3 week old baby with green poop

What does baby poop color mean? Chart and guide

An infant’s poop changes color and consistency during their first few days, weeks, and months of life, and a wide range of colors is normal. Below, learn what changes to expect as a baby grows and how to recognize unhealthy baby poop.

In infants, the main reasons for changes in stool color are age, diet, and health. The poop of newborns is almost black, while older infants tend to have yellow or brown poop.

Breast milk and formula can also influence the color of a baby’s stools.

Red or white poop can indicate a health problem. Otherwise, a wide range of colors is normal. Anyone who suspects that a baby has diarrhea or constipation should seek medical advice.

Various factors can cause changes in the color of a baby’s stools. Common colors and their causes include:

Black

In newborns younger than 1 week, black is a healthy color for stool. After this time, however, it could indicate a health problem.

During the first 24 hours of life, a newborn will pass meconium. This is thick, black stool. It comprises cells, amniotic fluid, bile, and mucus that the baby ingested while in the womb. Meconium is sterile, so it usually does not smell.

Over the first few days of life, a newborn will continue to pass meconium. The color should gradually change from black to dark green, then yellow.

After 1 week of life, stool should no longer be black. If a black color persists, it is important to seek medical advice. This color could mean that there is some bleeding in the digestive system.

Yellow

This is a normal color of poop from a baby who drinks breast milk. Their poop tends to be dark yellow, and it may have small flecks in it.

These flecks come from breast milk and are harmless. People often describe this poop as “seedy.” The so-called seeds may resemble curds in cottage cheese, but they are yellow.

Brown or orange

This is a normal color of poop from a formula-fed baby.

When a baby drinks formula, their poop tends to be light brown or orange. It may be slightly darker and firmer than stool from a baby who drinks breast milk.

Green

Many babies occasionally have green poop. Possible causes include:

slow digestion, usually because the baby has eaten more than usual
green foods in the diet of the person producing breast milk
a cold or stomach bug
a food allergy or intolerance
antibiotics, either in the baby or in the person producing breast milk
treatment for jaundice

Some infants’ poop is naturally slightly green. If the baby is putting on weight and seems content, green poop is not necessarily a cause for concern.

Learn more about green poop in children.

Red

Red is not a healthy poop color.

Poop is usually red because there is blood in it. Parents or caregivers should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The baby may have a health problem, or they may have swallowed a small amount of blood. This could happen if the person breastfeeding them has cracked or bleeding nipples. Another cause of red poop is bleeding from the baby’s bottom.

White

White poop is uncommon, but white is not a healthy color for stool. It could indicate a liver problem.

Jaundice, for example, is highly common in newborns, affecting about 60% of full-term babies in their first few days of life. It usually goes away within the first 2 weeks.

Anyone who suspects that their baby still has jaundice after 14 days should check the color of their poop. Pale or white poop may suggest liver disease. Another sign to look for is urine that is very dark yellow or brown.

If the baby has white or pale stool, the doctor may test their bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is a compound that helps the body get rid of waste. There are two types of bilirubin, and if the levels of one type are too high, this can cause health problems.

Baby poop can also have a variety of textures and other features. Before an infant starts eating solid food, their poop is usually very soft.

Babies who drink breast milk may have quite runny or stringy poop, while formula-fed babies tend to have firmer, but not solid, poop.

Mucus in a baby’s stool is also common and rarely a sign of any health issue. However, if the baby shows other signs of unusual behavior or illness, it is important to speak with a doctor.

Dry or hard poop can mean that a baby is not drinking enough fluids or that they are ill.

After an infant starts to eat solid foods, hard poop can also be a sign of constipation. Babies commonly become constipated when they eat foods that their body cannot yet digest properly.

Very watery stool can result from diarrhea. A baby with diarrhea may also poop more often than usual or have a high temperature. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which is potentially serious for infants.

Every baby is different, and some poop more often than others. Many newborns poop after each feeding, though they tend to pass stool less frequently once they reach 6 weeks of age. Babies who drink breast milk may only poop once a week. A healthy frequency for formula-fed babies is once per day.

Learn more about constipation in babies.

As a baby grows, their poop often changes color. For example, as an infant starts to eat solid foods, what they eat may affect the color of their poop. Undigested food in stool can also cause a change in color.

Unusual colors, such as green, may not signal a health issue. Stool color may vary for a short time and then return to its regular shade.

White, red, or black are the exceptions — these colors can indicate a health problem.

Also, if a lot of mucus is present or it appears in stool on an ongoing basis, this could signal an illness.

Parents or caregivers should contact a doctor if they have any concerns regarding an infant’s health.

Newborns generally poop frequently, sometimes after every feed. Infants older than 3 weeks may poop anywhere between 8–12 times a day to less than once a day.

Healthy poop can be shades of yellow, orange, brown, or green, and the texture may be runny to fairly firm. It should not be hard or watery.

Babies often strain a little as they pass stool and may make noises or scrunch up their faces. This is normal. However, too much straining or discomfort when pooping could be a sign of constipation.

Poop color can be one way to keep track of a baby’s health.

Stool that is quite soft and earthy in color is generally healthy. However, red or white poop often signals a health issue that requires attention. Black stool from babies older than 1 week may also be a cause for concern.

Overall, as long as an infant is gaining weight and feeding as often as they need, a broad range of poop colors is healthy. Parents or caregivers should discuss any concerns with a doctor.

What does baby poop color mean? Chart and guide

In infants, the main reasons for changes in stool color are age, diet, and health. The poop of newborns is almost black, while older infants tend to have yellow or brown poop.

Breast milk and formula can also influence the color of a baby’s stools.

Red or white poop can indicate a health problem. Otherwise, a wide range of colors is normal. Anyone who suspects that a baby has diarrhea or constipation should seek medical advice.

Various factors can cause changes in the color of a baby’s stools. Common colors and their causes include:

Black

In newborns younger than 1 week, black is a healthy color for stool. After this time, however, it could indicate a health problem.

Over the first few days of life, a newborn will continue to pass meconium. The color should gradually change from black to dark green, then yellow.

After 1 week of life, stool should no longer be black. If a black color persists, it is important to seek medical advice. This color could mean that there is some bleeding in the digestive system.

Yellow

This is a normal color of poop from a baby who drinks breast milk. Their poop tends to be dark yellow, and it may have small flecks in it.

These flecks come from breast milk and are harmless. People often describe this poop as “seedy.” The so-called seeds may resemble curds in cottage cheese, but they are yellow.

Brown or orange

This is a normal color of poop from a formula-fed baby.

When a baby drinks formula, their poop tends to be light brown or orange. It may be slightly darker and firmer than stool from a baby who drinks breast milk.

Green

Many babies occasionally have green poop. Possible causes include:

slow digestion, usually because the baby has eaten more than usual
green foods in the diet of the person producing breast milk
a cold or stomach bug
a food allergy or intolerance
antibiotics, either in the baby or in the person producing breast milk
treatment for jaundice

Some infants’ poop is naturally slightly green. If the baby is putting on weight and seems content, green poop is not necessarily a cause for concern.

Learn more about green poop in children.

Red

Red is not a healthy poop color.

Poop is usually red because there is blood in it. Parents or caregivers should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

White

White poop is uncommon, but white is not a healthy color for stool. It could indicate a liver problem.

Jaundice, for example, is highly common in newborns, affecting about 60% of full-term babies in their first few days of life. It usually goes away within the first 2 weeks.

Baby poop can also have a variety of textures and other features. Before an infant starts eating solid food, their poop is usually very soft.

Babies who drink breast milk may have quite runny or stringy poop, while formula-fed babies tend to have firmer, but not solid, poop.

Mucus in a baby’s stool is also common and rarely a sign of any health issue. However, if the baby shows other signs of unusual behavior or illness, it is important to speak with a doctor.

Dry or hard poop can mean that a baby is not drinking enough fluids or that they are ill.

After an infant starts to eat solid foods, hard poop can also be a sign of constipation. Babies commonly become constipated when they eat foods that their body cannot yet digest properly.

Learn more about constipation in babies.

Unusual colors, such as green, may not signal a health issue. Stool color may vary for a short time and then return to its regular shade.

White, red, or black are the exceptions — these colors can indicate a health problem.

Also, if a lot of mucus is present or it appears in stool on an ongoing basis, this could signal an illness.

Parents or caregivers should contact a doctor if they have any concerns regarding an infant’s health.

Newborns generally poop frequently, sometimes after every feed. Infants older than 3 weeks may poop anywhere between 8–12 times a day to less than once a day.

Healthy poop can be shades of yellow, orange, brown, or green, and the texture may be runny to fairly firm. It should not be hard or watery.

Babies often strain a little as they pass stool and may make noises or scrunch up their faces. This is normal. However, too much straining or discomfort when pooping could be a sign of constipation.

Poop color can be one way to keep track of a baby’s health.

Overall, as long as an infant is gaining weight and feeding as often as they need, a broad range of poop colors is healthy. Parents or caregivers should discuss any concerns with a doctor.

What will the baby's stool tell about? – Moscow Regional Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention (MOTSOZiMP)

Young parents look at the contents of a baby diaper with interest and trepidation ... familiar picture? The chair often causes concern to the mother and is really able to tell about the health and ill health of the baby - you just need to be able to "read between the lines", that is, understand the signs of the body.

Let's get acquainted with the norm

While the baby lives and develops in the mother's womb, meconium accumulates in his intestines. It is a homogeneous tar-like mass of dark olive, almost black color, almost odorless. It consists of desquamated cells of the intestinal mucosa, amniotic fluid swallowed by the baby, etc. Normally, meconium begins to be excreted from the intestines of the crumbs after birth and therefore is also called primordial feces (sometimes meconium is excreted in utero: with an unfavorable course of childbirth or at the very end of pregnancy, oxygen starvation the fetus is the cause of premature emptying of the intestine, in this case, meconium enters the amniotic fluid and stains them green). The baby's stool is usually represented by meconium in the first two or three days, that is, until the mother has a large amount of milk. Sometimes it happens that after the bulk of the meconium has passed, say, during the first day, before the mother has milk, the baby may not have any stool at all. This is due to the fact that the colostrum, which the baby eats in the first few days, is absorbed by the body almost completely, so that there are no toxins left in the intestines - therefore, there is simply nothing to stand out.

After the mother has established active lactation, the baby's stool gradually becomes mature, usually passing through a transitional stage. A transitional stool is a stool that combines the features of the original feces and mature stools, it has a mushy texture, yellow-green color and a sour smell. Mature stools are distinguished by a pure yellow color, a homogeneous mushy consistency (it is often compared with thin sour cream), and the smell of sour milk. Its frequency is higher, the younger the child: in the first weeks after birth, bowel movements can occur almost after each feeding, that is, reach 5-8, and sometimes 10 times a day. Gradually, the stool is reduced to about 1-3 times a day, however, there is a rare variant of the norm, when mother's milk is so completely absorbed by the baby's body that almost no undigested residue accumulates in his intestines. In this case, bowel movements can occur once every few days, sometimes even once a week. This is due to the fact that only sufficient filling of the large intestine with waste (undigested food residues) is a signal for contractions of the intestinal walls, leading to emptying. That is why the intestines must first "accumulate" the remains, then to throw them out. As a rule, such a feature of the assimilation of mother's milk becomes apparent in babies no earlier than 1.5-3 months. Let's make a reservation: the frequency of stool 1 time in several days can be considered the norm only if three conditions are met: with completely natural feeding (that is, the baby does not receive anything other than mother's milk), the age is at least 1.5 months and there are no signs of ill health - pain and bloating in the abdomen, discomfort and difficulty in emptying the intestines, that is, when the baby eats well, gains weight correctly and nothing bothers him.

Formula-fed or mixed-fed stools may be indistinguishable from normal, mature breastfed stools, or may have a more "grown-up", putrid odor, thicker texture, and a darker, brownish color. Bowel emptying with mixed or artificial feeding should occur at least 1 time per day, everything else is considered constipation.

Now that we have become acquainted with the "ideal" course of the process, it is necessary to become familiar with possible deviations from it.

Greenery in the stool

It often happens that the “correct” type of stool is not established for a long time, and the stool, even against the background of active lactation in the mother, retains the features of the transition for a long time, that is, it has a clear greenish tint, sometimes mucus is also found in it. There are several reasons for this:

Malnutrition (so-called "hungry" stool). Often this is due to a lack of milk from the mother. Factors that make it difficult for a baby to “get” milk from the breast can also be flat and inverted nipples, tight breasts, especially after the first birth.
The predominance of fruits and vegetables in the diet of a nursing woman in comparison with other products, as well as the use by the mother of products containing synthetic additives: sausages, smoked meats, all types of canned food, industrial juices, dairy products with fruit and other aromatic fillers.
Inflammation of the intestinal mucosa in a child. A very common reason for this is the hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the fetus transferred during pregnancy and / or childbirth. This pathological condition affects many tissues in the body, including the intestinal mucosa, which then recovers for quite some time. In addition, inflammation of the intestinal mucosa can be caused by the influence of synthetic substances - flavors, dyes and preservatives and any artificial compounds present in the mother's diet that penetrate breast milk and directly affect the intestinal mucosa. Finally, a very common cause of intestinal inflammation is a violation of the normal intestinal microflora - in other words, intestinal dysbacteriosis (or dysbiosis), when there are few representatives of the normal microflora, they are partially replaced by the so-called opportunistic microbes, that is, pathogens that, under adverse conditions, can cause inflammation in the intestines. In this case, the mucous membrane suffers as a result of the influence of pathogens and their metabolic products. The risk of developing dysbacteriosis increases significantly if antibacterial drugs were prescribed to the mother and / or baby.

What to do? If there is greenery in the stool, the baby should first of all be excluded from malnutrition. Of course, in addition to stool disorders, other symptoms will also be noted: the baby may show dissatisfaction at the breast, if milk is poorly excreted from the nipple, he does not fall asleep after feeding and / or never withstands more than 1-1.5 hours between feedings, he reduced rate of weight gain and growth. With severe malnutrition, the number of urination may decrease in a child (normally it is at least 6-8 per day), urine may be more concentrated (normally it is almost colorless and has only a slight smell). Then you should act according to the situation: in case of insufficient lactation, switch to feeding “on demand”, or “at the first cry”, put the baby to the breast more often, allow him to stay at the breast for as long as he wants, give both breasts in one feeding, be sure breastfeed during the night, take drugs that stimulate lactation. If the cause of malnutrition lies in the irregular shape of the nipples, it may be worth using special nipple pads during feeding. In any case, if you suspect malnutrition of the crumbs, it is better to consult a pediatrician, as well as a breastfeeding consultant.

Next, you should carefully check your mother's diet. All products containing synthetic additives are subject to unconditional exclusion. It should not be forgotten that synthetic vitamin preparations taken by the mother (including those for pregnant and lactating women) can often become the cause of intestinal inflammation in infants, so their intake should also be excluded. You should also take care that the amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet does not prevail over other products (these "gifts of the earth" contain a large amount of acids, the excess of which in breast milk can cause inflammation of the mucous membrane in the intestines of the baby).

Now that we have created all the possible prerequisites for proper nutrition of the crumbs, it is worth being guided by his well-being. If the baby is well gaining in height and weight, he is not bothered by abdominal pain and allergic reactions, he is generally healthy and cheerful, is interested in the world around him according to his age, then you can ignore the only symptom - the green color of the stool: most likely, he will reflect the consequences of hypoxia or the presence of intestinal dysbacteriosis in the baby. In the human body, especially recently born, everything goes according to its own laws and at an individual speed. The colonization of the intestines with the “correct” microbes is a process of more than one day or even more than one week, therefore, even in perfectly healthy children, transitional stools can last up to a month or even more. If this does not prevent the baby from developing normally, you can not interfere in this process. All the same, a drug for dysbacteriosis has not yet been created better than mother's milk. The only thing that does not interfere with doing with prolonged signs of dysbacteriosis is to hand over mother's milk for sowing to make sure that it does not contain pathogenic microbes (if any are found, their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs is necessarily determined, then the mother is treated with the most effective antibiotics for this case - during this period, breastfeeding is usually stopped).

If the baby is not feeling well (for example, he suffers from intestinal colic, or skin allergic reactions are noted, or he is not gaining enough weight and height), then some tests should be taken - a coprogram and a fecal analysis for flora (or, as they say, for dysbacteriosis). The coprogram will show how the processes of digestion are going in the intestines, and can confirm the presence of inflammation of the mucosa (an increase in the number of leukocytes in the feces, a sharply acidic reaction, the presence of latent blood will indicate it). In the analysis of the flora, the main attention should be paid to the presence and / or number of pathogenic microorganisms - those that normally should not be found in the intestine or whose number should not exceed certain limits. The number of "friendly" microbes may be completely indicative if the feces were analyzed later than two hours after collection. Since this is exactly what happens in the vast majority of cases, the number of normal microbes in this analysis can be ignored. The detection of pathogenic (pathogenic) microbes (provided that the mother's milk has been analyzed and the mother has been treated if necessary) is the reason for prescribing special preparations to the baby. As a rule, treatment is carried out with phages - special viruses that destroy a certain type of pathogenic microbes and do not affect the flora as a whole. In some cases, antibacterial drugs may be prescribed, taking into account the sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria to them. Treatment is completed with drugs that help restore normal microflora.

White lumps in the stool Sometimes white lumps can be seen in the baby's stool, as if someone had mixed coarse cottage cheese into it. If this symptom is noted against the background of the normal physical development of the child (he is gaining weight well and growing), then it is evidence of some overeating: the body receives more nutrients than it needs to meet real needs (when the breast is offered not only to satisfy hunger , but also any sedation). There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, since the baby’s body is perfectly adapted to such a “bust”: it simply throws out the excess in the form of such undigested white lumps. At present, when the course is taken to feed "at the first cry", most healthy children have this feature of the stool at least from time to time. If this symptom is accompanied by a lack of weight or height, especially if this lag is aggravated, most likely, there is an enzymatic insufficiency of the digestive glands, which does not allow the incoming nutrients to be properly digested. In this case, a pediatrician or gastroenterologist may prescribe enzyme replacement therapy.

Lactase deficiency

Quite often, parents may encounter the fact that the baby's stool is thin, watery, sometimes foamy, has a sharper sour smell, and in some cases a changed color - mustard or greenish. On a cotton diaper, such feces leave a watering zone around it. Quite often the chair is allocated with the small portions even at an otkhozhdeniye of gases. The acid reaction of feces often causes persistent diaper rash. This picture is observed when there is a violation of the digestion of lactose - milk sugar, when for some reason the amount of lactose entering the intestines with mother's milk exceeds the amount of the lactase enzyme necessary for its digestion. This can be either with an excess of lactose in milk (hereditary predisposition of the mother, an excess of fresh milk and dairy products in her diet), or with reduced production of lactase by the digestive glands of the crumbs. Undigested carbohydrates "pull" a large amount of water into the intestinal lumen, which is why the stool has a liquefied watery character.

Often lactase deficiency is accompanied by intestinal dysbacteriosis: the acidic reaction of the intestinal contents prevents the colonization of the intestines with the correct flora, and the absence of the required amount of beneficial microorganisms, in turn, reduces the ability to digest carbohydrates. If this does not interfere with the development of the baby (as we have already said, its signs are a normal increase in height and weight, the absence of intestinal colic and persistent diaper rash), this condition can be left without treatment. In the vast majority of cases, lactase deficiency is a transient problem and disappears without a trace with age (by about 9-12 months the activity of the digestive glands increases so much that the baby's body easily begins to cope not only with fermented milk products, but also with fresh milk). Severe and lifelong disorders of lactase production are almost always genetically determined: this variant of a hereditary disease should be considered if the next of kin in the family suffer from lactase deficiency in adulthood.

To confirm the diagnosis, in addition to a coprological examination, a stool analysis for carbohydrates is performed. With confirmed lactase deficiency, the mother should first of all adjust her diet: exclude fresh milk, if this step is ineffective, significantly reduce the amount of fermented milk products (the exception is cheese, in which there is practically no milk sugar). If all of these measures fail, the doctor may prescribe lactase replacement therapy.

Constipation

Constipation is the absence of an independent stool for more than a day (of course, except for cases of complete assimilation of milk), as well as cases when bowel movements are difficult and accompanied by significant discomfort.

Constipation is rare during breastfeeding and has two main causes: maternal malnutrition and intestinal motility disorders, including anal sphincter spasm.

Improper nutrition of the mother is expressed by a tendency to foods rich in proteins and easily digestible carbohydrates, a lack of dietary fiber in the diet. Therefore, with manifestations of constipation in a baby, the mother should first of all normalize her diet: give preference to cereals (especially buckwheat, brown rice, oatmeal), whole grain bread, and include boiled vegetables in the diet. Some products (peaches, apricots, prunes, dried apricots, figs, boiled beets, fresh kefir) have pronounced laxative properties. In many cases, they will allow you to normalize not only your own stool, but also the baby's stool.

If these measures do not lead to anything, most likely there is a violation of intestinal motility (hypotension or, on the contrary, spasm) and / or spasm of the anal sphincter. With spasm of the sphincter, the passage of gases from the intestine is also difficult, so constipation is often accompanied by pronounced intestinal colic. Unfortunately, these conditions are almost impossible to deal with at home, as they are associated with a violation of the nervous regulation of smooth muscle tone and are the consequences of a birth injury or an unfavorable course of pregnancy. If they are accompanied by other symptoms that make you turn to a neurologist (irritability or, conversely, lethargy of the crumbs, sleep disturbances, meteorological dependence, muscle tone disorders, etc.), then the treatment prescribed by him for the ill-being of the central nervous system often helps to improve the situation. with constipation. If, in the absence of a stool, the baby is worried about pain and / or bloating in the abdomen, you can try to put a gas tube, which will gently stimulate the anus. With artificial feeding, constipation, unfortunately, is much more common, since the digestion of milk mixtures is a great difficulty for the infant's digestive system. In many cases, the situation can be normalized by replacing half of the baby's daily diet with a fermented milk mixture (gradually introducing acidic mixtures after 3 weeks of life). After 4-6 months of life, you can introduce a decoction and mashed prunes into the baby's diet, which help to cope with constipation in most cases.

Baby's green stool - Articles about baby food from pediatricians and MAMAKO experts

Nikulina Anastasia Anatolyevna

pediatrician The child's stool suddenly began to look completely different, instead of yellowish, it turned out to be green. What does it mean? Why does a baby have green stools? The reason is important. Greens in the diaper can be a completely normal and harmless manifestation of changes in the intestinal microflora or a symptom of the disease. Dark green, yellow-green, green stools with mucus, green diarrhea - when to worry and call the doctor, and when are green stools still in the "green zone"?

- Anastasia Anatolyevna, what kind of stool should a healthy baby have and what deviations are acceptable?

— Stool color differs between breastfed and formula-fed babies. If greenery appears in the stool, and its consistency and frequency remain normal, this is acceptable.

— What diseases can be a symptom of green stool in a newborn?

- Various diseases can provoke the appearance of green stools, primarily disorders in the baby's gastrointestinal tract and infections:

liver or gallbladder dysfunction;
diseases of the pancreas;
dysbacteriosis;
bacterial infections;
viral intestinal diseases;
helminthic infestation;
food allergy.

- Let's see what green stool means in common problem situations.

Situation 1. Green loose stools in an infant

- If diarrhea occurs suddenly, accompanied by vomiting, fever, intestinal colic - this is a disease. It can be caused by enteroviruses, pathogenic fungi, intestinal bacteria. For example, staphylococci and streptococci, entering the intestines of a child, begin intensive reproduction and change the acidic environment to an alkaline one. Therefore, the color of the stool changes.

Situation 2. Green feces with dysbacteriosis in infants

— Every baby faces dysbacteriosis: it occurs during the formation of the necessary microflora in the intestines. The unnaturally green color of the stool in dysbacteriosis is due to the content of dead leukocytes in the feces. They accumulate in the intestinal area and increase the inflammatory process. The stool turns green due to fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines. Other manifestations of dysbacteriosis include bloating, gas formation, and a skin rash. The child's stool will return to normal when the microflora is fully populated.

If the child is gaining weight well, nothing bothers him, then green stool is considered normal. Other symptoms will indicate indigestibility of food.

Green stool in a baby - causes

— What symptoms should a child see a doctor against the background of green stools?

- Decreased appetite in a baby, fever, colic, abdominal pain, bloody impurities and mucus in the stool, vomiting, rash on the body - such complaints should be an obligatory reason for a visit to a pediatrician. Upon examination, he will recommend a list of studies to make the correct diagnosis.

If a green stool appeared during a change in nutrition, but the child has an adequate weight gain, good health, he is active, his appetite is normal, then there is no reason for concern. This may be a one-time manifestation that will disappear without any complaints.

Green stool in a child - what tests to pass:

blood and urine test - the presence of inflammation in the body is determined;
coprogram - the presence of an inflammatory process in the intestine is assessed,
analysis of feces for dysbacteriosis - to assess the intestinal microflora;
biochemical blood test - checking the functioning of the digestive organs;
scraping for enterobiosis - confirms or excludes a parasitic disease;
Ultrasound examination of the digestive system - to assess the functioning of the pancreas and liver.

Watch the video in which Rabiyat Salakhiddinovna Zayniddinovna, a children's doctor, will tell you why the stool in infants on artificial and breastfeeding is green and in which cases parents have no reason to worry.

- How to treat green stools at home?

— The child should be treated by a specialist. Therapy depends on the cause of green impurities in the feces. In case of malnutrition, a change in the diet of mother and child, a decrease in the volume of complementary foods, and the selection of the right complementary foods are prescribed.

If an infection is suspected, the child must be hospitalized in a specialized department, because adequate assistance can only be provided there.

Treatment of intestinal infection and green stool:

drinking regime - to prevent dehydration;
sorbents - to remove pathogenic toxins from the body;
antibacterial drugs - are prescribed when a causative agent of a bacterial intestinal infection is detected.

Non-infectious causes of green stools in a child - what to do: