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Dark brown liquid stool in a child. White diarrhea in a child. Effect of drugs on stool changes

Diarrhea occurs frequently in childhood. There are several reasons for this. First of all, this is due to the fact that the digestive tract is not fully mature, and not enough enzymes are synthesized. In addition, for complete digestion of food, there must be a certain microflora in the intestines, but the baby does not yet have it.

The baby’s immunity is not sufficiently developed to resist pathogenic agents that can cause bowel disorders. Diarrhea in a child can occur as a result of stress, eating new foods, overeating, or changing the feeding regimen. But there may be more serious reasons that, if left untreated, lead to consequences.

Depending on the frequency of bowel movements, the color of the stool and its consistency, as well as the presence of inclusions (mucus, blood), the doctor may assume the presence of a certain pathology. If white diarrhea appears in a child, then you should not make a diagnosis yourself, but should consult a pediatrician.

Only after collecting anamnesis and taking tests will the doctor make the correct diagnosis. The occurrence of abnormal white diarrhea in children occurs quite rarely and, as a rule, these are children under the age of one year.

Frequent bowel movements are considered if bowel movements are more frequent than three times a day.

Why does loose white stool occur?

Diarrhea in a child can occur as a result of:

  • consumption of low-quality food products or after their insufficient heat treatment;
  • presence of helminths in the intestines;
  • drug therapy;
  • neglect of personal hygiene rules;
  • unbalanced diet;
  • insufficient secretion of lactose;
  • climate change.

One-time diarrhea in a small child is not a symptom of pathology. If loose white stools are not systemic in nature, and the child does not experience discomfort, is gaining weight, and has a good appetite, then there is no reason to worry.

The danger of diarrhea is that the contents of the intestines are quickly excreted without having time to absorb the necessary substances. The body also loses a lot of fluid, which results in varying degrees of dehydration.

If white diarrhea occurs repeatedly, then you need to consult a doctor to find out the cause. Several factors can discolor stool, including those that can be easily corrected and those that threaten complications.

Diet features

A child's diarrhea becomes white if there is a lot of calcium in the body or if there is an excess of carbohydrates in the menu. Since up to a year the child's diet consists mainly of breast milk or artificial formula, the color of the stool, in the case of accelerated peristalsis, acquires a light shade.

If a child’s white diarrhea occurs due to the listed factors (the child ate a lot of flour or white foods, the complementary feeding formula was changed), then it is not the color of the stool that should cause concern, but the fact that the stool has become liquid.

Liver pathology

Light-colored stool occurs when the liver is inflamed, since bilirubin is not excreted from the body. Many people know that with hepatitis the sclera and skin become yellowish, but this symptom appears much later. At the early stage of development of the pathology, the clinic is limited to changes in the color of urine (becomes dark) and feces.

Therefore, if a child has had white diarrhea for a long time, then you need to make an appointment with a hepatologist.


Delay in treating hepatitis can lead to significant liver damage

Pathology of the gallbladder or its ducts

Another reason for white stool in a child is bile duct obstruction. Bile gives stool a yellowish tint; if its amount is reduced, the stool becomes discolored. If the outflow of bile is obstructed, the stool acquires an extremely unpleasant odor.

This pathology leads to the formation of gallstones and pancreatitis. When the pancreas malfunctions, abdominal pain occurs, body temperature rises, vomiting appears, the pulse quickens, and the sweat glands produce more secretions.

Dehydration

White diarrhea can also be a symptom of dehydration. With this pathology, the child’s appearance and behavior change, saliva becomes viscous, the tongue is dry, urination is rare (and the urine has a strong odor), nausea and vomiting appear.

Dehydration can occur as a result of:

  • vomiting or prolonged diarrhea (for example, caused by food poisoning);
  • increased sweating (the room is very hot, the child is dressed warmly or moves a lot);
  • sunstroke or heatstroke (being in direct sunlight without a hat or in a very hot, unventilated room);
  • frequent urination.


In a young child, a loss of 10% of body weight due to dehydration can be fatal

Dehydration can lead to kidney failure, shock, and death. Therefore, if a small child has signs of a lack of fluid in the body, then it is necessary to urgently go to the hospital.

Disturbance of intestinal microflora

Stool becomes light and uncharacteristic in color due to dysbacteriosis, when the natural intestinal microflora is altered. This pathology can occur as a result of taking antibacterial drugs, since they destroy not only harmful, but also necessary microorganisms.

With dysbacteriosis, flatulence and abdominal pain often occur, stool contains a small amount of mucus and undigested food particles, diarrhea is replaced by constipation. Children lose their appetite, sleep deteriorates, they lose weight, and become restless. A fungus can settle in the intestines, leading to candidiasis.

Intestinal infection

White stool is also caused by rotavirus infection. The infection first manifests itself with vomiting and fever, then diarrhea of ​​an unnatural gray or white color occurs.

Intestinal viruses can cause sore throat and rhinitis. If a child has diarrhea with blood or mucus, this indicates that a bacterial infection is present. In this case, it is necessary to take antimicrobial drugs, which must be prescribed by a doctor.

White diarrhea in a child over three years old, although extremely rare, can still be provoked. This is an infectious disease affecting the small intestine. With pathology, muscle pain, severe thirst, rapid heartbeat, and gingivitis appear.

Some medications have a negative effect on the liver. When taking Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Tetracycline, Augmentin, Paracetamol, stool may become discolored. If during drug therapy a child develops white or yellow-white diarrhea, then you need to consult a doctor to change medications.


Infection is the most common cause of light-colored diarrhea in young children.

Why do white spots appear in stool?

White lumps in stool appear due to dietary habits. The child consumes a lot of milk, it curdles in the stomach, but does not have time to be digested in the intestines and comes out. This can happen if the baby is fed very rich milk.

If the body does not produce enough of the enzyme that breaks down lactose, then dairy products cannot be digested and come out in the form of cottage cheese. If there is lactose intolerance, then the child has foamy diarrhea.

The appearance of white lumps in the stool can also be a symptom of candidiasis. Fungi germinate on the intestinal mucosa, and gradually, mixing with feces, are excreted. With such a pathology, mucus can be seen in the feces.

What to do if your child has diarrhea?

When a child develops white, loose stools, the daily dose of fluid consumed must be increased, since diarrhea in young children causes rapid dehydration, which threatens the baby’s life. You need to drink often and in small portions.

In the first four hours, it is better for the child to refrain from eating so as not to overload the intestines (this does not apply to infants). Afterwards you need to stick to a diet. Mashed potatoes and porridge cooked in water (especially rice) are useful because they contain starch, which coats the walls of the stomach.

Fermented milk products containing bifidobacteria accelerate the restoration of normal intestinal microflora. If you have diarrhea, you should avoid all fried, fatty, hot and spicy foods, as well as foods that weaken and contain dietary fiber.


You need to stick to the diet for two weeks after recovery.

To eliminate diarrhea, the child needs to be given sorbents, for example, activated carbon or Smecta. These drugs remove toxins from the intestines, cleanse it of pathogenic microorganisms and envelop the walls, thereby protecting the digestive tract. Sorbents are sold in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.

We should not forget about basic hygiene rules. Wash your child's hands after each visit to the toilet and before eating. In order not to cause irritation to the perianal area, you need to abandon regular toilet paper, it is better to wash it under running water.

If acts of defecation are so frequent that the skin around the anus is irritated, it is recommended to lubricate it with sea buckthorn oil or a cream containing panthenol. This will speed up regeneration and protect the baby's skin.

When to Seek Medical Help

Sometimes white diarrhea does not cause discomfort to the child, he does not feel sick. But if it continues for more than three days, then you need to visit a pediatrician to find out and eliminate the cause.

The following symptoms require immediate medical attention:

  • urine has become dark in color;
  • abdominal pain;
  • there is nausea and vomiting;
  • the child drinks a lot, but the thirst remains;
  • the baby has become passive, lethargic, capricious;
  • no appetite;
  • sleeps poorly at night;
  • body temperature rose.

To detect the causes of white diarrhea in a child, laboratory tests are carried out. Clinical blood and stool tests and a coprogram are mandatory. To clarify the diagnosis, additional laboratory or instrumental tests will be required.

If a child has a single, loose, light-colored stool, while there are no other symptoms of the disease and the baby is active, then there is no need to worry. Even if nothing bothers the child, and diarrhea continues for three days, you need to consult a specialist.

Immediate hospitalization is required when additional vomiting, nausea, and confusion occur. Why the color of the child’s stool is changed and what the causes of diarrhea are, the doctor will be able to determine after conducting research.

People rarely pay attention to the sudden coloration of their stool. Green diarrhea in an adult can occur due to excessive consumption of carbonated drinks.

Confectionery products contain a lot of dyes, which can cause stool color to change. However, there are less harmless factors for the occurrence of diarrhea.

Why does diarrhea turn green?

Causes of green stool


There are several reasons for the formation of green stool:

  1. The presence of large amounts of dyes in food leads to a change in the color of the stool.
  2. Antibiotic treatment does not have the best effect on the intestinal microflora. Long-term use of medications destroys white blood cells. As a result, the patient develops feces of a characteristic color.
  3. People may experience green diarrhea after eating large amounts of vegetables. They stimulate the intestines and provoke the formation of such stool.
  4. The formation of green diarrhea in an adult can occur after infection with intestinal infections. Traces of blood and a large amount of mucus can be seen in the patient's stool.
  5. After eating spoiled food, toxins enter the human intestines, which change the color of the stool.
  6. A specific shade of green diarrhea in an adult can occur due to bleeding in the digestive organs. Blood enters the feces, which does not oxidize due to metabolic disorders. The stool of such a patient acquires the appropriate color.
  7. A change in the shade of diarrhea indicates liver damage. The breakdown of red blood cells occurs in the patient's body. The liver, trying to cleanse the blood, begins to produce bilirubin. This substance turns stool green.

Treatment of green diarrhea

Green diarrhea is often accompanied by abdominal pain and fever in adults. The causes of green diarrhea can only be determined after undergoing the necessary examinations.

With dysentery, a high temperature can persist for about 3 days. Experts identify streaks of blood and mucus in the patient’s stool. The patient suffers from intense diarrhea.

The treatment regimen chosen by the doctor depends on the severity of the disease. It is necessary to take medications to prevent dehydration. For this, saline solutions of Regidron and Hydrolyte are used.

During an exacerbation, the patient must adhere to a strict diet.

The patient is being treated in a hospital. To destroy harmful bacteria, the patient is recommended to take Furazolidone.

To eliminate stomach cramps, Papaverine and No-shpu are prescribed. The treatment process is completely controlled by the doctor. This way you can prevent the disease from becoming chronic.

As additional means, the patient is prescribed therapeutic microenemas. Herbal decoctions with astringent properties have healing properties for diarrhea.

The average duration of treatment for infectious diarrhea takes about 8-10 days.

Infection with rotavirus infection leads to the formation of greenish stool. In this case, it is necessary to undergo an examination to determine the type of causative agent of the disease.

The patient's diarrhea contains a large amount of foam. The patient suffers from general intoxication and weakness in the body. His temperature rises sharply. The diagnosis can be clarified after testing.

After infection with enterovirus infection, the patient is recommended to follow a gentle diet. To restore the intestinal microflora, the patient is prescribed probiotics (Linex, Lactobacterin).

Treatment with antibiotics in this case does not make sense. They have no effect on enteroviruses.

Green diarrhea in an adult in such a situation occurs quite intensely. The patient quickly loses fluid and microelements. To restore the water-salt balance, the patient needs to take saline solutions.

The appearance of green blood in diarrhea is considered quite an alarming signal. This may indicate internal bleeding has begun.

Thanks to sorbents, it is possible to accelerate the removal from the body of toxins that poison the body of a sick person (Smecta, Enterosgel).

You can normalize gastric secretion with the help of drugs such as Indomethacin and Diclofenac.

What is forbidden to eat if green diarrhea occurs?

The list of prohibited products includes:

  • fatty foods that make it difficult to digest food;
  • fermented milk products, as they enhance fermentation processes in the intestines;
  • semi-finished products containing flavorings and dyes;
  • fruit juices worsen the patient's condition with diarrhea;
  • eating salty foods and marinades irritates the intestinal walls;
  • During the treatment of diarrhea, you will have to give up spicy foods;
  • mushrooms create an increased burden on the digestive system weakened by disease;
  • the diet of a person suffering from diarrhea should not contain peas and beans;
  • It is forbidden to eat cabbage, radish and onions;
  • carbonated drinks complicate the patient’s treatment;
  • If you have diarrhea, you should not drink alcoholic beverages.

What foods should be included in the diet of a patient with diarrhea?

Nutrition for green diarrhea

The following products can be used to promote the recovery of a patient with indigestion:

  • crackers and biscuits, which can benefit patients of any age;
  • dried black bread will help you reduce the frequency of bowel movements;
  • jelly with the addition of blueberries eliminates the effects of intense diarrhea;
  • strong tea can speed up recovery if loose diarrhea occurs;
  • Instead of tea, you can use a decoction of bird cherry;
  • It is allowed to eat baked apples and bananas.

If your condition improves, you can include lean meats in your diet. It is advisable to pass it through a meat grinder. This will facilitate the process of digestion of food.

Porridge cooked in water has beneficial properties. You should not add butter and sugar to them. They have a beneficial effect on the patient’s condition and help normalize the functioning of the digestive system.

Traditional methods

  1. Oak bark is used to prepare the product. Pour a pinch of crushed bark into 300 ml of water. The solution should be boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. The decoction is especially effective in treating chronic forms of diarrhea.
  2. You can get rid of green diarrhea using an infusion of walnut kernels. Grind the inside in a mortar. Pour the mixture with 2 cups of boiling water and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes. Strain the cooled broth through a piece of gauze. The infusion should be taken 100 ml once a day.
  3. Wormwood helps patients with any form of diarrhea. If you do not have a ready-made tincture, you can prepare a decoction. To do this, add 1 tbsp to boiling water. spoon of wormwood leaves and boil for 5 minutes. It is advisable to take the decoction warm, without adding sugar to it.
  4. A decoction of St. John's wort can be beneficial for green diarrhea. It should be taken 100 ml 3 times a day before meals.
  5. Blueberries are a versatile berry that contains substances that can stop intense diarrhea. Blueberry jelly is not only tasty, but also healthy. With regular use of the drink, the patient's condition improves. Kissel protects the intestinal walls from harmful bacteria.

Each of us, at least once in our lives, was bothered by diarrhea, which could happen at the most inopportune moments. Diarrhea is a pathology that is accompanied by a critical disorder of the digestive system. The body copes with weaker types of disorders on its own, almost imperceptibly for a person, however, with diarrhea, the body attempts to get rid of the hostile environment within itself by completely cleansing the stomach and intestines. In this case, the stool has a liquid consistency and occurs more than 3 times a day. The presence of liquid is explained by problems with the absorption of liquid by the walls of the digestive system. That is why the masses of feces are diluted and quickly excreted.

Very often, one disorder is not enough, since nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness and abdominal pain may also be present. It should be remembered that diarrhea is a very dangerous disease, because due to impaired absorption of liquid by the walls of the digestive system, the body stops receiving water, vitamins, minerals and other vital components of food. Diarrhea can begin at any time and last from several days to several months. The form of diarrhea becomes acute if the diarrhea continues for more than two weeks, which implies a more detailed study and a change in treatment methods.

Causes of diarrhea, what can cause diarrhea?

The following factors can contribute to the appearance of loose stools:

1 Infection with viruses or bacteria can cause diarrhea;

2 Eating spoiled food that contains pathogenic bacterial flora;

3 The presence of a large number of stressful situations in life;

4 Significant overeating can cause diarrhea;

5 Certain form of allergy;

6 Chronic diseases sometimes cause symptoms such as diarrhea;

8 Individual intolerance to certain foods, or more precisely, their enzymes;

9 Insufficiently washed food products of plant origin;

10 Drinking water of poor quality can cause frequent loose stools;

11 Poor nutrition, when the body lacks certain elements;

12 Long-term use of antibiotics or other drugs that suppress microflora;

13 Various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis, colitis and others;

14 Poisoning with a large number of toxins, for example, poisonous mushrooms or chemicals;

15 Eating large amounts of fiber, for example, with vegetables and fruits, which in itself enhances the contractile function of the digestive system.

The main types of diarrhea, what kind of diarrhea can it be?

Each of the above causes of diarrhea causes one of the following types of diarrhea:

1 Exudative, occurring in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

2 Medication, typical when using drugs that disrupt the normal intestinal microflora;

3 Alimentary, which occurs when an allergy or malnutrition factor is present;

4 Infectious, appearing along with infection of the body by certain viruses;

5 Neurogenic;

6 Toxic, caused by the consumption of poisons and chemicals;

7 Dyspeptic, when there is enzyme deficiency.

It should be noted that the causes of diarrhea are determined by certain characteristics that are different for each type, by which one or another type of diarrhea can be identified. Thus, the consistency, smell, color, presence of impurities and others can be different.

Brown diarrhea, why brown diarrhea appears, reasons

It should be noted that the presence of dark brown stool indicates the predominant consumption of meat and its derivatives. The stool becomes light brown when eating a large amount of food of the vegetable or dairy categories. It is considered the most dangerous if an almost beige color of the stool has become noticeable, which indicates critical disturbances in the functioning of the liver.

Gray color diarrhea, causes of gray color diarrhea

If an adult begins to suffer from diarrhea, in which the stool takes on a gray tint, then it is necessary to sound the alarm immediately, as this may indicate dangerous liver diseases, in particular hepatitis and even cirrhosis. Also, the gray color of stool during diarrhea can signal pathologies of the bile ducts, their blockage, which can lead to a cessation of the supply of bile to the intestines. The following deviations may be prerequisites for the development of this type of event:

1 Problems with the gallbladder, in particular cholecystitis;

2 Presence of stones or cancer in the gallbladder, bile ducts or liver;

3 Various inflammatory phenomena similar to pancreatitis;

4 Crohn's disease.

In addition to the above, gray stool during diarrhea can be caused by eating large amounts of very fatty foods. Also, internal antimicrobial and antifungal drugs can affect the gray coloration of feces.

Red diarrhea, why red diarrhea may appear

The predominance of red color in liquid and even dense feces during diarrhea is the most dangerous phenomenon, since in this case it may indicate the presence of hidden internal bleeding, requiring immediate medical intervention. Most often this is a consequence of the destructive effects of the development of malignant tumors in the digestive organs. This can also be caused by a variety of acute inflammatory processes that disrupt the integrity of the mucous membranes. It should be noted that the intensity of the shade can determine the approximate source of bleeding or inflammation. Thus, the dark red, almost black color of the diarrhea indicates that there is damage to the right half of the colon, and if the stool is bright red, one can judge that there is damage to the lower region of the intestine. A weak red color can usually appear with hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

However, you should not sound the alarm prematurely, since the first thing you need to do is remember what you ate in the last 24 hours. If your diet included tomatoes, beets or calcium-containing preparations, you can calm down until your next trip to the toilet.

Green diarrhea, why do frequent loose green stools appear?

The green color of stool during diarrhea is characteristic of intestinal infections, which lead to an imbalance of the beneficial microflora of the digestive system relative to the harmful one. It should be noted that pathogenic microflora is constantly present in the body, but it is always suppressed by beneficial bacteria.

Green stools, green diarrhea, usually have a sour smell of rot and inclusions of mucus. A dangerous component of the causes of green diarrhea includes poor personal hygiene, previous treatment with antibiotic drugs, consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, problems with the liver, blood composition, and consumption of partially spoiled food. In the normal state of the body, the green color of feces can be acquired if a significant amount of greenery was eaten the day before, that is, spinach, lettuce, sorrel and others.

Black diarrhea, causes of black diarrhea

Black color or shade of loose stool is a sign of serious damage to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract with prolonged bleeding. The color of diarrhea turns black because before leaving the body through diarrhea, the blood has time to bake and become almost black. Also, the black color of stool during diarrhea predominates when there is significant damage to the upper areas of the intestine, while the consistency of the stool turns into tar-like with an incredibly foul odor. Very often, such diarrhea is accompanied by black vomit, which poses a huge threat to a person’s life, since this means that very significant blood loss is currently occurring, even leading to coma. However, there is also a safe side to black diarrhea, which is associated with the usual use of activated carbon, alcohol, bismuth-based medications and others.

White or pale color with diarrhea, causes

Typically, the white color with diarrhea appears due to the presence of bile insufficiency, which can be caused by the above-mentioned pathologies of the gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. Also, the pale color of diarrhea is influenced by the presence of malignant tumors of any of the organs involved in digestion. In this case, it is necessary to carefully monitor the regularity of diarrhea, since in cases of cancer, diarrhea becomes constant and almost chronic. In other cases, the symptoms of diarrhea with white or pale stools are short-term, in most cases one-time. This can be caused by poor diet, consumption of large amounts of rice, dairy products or alcohol abuse.

Orange diarrhea, causes of orange diarrhea

In many ways, the color of stool during diarrhea depends on what the person ate the day before. The orange color of diarrhea begins to predominate in the stool after eating foods containing large amounts of vitamin A. This vitamin is most found in plant foods that are orange, red or yellow in color. This could be pumpkin, carrots, cauliflower, apricot, melon, nectarine, plum and many others. It should be noted that an overdose of vitamin A in the body is fraught with nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic, and itching. The next reason for the appearance of orange stool during diarrhea may be taking medications that stop some gastrointestinal processes.

In addition to all of the above, the following body pathologies can be the causes of orange loose stools:

1 The presence of any inflammatory processes in the digestive system;

3 Hormonal imbalances;

4 Diseases related to bile drainage pathways;

5 Pulmonary diseases;

6 Cystitis in various forms;

8 It can often occur in women during menopause.

How to treat diarrhea, prevention and treatment of diarrhea, what to do to quickly get rid of loose stools?

Since diarrhea disrupts the absorption of water and other microelements through the walls of the digestive system, the first thing you should do is start drinking plenty of fluids. Otherwise, it threatens to dehydrate the body. Under no circumstances should you drink carbonated drinks or raw water for these purposes. Herbal infusions and herbal teas are most suitable for replenishing the water balance in the body, which, in addition to their main purpose, will help in the fight against the very cause of diarrhea.

For diarrhea, you also need to adhere to a delicate diet that does not contain anything heavy or difficult for the digestive system. It is advisable that the food be crushed as much as possible before direct consumption. In the first few hours after the first loose stool, it is better to avoid eating altogether and only drink plenty of fluids every half hour to prevent repeated urges and dehydration. Taking stool-fixing drugs is not recommended until the root cause of its occurrence has been established, since there is a possibility of not only useless treatment, but also causing even more harm to the body. You should consult a doctor immediately if loose stools do not pass within 24 hours, the temperature rises, or there is blood or mucus in the stool.

Typically, green diarrhea in an adult without a high fever is not a cause for serious concern.

It is often triggered by poor quality food or taking medications for a long time.

Why does this diarrhea occur? Is it possible to determine the cause and treat green diarrhea in an adult without hospitalization?

The answers to these questions can be found in this article.

Diagnosis and causes of appearance

A healthy adult intestine is able to digest a variety of foods, but under some circumstances it cannot cope with the usual foods.

Undigested food with digestive disorders can retain its color and turn the stool green.

Green diarrhea in an adult can be a symptom of a serious illness. To avoid serious consequences, it is better to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

A healthy adult's stool is brown in color. The stool has a well-formed structure without a foul odor.

Unhealthy food can cause stomach and intestinal upset and, as a result, diarrhea.

Usually, to remove the symptoms of mild indigestion, it is enough to take a sorbent. You can drink an infusion of chamomile, oak bark and go on a diet for a couple of days, excluding fatty, spicy, fried foods.

But if diarrhea continues for more than a day, then you should urgently consult a doctor to diagnose the causes and prescribe the correct treatment.

What kind of diarrhea happens? The color of an adult's stool can tell a lot about the state of the body.

White diarrhea indicates problems with the gallbladder and may be a symptom of possible hepatitis.

Diarrhea of ​​a yellow-brown or yellow hue occurs with intestinal upset due to nutritional problems and with rotavirus diseases.

The color of stool during diarrhea can also be black. This is already a reason for more serious concern. The fact is that this color of stool provokes blood, which enters the stomach.

There it ferments and turns the discharge black. This process does not always have time to end, then the stool becomes green.

The most common case with this symptom is ulcerative colitis. Black diarrhea also accompanies Crohn's disease. People with this symptom require urgent hospitalization.

The most popular cause of green diarrhea in adults is an intestinal infection.

Symptoms of the disease may include nausea, vomiting, fever and acute pain in the intestinal area.

Diarrhea is watery from yellow to dark brown and green. It has a fetid odor and sometimes contains mucus and blood.

Liquid diarrhea of ​​various shades of brown and green accompanies salmonellosis and dysentery.

With the above diseases, blood tests reveal an increased number of leukocytes, which are also found in the stool, coloring it green.

These diseases are dangerous for humans primarily because they lead to dehydration. All useful substances are washed out of the body.

A person becomes exhausted, loses vitality, and gets worse. An intestinal infection does not go away on its own. Drug treatment is mandatory and usually cannot be done without antibiotics.

By the way, long-term use of antibiotics after an infection can again provoke green diarrhea, but its nature will be different.

Antibiotics kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, those involved in digestion, causing dysbiosis.

Fermentation processes begin in the small intestine, undigested food stagnates and acquires a green tint.

In adults, dysbiosis is quite rare; the disease is more common in children. The cause of dysbiosis in children is intestinal microflora that is not fully formed.

It is more sensitive to various pathogenic stimuli. During its course, increased gas formation occurs, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea mixed with mucus appear.

Causes of dysbiosis in adults:

  • taking antibiotics for a long time;
  • previous intestinal infection;
  • allergy;
  • unhealthy diet;
  • decreased immunity.

Much less frequently, but more dangerously, green diarrhea occurs in chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatitis.

How to treat diarrhea without going to the hospital?

Therapy for dysbacteriosis with diarrhea can be called the easiest and does not create discomfort for the patient.

For its treatment, probiotics with different compositions of lacto- or bifidobacteria are prescribed. Doctors also recommend introducing a large amount of fermented milk products (kefir or yogurt) into the diet until the intestinal microflora improves.

The first aid for diarrhea with indigestion caused by food poisoning is to wash it out. You need to drink a lot of water before gagging and do this several times.

In case of green diarrhea, it is important to quickly take active sorbents. They bind and promote the elimination of toxic substances, preventing their absorption into the blood and further intoxication of the body.

Be sure to drink activated carbon or preparations based on white clay (kaolin). Calcium carbonate and gluconate have a positive effect on the poisoned organism.

Bismuth salts are very quickly absorbed into the intestines and have a positive effect on the compaction of stool, relieving diarrhea.

“Attapulgite”, “Cholestyramine” are drugs that are produced in tablets. “Smecta” and “Lignin” absorb and remove toxins from the intestines well.

One of the main elements of therapy for diarrhea is taking specific antiseptics. They act in the intestines and kill pathogenic microflora, but, unfortunately, have no effect on viruses.

In case of severe diarrhea, it is important to replenish the loss of body fluid in a timely manner. And not so much with water, but with compotes and decoctions.

It is good to purchase special pharmaceutical solutions for rehydration. They contain useful vitamins and microelements and help restore water-salt balance.

You can make this solution yourself at home. It contains soda, salt, calcium chloride and sugar.

In the case when green diarrhea in a person is a symptom of an intestinal infection and it lasts longer than 24 hours, the patient needs urgent hospitalization.

Gentle therapy in the form of diet and probiotics will not help. In this case, it is impossible to do without serious drug treatment.

The first step is to take active sorbents. They bind and promote the elimination of toxic substances.

Along with taking antibiotics, they use lacto and bifidobacteria preparations, diet, and rehydrate the body.

Inpatient treatment lasts from five to seven days, depending on the severity and neglect of the case.

Gastric lavage during diarrhea is done in any case, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since the onset of the disease.

After all, toxic substances are not eliminated, but only accumulate in the patient’s gastrointestinal tract.

They are absorbed into the blood and cause general intoxication, causing fever and loss of strength.

Traditional methods of treating diarrhea

In addition to traditional drug treatment, there is traditional medicine, which has many effective means of combating diarrhea:

  • rice cooked in the form of liquid jelly has a light structure, does not overload the intestines and creates a binding effect. Kissel from summer berries and any infusions with starch have a similar effect on the course of diarrhea;
  • black peppercorns are an urgent remedy for uncomplicated diarrhea. One has only to drink ten peas with water and the diarrhea will disappear;
  • strong, sweet black tea slightly soothes the stomach and, due to its tannin content, has an astringent effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
  • medicinal herbs: sage, elderberry, chamomile, wormwood, mint soothe irritated intestinal walls and help restore normal gastric motility. Infusions of fennel or dill relieve bloating and reduce gas formation in the body.

It is better to use these remedies in milder cases of diarrhea, when there is no suspicion of acute poisoning, infection or exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Caution should be exercised when treating children aged 6-12 years with herbs. And under 6 years of age, you should not resort to prescribing any therapy for children, not just non-traditional ones.

The most important thing when treating green diarrhea in both adults and children is to remember that it is very difficult to independently establish the cause and determine the nature of the disease.

To do this, you need to pass certain tests and undergo an examination. After finding out the reason why green diarrhea occurred, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Most people do not pay attention to the color of stool. The diet affects the shades and consistency of discharge. But why can green diarrhea appear in an adult? Sometimes there is no reason to worry, but this phenomenon can be a symptom of serious pathologies that should be paid attention to.

Normally, healthy people have bowel movements up to 2 times a day. The color change is associated with the foods in the diet. The stool may be green, yellow, or even black. If the color change is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, pain and other unpleasant symptoms, there is no cause for alarm.

The following symptoms may be a reason to consult a doctor:

  • green diarrhea with mucus or blood;
  • increased body temperature;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • sharp cramping pain.

The causes of changes in the color of stool, accompanied by such phenomena, are a sign of serious pathological changes within the gastrointestinal tract and require medical intervention.

Why does green diarrhea appear?

Green diarrhea in an adult appears for the following reasons:

  1. Infection.
  2. Diet.
  3. Bleeding.

The reasons that cause green stool are varied. Some of them require urgent assistance.

Infectious diseases

The infection often causes loose stools in adults. A variety of bacteria and viruses destroy the intestinal mucosa, disrupting normal digestion. As a result, rotting processes are started. There is diarrhea of ​​yellow-green, gray and even black color.

Greenish feces appear due to infection with salmonella, amoebas and dysentery bacillus. in an adult, this is a clear symptom of an infectious disease. The condition is accompanied by vomiting, dehydration and severe weakness.

Each of us, at least once in our lives, was bothered by diarrhea, which could happen at the most inopportune moments. Diarrhea is a pathology that is accompanied by a critical disorder of the digestive system. The body copes with weaker types of disorders on its own, almost imperceptibly for a person, however, with diarrhea, the body attempts to get rid of the hostile environment within itself by completely cleansing the stomach and intestines. In this case, the stool has a liquid consistency and occurs more than 3 times a day. The presence of liquid is explained by problems with the absorption of liquid by the walls of the digestive system. That is why the masses of feces are diluted and quickly excreted.

Very often, one disorder is not enough, since nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness and abdominal pain may also be present. It should be remembered that diarrhea is a very dangerous disease, because due to impaired absorption of liquid by the walls of the digestive system, the body stops receiving water, vitamins, minerals and other vital components of food. Diarrhea can begin at any time and last from several days to several months. The form of diarrhea becomes acute if the diarrhea continues for more than two weeks, which implies a more detailed study and a change in treatment methods.

Causes of diarrhea, what can cause diarrhea?

The following factors can contribute to the appearance of loose stools:

1 Infection with viruses or bacteria can cause diarrhea;

2 Eating spoiled food that contains pathogenic bacterial flora;

3 The presence of a large number of stressful situations in life;

4 Significant overeating can cause diarrhea;

5 Certain form of allergy;

6 Chronic diseases sometimes cause symptoms such as diarrhea;

8 Individual intolerance to certain foods, or more precisely, their enzymes;

9 Insufficiently washed food products of plant origin;

10 Drinking water of poor quality can cause frequent loose stools;

11 Poor nutrition, when the body lacks certain elements;

12 Long-term use of antibiotics or other drugs that suppress microflora;

13 Various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis, colitis and others;

14 Poisoning with a large number of toxins, for example, poisonous mushrooms or chemicals;

15 Eating large amounts of fiber, for example, with vegetables and fruits, which in itself enhances the contractile function of the digestive system.

The main types of diarrhea, what kind of diarrhea can it be?

Each of the above causes of diarrhea causes one of the following types of diarrhea:

1 Exudative, occurring in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

2 Medication, typical when using drugs that disrupt the normal intestinal microflora;

3 Alimentary, which occurs when an allergy or malnutrition factor is present;

4 Infectious, appearing along with infection of the body by certain viruses;

5 Neurogenic;

6 Toxic, caused by the consumption of poisons and chemicals;

7 Dyspeptic, when there is enzyme deficiency.

It should be noted that the causes of diarrhea are determined by certain characteristics that are different for each type, by which one or another type of diarrhea can be identified. Thus, the consistency, smell, color, presence of impurities and others can be different.

Brown diarrhea, why brown diarrhea appears, reasons

It should be noted that the presence of dark brown stool indicates the predominant consumption of meat and its derivatives. The stool becomes light brown when eating a large amount of food of the vegetable or dairy categories. It is considered the most dangerous if an almost beige color of the stool has become noticeable, which indicates critical disturbances in the functioning of the liver.

Gray color diarrhea, causes of gray color diarrhea

If an adult begins to suffer from diarrhea, in which the stool takes on a gray tint, then it is necessary to sound the alarm immediately, as this may indicate dangerous liver diseases, in particular hepatitis and even cirrhosis. Also, the gray color of stool during diarrhea can signal pathologies of the bile ducts, their blockage, which can lead to a cessation of the supply of bile to the intestines. The following deviations may be prerequisites for the development of this type of event:

1 Problems with the gallbladder, in particular cholecystitis;

2 Presence of stones or cancer in the gallbladder, bile ducts or liver;

3 Various inflammatory phenomena similar to pancreatitis;

4 Crohn's disease.

In addition to the above, gray stool during diarrhea can be caused by eating large amounts of very fatty foods. Also, internal antimicrobial and antifungal drugs can affect the gray coloration of feces.

Red diarrhea, why red diarrhea may appear

The predominance of red color in liquid and even dense feces during diarrhea is the most dangerous phenomenon, since in this case it may indicate the presence of hidden internal bleeding, requiring immediate medical intervention. Most often this is a consequence of the destructive effects of the development of malignant tumors in the digestive organs. This can also be caused by a variety of acute inflammatory processes that disrupt the integrity of the mucous membranes. It should be noted that the intensity of the shade can determine the approximate source of bleeding or inflammation. Thus, the dark red, almost black color of the diarrhea indicates that there is damage to the right half of the colon, and if the stool is bright red, one can judge that there is damage to the lower region of the intestine. A weak red color can usually appear with hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

However, you should not sound the alarm prematurely, since the first thing you need to do is remember what you ate in the last 24 hours. If your diet included tomatoes, beets or calcium-containing preparations, you can calm down until your next trip to the toilet.

Green diarrhea, why do frequent loose green stools appear?

The green color of stool during diarrhea is characteristic of intestinal infections, which lead to an imbalance of the beneficial microflora of the digestive system relative to the harmful one. It should be noted that pathogenic microflora is constantly present in the body, but it is always suppressed by beneficial bacteria.

Green stools, green diarrhea, usually have a sour smell of rot and inclusions of mucus. A dangerous component of the causes of green diarrhea includes poor personal hygiene, previous treatment with antibiotic drugs, consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, problems with the liver, blood composition, and consumption of partially spoiled food. In the normal state of the body, the green color of feces can be acquired if a significant amount of greenery was eaten the day before, that is, spinach, lettuce, sorrel and others.

Black diarrhea, causes of black diarrhea

Black color or shade of loose stool is a sign of serious damage to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract with prolonged bleeding. The color of diarrhea turns black because before leaving the body through diarrhea, the blood has time to bake and become almost black. Also, the black color of stool during diarrhea predominates when there is significant damage to the upper areas of the intestine, while the consistency of the stool turns into tar-like with an incredibly foul odor. Very often, such diarrhea is accompanied by black vomit, which poses a huge threat to a person’s life, since this means that very significant blood loss is currently occurring, even leading to coma. However, there is also a safe side to black diarrhea, which is associated with the usual use of activated carbon, alcohol, bismuth-based medications and others.

White or pale color with diarrhea, causes

Typically, the white color with diarrhea appears due to the presence of bile insufficiency, which can be caused by the above-mentioned pathologies of the gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. Also, the pale color of diarrhea is influenced by the presence of malignant tumors of any of the organs involved in digestion. In this case, it is necessary to carefully monitor the regularity of diarrhea, since in cases of cancer, diarrhea becomes constant and almost chronic. In other cases, the symptoms of diarrhea with white or pale stools are short-term, in most cases one-time. This can be caused by poor diet, consumption of large amounts of rice, dairy products or alcohol abuse.

Orange diarrhea, causes of orange diarrhea

In many ways, the color of stool during diarrhea depends on what the person ate the day before. The orange color of diarrhea begins to predominate in the stool after eating foods containing large amounts of vitamin A. This vitamin is most found in plant foods that are orange, red or yellow in color. This could be pumpkin, carrots, cauliflower, apricot, melon, nectarine, plum and many others. It should be noted that an overdose of vitamin A in the body is fraught with nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic, and itching. The next reason for the appearance of orange stool during diarrhea may be taking medications that stop some gastrointestinal processes.

In addition to all of the above, the following body pathologies can be the causes of orange loose stools:

1 The presence of any inflammatory processes in the digestive system;

3 Hormonal imbalances;

4 Diseases related to bile drainage pathways;

5 Pulmonary diseases;

6 Cystitis in various forms;

8 It can often occur in women during menopause.

How to treat diarrhea, prevention and treatment of diarrhea, what to do to quickly get rid of loose stools?

Since diarrhea disrupts the absorption of water and other microelements through the walls of the digestive system, the first thing you should do is start drinking plenty of fluids. Otherwise, it threatens to dehydrate the body. Under no circumstances should you drink carbonated drinks or raw water for these purposes. Herbal infusions and herbal teas are most suitable for replenishing the water balance in the body, which, in addition to their main purpose, will help in the fight against the very cause of diarrhea.

For diarrhea, you also need to adhere to a delicate diet that does not contain anything heavy or difficult for the digestive system. It is advisable that the food be crushed as much as possible before direct consumption. In the first few hours after the first loose stool, it is better to avoid eating altogether and only drink plenty of fluids every half hour to prevent repeated urges and dehydration. Taking stool-fixing drugs is not recommended until the root cause of its occurrence has been established, since there is a possibility of not only useless treatment, but also causing even more harm to the body. You should consult a doctor immediately if loose stools do not pass within 24 hours, the temperature rises, or there is blood or mucus in the stool.