Causes of marsh-colored feces in an adult

Causes of changes in stool color

The color or shade of stool may change due to:

taking certain medications, for example, hematogen, bismuth salts, calomel. In such cases, the stool may be black or green;
consumed certain foods. For example, after eating asparagus, lettuce and sorrel, the feces acquire a greenish tint. And after eating black currants, cherries and blueberries, it can turn black;
the predominance of certain nutrients in products. For example, when consuming a large amount of milk, the color of stool may become golden-yellow, when consuming meat and sausage products - black-brown, and when consuming plant foods - light brown.

However, a change in the color and shade of feces may also indicate the development of certain pathological processes in the body and be one of the symptoms of the following diseases:

cirrhosis of the liver;
stomach ulcer;
development of malignant and benign neoplasms;
hepatitis;
gastric erosion;
bleeding from hemorrhoids:
bleeding from the rectum.

If the color of stool changes for no reason, that is, it was not preceded by taking certain medications and foods, you should immediately seek medical help. After all, a timely diagnosis will help eliminate the problem in the early stages of its development, which will lead to a successful and rapid cure of the disease. In such situations, it is recommended to contact specialists in the field:

hepatology;
gastroenterology;
oncology.

Symptoms in adults and children

Green feces or diarrhea can indeed form not only in adults, but also in children. First of all, you need to understand that during the first month of life, this shade is completely normal. During this period of time, the body’s digestive system is only adapting to new conditions. Another period during which the appearance of dark green feces can be called normal is teething. Noting the main symptoms of this condition in childhood, experts pay attention to the following changes:

the consistency of the stool turns out to be much softer and even liquid - green diarrhea in an adult can also be characteristic of a child;
complete lack of appetite;
frequent vomiting, constant nausea and even pain in the stomach (sharp, pulling);
change in temperature indicators.

Causes of nausea in the evening

Such symptoms can develop regardless of the specific reasons for the change in the color of feces. That is why it is very important to contact a specialist who will indicate what the cause of such changes is and how to treat it.

Light-colored stool

Faeces that have a pale tint (white, gray) in most cases indicate that the person ate a large amount the day before:

potatoes
tapioca;
rice

If a person has had a barium sulfate x-ray, they will also experience discolored stool for several days. Taking certain medications meant to relieve diarrhea can also cause gray stools. The fact is that these drugs contain additives such as calcium and antacids.

If we consider the issue of the occurrence of pale stool from the other side, it becomes clear that the bile secreted by the gallbladder does not enter the intestines for some reason. This may signal the development of certain diseases, including those associated with the closure of the bile ducts, namely:

pancreatitis;
tumors of the bile ducts;
hepatitis A;
stones in the gall bladder and bile ducts;
cancer or cirrhosis of the liver.

Thus, we can conclude that if a person has white stool, it means that he has problems with the gallbladder. Perhaps he suffers from cholecystitis.

Red stool

Red or red-brown color of stool should alert you. After all, it is a harbinger of the development of certain pathological processes in the body. Although in most cases, red feces indicate that you ate a fairly large amount of the following foods the day before:

beets;
red gelatin;
tomatoes;
fruit punches.

Also, red stool may indicate that a person took certain antibiotics, which contributed to the formation of ulcers in the intestines. And this already caused bleeding. After taking potassium tablets and some other medications, you may also experience bloody stool.

If you notice the appearance of bloody stools and did not eat red foods the day before, this may indicate the presence of fissures in the anus, as well as hemorrhoids. These problems could arise for the following reasons:

after childbirth;
after sexual intercourse;
presence of foreign objects in the rectum;
with frequent constipation.

Also, red stool can be a consequence of a disease such as intestinal inflammation. This disease, in addition to bloody stool, is characterized by the presence of diarrhea and severe cramps.

In addition to the problems listed above, red feces can be a harbinger of some other diseases of the digestive system. So, if the stool is bright red, the problem is most likely in the lower intestines. It is very likely that there are malfunctions of the large intestine, for example, diverticulitis, when small areas of the rectum become inflamed due to the presence of infection. This condition is characterized by the presence of acute pain in the lower abdomen.

As for stool that is dark red in color, the problem is most likely located in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, namely:

in the small intestine;
in the stomach;
in the esophagus.

Bloody stool is sometimes the only symptomatic manifestation of colon cancer, as well as the presence of polyps. These polyps can be either malignant or benign.

However, in these cases, along with bloody stools, the presence of:

attacks of nausea and vomiting;
diarrhea;
spasms;
general weakness;
significant weight loss.

Yellow stool

Light yellow (golden) feces can be observed with the development of a pathology such as fermentative dyspepsia, in other words, a disturbance in the digestion of carbohydrates. This pathology may cause disturbances in the functioning of the digestive organs in terms of insufficient digestion of the connective tissue membranes of plant fibers. Thus, the carbohydrates present in plant foods become inaccessible to the enzymes of the pancreas and small intestine.

Often yellow stool in adults occurs due to poor digestion of food in the large intestine, as well as due to pancreatic insufficiency.

It is worth noting that in children who are breastfed, the color of stool can vary from pale yellow or even green-yellow to rich yellow with a golden tint.

Diagnostics

The doctor prescribes the following procedures and examinations when green stool appears in adults:

bacterial culture to determine the state of microflora, the presence of pathogenic bacteria, including the presence of E. coli;

microscopic examination if there is a suspicion of the presence of parasites;
blood and urine tests;
PCR analysis;
coprogram - for microscopic examination of feces and study of its chemical composition.

Green stool

The green color of stool may indicate the development of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, about the course of pathological processes in the small intestine, as well as about the development of dysbiosis, which provokes the processes of fermentation and rotting of consumed food.

The stool may turn green due to certain antibiotics. This color is due to the fact that the intestines contain a large number of dead leukocytes, which accumulate in it against the background of emerging foci of inflammation.

Green feces are also characteristic of a disease such as dysentery, which is an intestinal infection. Along with such stool, a person usually experiences:

significant increase in body temperature:
abdominal pain;
attacks of nausea and profuse vomiting;
aches and weakness throughout the body.

Also, feces may acquire a green tint due to the oxidation of iron, which is present in red blood cells. This occurs due to the development of complications of ulcers or malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Another cause of green stool is diseases of the hematopoietic organs. The fact is that due to the breakdown of red blood cells, hemoglobin is converted into a large amount of bilirubin. As a result, this substance, when entering the intestines, gives the stool a greenish tint.

In children aged 6-8 months, the color of the stool may also be green. This occurs due to the fact that unchanged bilirubin enters the child’s intestines. And if no other symptoms are observed (fever, abdominal pain, blood in the stool), there is no need to worry.

Non-pathogenic causes of green stool in adults

Normally, adult feces are brown in different shades and have a semi-solid consistency. Changes in these characteristics are influenced by a large number of factors; among non-pathogenic ones, the main one is the consumption of the following foods:

A large number of different cereals. Due to the protective shell of cereals, the body secretes more bile to digest them, which helps turn stool green.
Leafy crops, legumes, fish, red meats (due to high iron content).
Jelly, caramel and marmalade containing special dyes.

In most cases, the listed foods do not cause digestive disorders, abdominal pain or diarrhea, and a few days after stopping eating them, the color of the stool returns to normal. Sometimes the cause of the appearance of a green tint in stool is diarrhea (due to changes in the composition of the microflora) or, conversely, thickening of the feces and their slow movement in the large intestine. Such phenomena are not always a symptom of an infection or other pathological condition; they can manifest themselves against the background of dietary patterns.

Dark-colored stool

In most cases, stool that is black in color produces a more shocking and even ominous impression on a person than bloody stool.

However, not everything is as sad as it might seem at first glance. After all, a common reason for stool turning black is:

taking activated carbon;
taking various nutritional supplements that contain iron;
taking medications that contain bismuth;
consumption of black licorice;
eating blueberries.

But if you find dark stool (almost black), which will have a viscous consistency (tarry), rush to consult a competent doctor. After all, this may signal the presence of blood in the stool, which, in the process of entering from the esophagus into the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract, undergoes changes - it becomes thick, viscous, and also acquires a dark color.

A common cause of black stool is alcohol abuse, as well as taking certain medications and drugs that contribute to the development of esophageal bleeding. Such medications include:

ibuprofen:
acetaminophen;
aspirin;
other non-steroidal drugs, the action of which is aimed at relieving inflammatory processes.

As for diseases that may have black stool as a symptom, these include:

gastritis;
colon cancer;
duodenal ulcer (in the small intestine area);
stomach ulcer;
tumor neoplasms in the upper gastrointestinal tract;
inflammation of the inner walls of the stomach.

In conclusion, it is necessary to recall once again that if changes in the color of stool are detected, it is recommended to immediately seek medical help. A qualified specialist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. Be healthy!

Why is green stool in an adult, what does it mean, causes, symptoms and signs, what to do if the stool is green.

Green poop is usually from something you recently ate, such as spinach. Some medications and iron supplements can turn stool green.

Newborns have dark green stools, while breastfed ones often have yellow-green stools. In older children and adults, green is rare.

What disease can light-colored stool be a sign of?

Lightening of feces is caused by diseases that disrupt the normal functioning of the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. Try to evaluate how you feel. How has your health changed in recent days, weeks, months? Remember what illnesses you suffered in the recent past. If light-colored stool is associated with diseases, the following symptoms are often observed:

general weakness;
increased body temperature;
stomach ache;
yellow color of the skin and eye sclera;
dark urine;
nausea, vomiting;
flatulence;
loss of appetite and weight loss;
unexplained increase in abdominal volume;
skin rash.

If you notice an unusual change in the color of your feces, accompanied by a sharp deterioration in your health, immediately consult your doctor. He will give you a referral for tests, on the basis of which he will identify the cause of lightening of the stool and prescribe appropriate therapy. Ignoring your unsatisfactory condition is extremely dangerous; it can be a sign of serious diseases:

Hepatitis A . The development of inflammatory liver disease caused by toxic, infectious or alcohol poisoning is indicated by nagging pain in the right side, an upset stomach, and a yellow tint to the skin. Without treatment, the disease leads to cirrhosis of the liver.
Cholecystitis . Inflammation of the gallbladder is accompanied by acute abdominal pain, decreased appetite, increased body temperature, and nausea. Feces with cholecystitis have a liquid consistency, sometimes with remnants of undigested food.
Pancreatitis . Inflammation of the pancreas occurs as a result of poor diet, alcohol abuse, infectious diseases of internal organs and taking medications. The acute phase of pancreatitis is accompanied by cutting pain in the abdomen, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Crohn's disease . A chronic disorder of the digestive system, caused by allergic reactions, psychosomatic and infectious diseases, is manifested by lightening of stools, vomiting, increased body temperature, and the frequent appearance of blood in the feces.
Oncological diseases of the digestive tract . The development of malignant neoplasms on internal organs is asymptomatic. The first signs appear when the tumor reaches a certain size. Among the symptoms, doctors identify: pain in the abdominal cavity, constipation or diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and sudden weight loss.

Find out how the pancreas is treated with medications.

Light brown stool

Human consumption of predominantly plant foods leads to lightening of feces. This is not a pathology and does not pose a risk to your health. With the accelerated passage of digestive masses through the colon, the stool becomes light brown in color. The introduction of protein products into the diet and fractional meals normalize the functioning of the digestive tract.

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Light green

Human feces acquire an unnatural hue due to excessive consumption of food dyes, which are found in large quantities in sweet water, alcoholic drinks, and sweets. Addiction to herbal preparations and dietary supplements leads to stools turning greenish. After giving up foods, the color of stool is restored within 3-5 days. In other cases, green feces are a symptom of diseases:

Dysbacteriosis . Violation of the intestinal microflora is accompanied by liquid feces with a specific putrefactive odor.
Acute enterocolitis . Acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is accompanied by discomfort and severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. The stool has a green tint with traces of pus.
Infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are manifested by general weakness of a person, nausea, and increased body temperature. The stool turns light green and contains blood, pus, or mucus.

Light yellow

The color of feces is affected by bilirubin, secreted along with bile by the liver. From a medical point of view, yellow stool in a healthy person is normal. You should be concerned about beige stool. This may mean that the liver is not producing bilirubin unstably or that the bile ducts are narrowed. To identify the causes, contact your doctor, who will conduct an examination and prescribe appropriate therapy.

Dark urine and white stool

The gray color of stool in combination with urine the color of “strong tea” is an alarming sign of the acute phase of hepatitis. Inflammation of the liver leads to disruption of the function of bile formation, which causes whitening of stool. With hepatitis, the bilirubin produced by the body is excreted through the kidneys and skin, so the urine becomes dark and the skin turns yellow.

What do the colors of stool mean?

Normal color

The normal color is brown, which appears due to yellow pigment. Depending on the pigment concentration, stool may be light or dark in color.

Green color

If you ate food fortified with iron or drank carbonated water, jelly, or food with a high content of dyes.

Light green color

The shade appears during infection - hepatitis, pancreatitis and others. If light green stool does not go away for a long time, then there is a possibility of the presence of stones or a neoplasm.

Yellow-green color

Most likely this is an infection that entered through the oral cavity. If the stool is yellow-green, liquid and contains mucus, then it is possible due to changes in the intestinal microflora - dysbacteriosis.

Dark green color

Perhaps due to the high concentration of iron in food. The most serious case is bleeding in the stomach or intestines. The stool turns dark.

Intestinal diseases and their effect on the color of stool

In the case of polyps, cysts, or erosions on the intestinal walls, the color of the stool may change. With dysentery it may become greenish, with various neoplasms streaks of blood may appear, with parasitic infestation it becomes pale, with polyps and erosions an admixture of blood may be observed.

In order to accurately diagnose the reason why stool is light brown in color in an adult, you should undergo an examination of the intestines - a colonoscopy. In some cases, even a simple ultrasound is enough, but most often it does not allow you to examine every bend of the intestine. Therefore, when examining this organ, ultrasound is not always effective. Depending on the area of the intestine and the degree of damage, treatment methods will vary.

Causes

Causes of green stool:

Nutrition
Diseases
Medicines
Malfunctions of the body

Nutrition

If the product is fortified with iron, the product may contain pigments that will change the color of the excrement.

Spinach, cucumbers, sorrel, lettuce, dill and other products with a pronounced green color.
Caramel, marmalade and other foods with high levels of food coloring. In this case, the stool may turn dark green.
Products containing chlorophyll. For example, after eating seaweed, the color can last up to 3 days.
Red meat, fish, and some red beans can change the color of stool.

If you stop eating food that could color the stool, the pigments can remain in the body for up to 5 days.

Medicines

Laxative teas
Medicines with iodine
Glucose, sorbitol and others
Complexes of minerals and vitamins
Preparations with seaweed

Look at the composition of the drug, if you are taking any of the above, then there is no need to worry.

Malfunction of the body

Green or dark green color of stool can occur with pathologies. If the color of the stool is accompanied by a high temperature, pain and cramping in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting, you need to consult a gastroenterologist for a diagnosis.

Diseases

Crohn's disease
Infectious infections
Internal bleeding
Food allergies
Stomach ulcer

Physiological reasons

They are not dangerous to the body and do not require special intervention.

The reasons for green stool in an adult without diarrhea may be the following:

Use of dietary supplements and other preparations containing seaweed.
Some vitamin-mineral complexes can contribute to the appearance of such coloring.
The use of medicines containing iodine.
Some of the sugars also increase the risk of green stool in adults.
Laxative teas and capsules of herbal origin.

This condition is most typical for vegetarians who include a large amount of plant foods in their diet.

What to do

If you have green stool, then start with nutrition, adjust it if this is the reason. If this is a symptom of a medicine you are taking, consult your doctor for advice.

If the problem is a disease, the doctor will prescribe tests to make a diagnosis:

Complete blood count with leukocytes
Analysis of urine
Blood test for biochemistry and electrolytes
Stool bacterial test
Abdominal ultrasound

Green stool can be caused by anything from a serious malfunction to eating food high in dyes or iron.

If you ate food that could stain your stool, wait 1-2 days, most likely everything will return to normal. If green stool is accompanied by other symptoms, pain, discharge of blood or mucus, or causing you discomfort, consult a doctor.

Green stool in an adult occurs for various reasons. Feces change color 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 an incorrect diet.

To understand the real cause of the pathologies, it is imperative to undergo all the necessary tests.

Reasons for green color

The main reason for the change in the usual color of stool is the fat-soluble compound bilirubin, which is part of the main structure of bile and penetrates into the gastrointestinal tract.

At a normal rate of passage of food through the intestinal tract, bilirubin begins to oxidize, which also pigments and gives the stool a brown color.

If there is a digestive disorder or processed food moves very quickly through the intestinal tract, then bilirubin does not have time to oxidize and, when emptying, it comes out natural, not oxidized, that is, the feces become green.

There are also many other 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 colorings;
sweets based on licorice syrup;
dietary supplements with iron;
medicines containing seaweed;
drugs that replace iodine;
sugar substitute.

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What does the color of stool mean?

Normally, stool should be brown in color due to the yellow pigment. The color range of feces completely depends on the concentration of 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 functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

If you eat foods that contain a lot of iron, your stool will turn green.

When taking carbonated water, jelly, pastry cream with an abundance of dyes, a similar situation will eventually occur.

Green stool in pregnant women

The reasons for changes in stool in pregnant women can be very different factors. One of them is women's diet, which directly affects the color and consistency of feces.

In order for the baby to develop well in the womb and for the woman to feel normal, it is necessary to monitor and consume all the necessary components.

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

Green foods may cause colored stools

Many pregnant women take vitamins to develop the fetus and support their body. Calcium and iron, which are included in vitamins, may not be completely absorbed. The remains are passed out along with the feces. This is another reason for green stool.

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

When processed food passes through deformed tissues, it merges with bile. As a result, we have black-green stool.

Doctors do not recommend taking antibacterial drugs during pregnancy. But there are times when they are simply necessary. In such a situation, a woman produces stool with a green tint.

After the course of treatment is completed, the color range of stool will return to normal.

Features of green feces in adults

Green stool in an adult may appear asymptomatically. In this case, a review of the diet and examination of the state of the intestinal microflora for dysbacteriosis is required. In addition to additional clinical signs, the disease causing the symptom can be recognized by the color and consistency of the stool:

Black-green stool appears due to infections in the intestines. The exception is vegetarians - darkening of their stool occurs due to a lack of a number of substances due to the exclusion of animal proteins from the diet.
Light green loose stools (diarrhea), accompanied by abdominal pain, may be a symptom of the development of a serious disease of the digestive tract, poisoning or other pathology. If an adult does not have any symptoms other than a change in stool color and consistency, green diarrhea could be caused by poor-quality or unusual food or medication.

When does stool turn green?

Doctors identify a number of diseases due to which stool is forced to change its normal color. The patient also develops other symptoms that are characteristic of certain problems.

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

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

Then leukocytes collect in the intestines, and the food is not digested, rots and begins to ferment. During this period, the stool changes color.

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Green stool with mucus

Green mucus in feces can be caused by many factors:

Various intestinal infections are often accompanied by mucus and a green tint in the stool.
Doctors distinguish three types of hemorrhoids, which form with a green tint and accumulate near the anus.
Tumor-like neoplasms that are located in the intestines can manifest themselves as yellow or green discharge through the anus with mucus.
Another cause of mucus is congenital intestinal fermentopathy or hereditary pathology in the structure of the upper intestines.
Lactic 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 medications.

If an infant has such a problem, the woman needs to reconsider her diet.

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Features of treatment for green feces

All details of the rehabilitation course are determined based on exactly what reasons influenced the change in the color of feces. However, there is a list of some measures that you can take on your own before the ambulance doctors arrive. In particular, the use of probiotics of the Bifikol and Lactobacterin categories is recommended. They are produced in the form of tablets, capsules, as well as powders and rectal suppositories. The presented medications perfectly contribute to the restoration of intestinal microflora, for example, after prolonged use of medicinal components. Quite often, if liquid green stool in an adult or child did not last long, this is what helps.

If the list of causes includes food poisoning that occurred to a person before the formation of green stool, attempts can be made to neutralize it through the use of activated carbon. It is necessary to understand that this is far from the most modern and effective of the means, but it is 99% harmless. Its applicable ratio must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Mostly they adhere to the following algorithm: one tablet per 10 kg of human body weight. Please note that:

if after 24 hours of such treatment, green loose stools in a child or adult do not go away, it is recommended to consult a specialist for a more specialized rehabilitation course;
if vomiting and nausea are diagnosed due to changes in the color and (or) consistency of stool, then Regidron can be used;
In some situations, changing your own diet will help bring the color and consistency of your feces back to normal.

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In addition to such conservative treatment, if loose stools have been detected in an adult or child, inpatient treatment may be recommended. It is also very important that the recovery course is complete. It is in this case that the likelihood of the reappearance of dark green feces will be minimized.