatens to dehydrate the body. Its symptoms:

Diarrhea (more than four times a day),
Gray-green color of excrement with bloody inclusions;
Disgusting putrid “aroma”.

What to do if the contents of the diaper are green?

To clarify the diagnosis, you will need to conduct certain studies:

General blood analysis. Check: the level of hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets;
Scatological analysis of stool. Check: the severity of damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Bacteriological analysis of stool. They check: the presence of infectious pathogens and susceptibility to antibiotic drugs.

You can give your child enterosorbents (Enterosgel, Smecta). Those made with activated carbon can also change the color of bowel movements. It will become closer to black and green.

Why do children from three to five years old have green stool?

A child’s stool will reach an “adult” dark brown color at about 2 years of age. At this time, the baby completely switches to a general diet.

Bovine tapeworm from child's feces

Other reasons for the occurrence of green excrement in preschool children and primary schoolchildren may be:

Intestinal infections;
Helminthiases;
Lactase deficiency;
Allergies;
Enteritis and colitis;
Congenital diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Taking vitamin-mineral complexes, iodized products, chlorophyll, and other dietary supplements.

Thus, salmonellosis can cause problems with feces in children. It is usually contracted through improperly cooked chicken eggs and meat.

Remember that only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis; do not self-medicate without consultation and diagnosis by a qualified doctor. Be healthy!