Green mucousy poop infant
Colored Stool and Diarrhea in Infants
Find out what color changes, diarrhea, and frequency may say about your baby's health.
Written by Lisa Zamosky
Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 31, 2022
New babies don't come with an instruction manual, but they do leave clues about the state of their health. Hiding in a baby's diaper is a wealth of information, and many new parents understandably find themselves spending a lot of time and energy trying to decode the messages left for them -- the amount, the color, the consistency -- and what it all means.
So what does the content of a baby's diaper say about their health? And when should you be worried about what's in the diaper? Here's expert advice.
How Much Poop Is Normal?
"A lot," says Kenneth Wible, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri and pediatrics medical director at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo.
"It depends somewhat on diet," Wible says. "Babies who are breastfed generally have more and thinner stools than babies who are formula fed. But five to six stools per day is pretty normal."
While it's a good idea to expect a lot of poop in the early stages of a baby's life, the frequency of bowel movements among children varies widely, notes Barry Steinmetz, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif.
"Some kids will go up to seven or eight times a day," he says. Other infants may go every other day.
Many parents become concerned when an infant's bowel movements suddenly drop in frequency. But particularly for breastfed babies, this is a common occurrence as a mother's milk becomes more mature.
"The mother's milk is so well balanced and the baby's digestive processes are so good, there's not a lot of residue," Wible says.
The key, Steinmetz says, is that the stool is soft and the child is eating well and gaining weight.
Consistency
There's often a large amount of liquid content in babies' stool because before six months, doctors recommend that babies get their nutrients exclusively from milk.
"It kind of looks as if you took a jar of mustard and mixed it with cottage cheese, especially for formula-fed babies," Wible says. "With breastfed babies, there is a lot more liquid and the milk curds in the stool are a lot finer and smaller."
Is It Constipation?
It's not simply the absence of stool but stool that is formed or looks like pellets that should tip you off that your child may be constipated.
Very firm or pebble-like stools require a call to the doctor. This can sometimes indicate that the child is dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration might include decreased tears, lack of saliva, and a sunken look in the eyes and the infant's soft spot. The soft spot, also called anterior fontanelle, is a space between the bones on the top of an infant’s skull. The soft spot can be present until about 2 years of age.
Most parents are concerned that the pained, red-faced look their baby gets while pooping means straining and constipation. That's usually not the case.
"A baby doesn't know how to ... contract the abdominal musculature and push," Steinmetz explains. "Plus, they don't have gravity helping them like when you sit on a commode."
By the age of 1, most kids have it worked out and lose the tortured look.
Signs of Diarrhea
When it comes to diarrhea, parents sometimes have a hard time knowing what they're dealing with because infants' stools are naturally loose. But looking for subtle changes in a baby's poop is often a waste of time, Steinmetz says.
"Blow-out diarrhea that goes up the back is not that subtle," he says. And it's just the kind of outburst that is common when diarrhea strikes very young children.
Call your doctor right away if there is diarrhea, especially with newborns, Wible advises. It can signal something more serious, such as a virus or other systemic illness dangerous for very young children.
What Does Color Mean?
Baby poop changes color and it's a constant concern for parents. But for the most part, it needn't be.
"Color has not much to do with anything except the transit time of food [in the baby's system] and the bile coming through the GI tract," Steinmetz says.
The poop color timeline works like this: Yellow means milk is moving through the baby's system quickly. When the process slows down, poop becomes green -- and can unnecessarily worry parents. Even slower, poop turns brown.
"That's why infants often have yellow stools, because they have a very fast transit time," Steinmetz says.
Colors of Concern
The main colors that should concern a parent and prompt an immediate call to the pediatrician are white, red, and black.
White poop can indicate an infection or a problem with bile, which is a fluid produced by the liver that aids digestion. Black is a sign of digested blood in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and red indicates fresh blood that could be coming from the colon or rectum.
Sometimes, however, breastfeeding newborns whose mothers' breast skin is cracking swallow their mother's blood while feeding, which comes through their stool, Wible says.
That's no cause for alarm, and your doctor may be able to perform a test to tell who the blood belongs to.
Occasionally, green, mucus-like poop can be caused by a virus commonly seen in babies. If your child has green poop and symptoms of diarrhea, fever, or irritability, call your pediatrician.
Solid Food and the Changes They Bring
When your child begins eating solid food, expect a firmer consistency and a change in the color of your child's poop, notes Wible.
"How it will change is unpredictable, but it will change," he says.
In general, it's a good idea to pay attention to the contents of your baby's diaper, as long as you keep it in perspective, Steinmetz says. Typical signs of an issue of real concern -- blood in the stool, vomiting blood, abdominal distention -- are hard to miss.
Still, if an issue is keeping you up at night, don't hesitate to call your doctor's office.
Breastfed, Teething, Pictures, and More
Overview
Because their diet is liquid in the first months of life, a baby has stool that doesn’t resemble an older child’s or adult’s. Sometimes it’s hard to know if your baby’s stool is normal in appearance or something to call the doctor about.
One example is the presence of mucus. Sometimes the mucus is part of a normal process. Other times, it can be a sign of an underlying infection or medical condition.
Read on to learn when a parent should be concerned about mucus in baby poop.
What are the causes of mucus in baby poop?
Mucus in baby poop isn’t always cause for concern. The intestines naturally secrete mucus to help stool pass more effectively through the intestines.
Sometimes, a baby may pass some of this mucus in their stool without any underlying condition. The mucus can look like slimy streaks or strings. Sometimes the mucus is jelly-like in appearance.
Babies who are breastfed may be more likely to have mucus in their poop because their stool passes through their intestines relatively quickly.
However, sometimes there are medical conditions that can cause mucus in stool, including infections, allergies, and more.
Infection
A bacterial or viral infection (stomach flu) can irritate the intestines and lead to inflammation. The result is increased mucus in baby’s poop.
Additional symptoms that could indicate infection include fever and irritability. Babies with an infection may also have green stool. Some blood may even be present in cases of extreme irritation.
With a bacterial infection, there is often blood in the stool along with mucus.
Food allergy
Food allergies can cause inflammation. Inflammation causes increased mucus secretion, which leads to more mucus in a baby’s stool. These symptoms will usually appear within a baby’s first two months of life. Signs a baby may have a food allergy include:
- being fussy and hard to console
- vomiting
- bloody stool
Teething
Teething babies aren’t only cranky — symptoms may include mucus in their stool. The presence of excess saliva and the pain from teething can irritate the intestines, resulting in excess mucus in the stool.
Cystic fibrosis
Babies with cystic fibrosis may have increased amounts of mucus as a side effect of this condition. The mucus tends to be foul-smelling and greasy in appearance. A child may also have poor weight gain and delayed growth related to cystic fibrosis.
The condition also causes excess mucus to develop in organs, especially the lungs, pancreas, liver, and intestines.
Because cystic fibrosis can interfere with a child’s digestion, a doctor may recommend specific enzymes for treatment. If a baby’s weight gain is very poor, sometimes a feeding tube is used to provide nutrition.
Intussusception
Intussusception is a serious medical condition that can occur when an infant’s intestines slide into each other, a process known as “telescoping.” This is a medical emergency because blood flow is lost to the intestine and stool becomes blocked.
As a result, a baby may only be able to pass mucus that has been excreted below the blocked area. The stool often resembles dark red jelly. Other symptoms of intussusception include:
- abdominal pain that comes and goes
- vomiting
- blood in the stool
- lethargy or extreme sleepiness
When should you see a doctor about mucus in baby poop?
The condition isn’t usually cause for concern as long as your baby is behaving normally and doesn’t have any signs of infection or illness, such as:
- inconsolable fussiness
- fever
- blood in the stool
If there are signs of infection or illness along with mucus in the baby’s poop, you should contact your child’s doctor.
Also contact your child’s doctor if your baby is refusing fluids or drinking minimal fluids and starts to appear dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include not crying tears or having few wet diapers.
You should continue to monitor your child’s stool. If your baby is continually having stool that contains mucus and you’re concerned, contact your child’s pediatrician.
If you notice red, bloodlike tinges in your baby’s poop or your baby is acting ill for no known reason, call your child’s doctor. The doctor can direct a parent to the emergency room if necessary.
What are the treatments for mucus in baby poop?
Treatments for mucus in baby’s poop depends on the underlying cause.
For example, a doctor would recommend supportive treatment for a baby with a viral stomach infection. This can include fluids to prevent dehydration and medications to keep fever down.
If allergies are the underlying cause of mucus in baby poop, a doctor may recommend an elimination diet for the mom if she is breastfeeding. Examples include eliminating cow’s milk from your diet.
If a baby is formula-fed, a doctor may recommend switching formulas to a milk-free (also called “elemental”) option.
If intussusception is the underlying cause of mucus in baby poop, a doctor will likely recommend surgery to correct the intestinal overlap. In some instances, they may be able to use a barium or air enema to promote the “straightening out” of the intestines.
Whatever the approach to intussusception, prompt treatment is vital to prevent loss of blood flow to the intestines. Otherwise, an infant is at greater risk for bowel perforation (hole in the intestine).
What is the outlook?
In most instances, mucus in baby poop isn’t a cause for concern. It can be a normal by-product of digestion, especially given the fast digestion that babies usually have.
Parents are likely to notice that a baby has mucus in stool one day, then doesn’t on another. The symptoms will likely go away as a baby gets older and solid foods are introduced. At this time, stool starts to become more formed.
However, if a baby is acting ill, has blood in their stool, or is having prolonged poor feeding episodes, a parent should seek medical attention for their little one.
Green feces - causes, what diseases it occurs in, diagnosis and treatment
IMPORTANT!
The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.
Green feces: causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.
Definition
Greenish stool in people of any age can be both a normal variant and evidence of serious changes in the body.
Feces is a waste product of the body, formed in the large intestine, consists of 80% water and 20% solids. The dry residue includes undigested food (40%), almost completely non-viable intestinal microflora (30%), secretions of the glands of the intestinal wall (mucus) and dead cells of the intestinal mucosa (30%).
The composition and nature of feces are determined by nutrition, the state of the digestive system, intestinal microflora, and the presence of concomitant diseases.
The composition of the normal intestinal microflora includes a large number of bifido- and lactobacilli, E. coli, bacteroids. They are useful because they perform a protective function and inhibit the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Enterobacteria, enterococci, clostridia, staphylococci, streptococci, fungi of the genus Candida are present in a smaller amount in the intestine. With uncontrolled reproduction, they can cause unpleasant symptoms.
Varieties of green stool
Green stool occurs in normal and pathological conditions. With the pathological nature of the stool, the general well-being of the patient changes, the frequency of defecation, the consistency of the stool, its smell, impurities of mucus, pus, and blood may appear.
Possible causes of green stools
The most common cause of green stools without changing its other characteristics is the consumption of green plant foods - spinach, sorrel, lettuce, etc. , as well as foods containing green food coloring. In this case, the color of feces normalizes on its own within one to two days after stopping the use of these products.
Another normal variant is meconium, the first feces of a newborn. It is viscous, sticky, dark green in color, consists of dead cells of the intestinal wall, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile.
The intestines of a newborn baby are gradually colonized by microorganisms. At the same time, the composition of the microflora of a breastfed baby, despite the predominance of lacto- and bifidobacteria, is more variable than that of a formula-fed baby.
Some bacteria can affect the color of stool and turn it green. With good health, appetite and the absence of other symptoms, these phenomena are considered a variant of the norm.
Persistent disturbance of the composition of the intestinal microflora (dysbacteriosis) is considered a pathological condition that affects the color of feces.
When taking tableted and encapsulated iron preparations, excess iron is excreted naturally, the feces acquire a dark, greenish, up to black tint.
Kal completely restores its characteristics after the end of the course of medication.
Possible causes of green stools include infectious and inflammatory diseases of the stomach, small and large intestines.
Diseases that cause feces to turn green
Lactase deficiency is a congenital or acquired condition in which the activity of the lactase enzyme and the ability to digest lactose are absent or reduced. Congenital lactase deficiency begins in early childhood and persists throughout life; transient deficiency develops against the background of immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a newborn (occurs at 3-6 weeks of life and decreases as the child grows and develops). Secondary lactase deficiency is a consequence of a previous disease, accompanied by damage to the cells of the intestinal wall.
The main symptoms of lactase deficiency are severe bloating, intestinal colic, loose frothy stools after drinking breast or whole cow's milk.
With insufficient processing of lactose in the gastrointestinal tract, the processes of fermentation and decay begin, which cannot but affect the composition of the microflora. With a pronounced imbalance of microorganisms, green stools may appear.
Violation of the ratio of normal and pathogenic intestinal microflora is called dysbacteriosis . This condition can occur against the background of a sharp change in nutrition, with insufficient consumption of plant foods and dairy products, due to inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, gastric and duodenal ulcers, infectious lesions of the small or large intestine, after taking a course of antibacterial drugs, against the background of a decrease in immunity .
Symptoms of dysbacteriosis include constipation or unstable stools, impaired processing and absorption of beneficial nutrients, bloating and pain in the abdomen.
Among intestinal infections, which are characterized by the appearance of green stools, dysentery, giardiasis, salmonellosis, and rotavirus are distinguished.
Dysentery is caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, which are excreted in the stool by an ill person or carrier. Shigella enter the body through dirty hands, and after 2-3 days, the development of the disease begins. Bacteria multiply in the large intestine, irritating and damaging its wall.
Symptoms of dysentery are false painful urge to defecate, as well as frequent, scanty liquid stools of dark green color with impurities of blood, mucus, and pus.
The patient's general health worsens, he is worried about weakness, body temperature rises. At the same time, due to light stools, the risk of dehydration remains low, but perforation of the intestinal wall is possible.
Giardiasis is caused by protozoa - Giardia. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral, infection is possible through direct contact with a sick person or through contaminated water and food. It takes up to four weeks from the moment of infection to the onset of symptoms. More often sick children and adults with low acidity of gastric juice.
The simplest cause symptoms of inflammation of the small intestine: nausea, bloating, pain in its upper and middle thirds, around the navel, frequent (up to 5 times a day) liquid, profuse, frothy, foul-smelling green stools.
Extraintestinal manifestations are also possible - skin rashes, pronounced allergic reactions.
Giardia
Salmonellosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella. They enter the human body through poorly thermally processed eggs, dairy products and meat. The period from infection to the onset of the disease lasts up to two days. The symptoms of salmonellosis include spasmodic pain in the upper abdomen and near the navel, nausea, vomiting (up to 3 times a day), as well as frequent (up to 15 times a day) plentiful, liquid, frothy, fetid stools of the color of marsh mud.
The disease is dangerously severe intoxication, dehydration, possible entry of salmonella into the blood and dysfunction of many organs and systems (sepsis).
Rotavirus is spread by food, water, airborne droplets, household. Perfectly preserved in the external environment, resistant to most disinfectants. For the development of the disease, it is enough for just a few viral particles to enter the mouth. It begins with symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection - fever, redness and sore throat. Then frequent profuse vomiting and frequent (5-15 times a day) loose stools, which can be of different shades, including yellow-green, join. Against this background, dehydration quickly develops.
Which doctors to contact
If there are signs of an intestinal infection, especially in a child, it is best to call an ambulance team, which, if necessary, will take the patient to the infectious diseases hospital.
Otherwise, please contact therapist general practitioner, pediatrician gastroenterologist.
Diagnostics and examinations in case of green stool
To determine the causes of green stool, the doctor conducts a thorough survey and examination of the patient, clarifies the regimen and nature of nutrition, finds out concomitant diseases and conditions.
For a more complete understanding of the picture, a number of laboratory and instrumental research methods may be required:
- complete blood count with an expanded leukocyte formula;
What to do if green stool appears
You need to see a doctor, undergo an examination and follow the recommendations of a specialist.
To prevent the occurrence of green stools, you should eat a balanced diet, observe personal hygiene, take care of the condition of the gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment for green stools
Treatment is not required only in one case - when the green color of the stool is associated with dietary errors.
Adults with lactase deficiency are advised to follow a diet low in whole and powdered milk. Breastfed children are prescribed lactase preparations, and artificially fed children are prescribed low-lactose or lactose-free mixtures.
With established dysbacteriosis, diet and medications that normalize the intestinal microflora are required. In rare cases, drugs are prescribed that inhibit the growth and development of a certain type of microbe.
In intestinal infections, the main task is to maintain water balance (if necessary, fluid is administered intravenously) and to remove intoxication.
If there is a drug that specifically affects the causative agent of a particular disease (antibiotic, bacteriophage, etc.), it is recommended to be taken. At the same time, measures are taken to restore the intestinal microflora.
Sources:
- Clinical guidelines "Salmonellosis in adults". Developed by: National Scientific Society of Infectious Diseases. – 2021.
- Belmer S.V. Lactose insufficiency: origin and ways of correction // The attending physician. - No. 2. - 2018. - S. 41-46.
- Clinical guidelines "Salmonellosis in children". Developed by: Euro-Asian Society for Infectious Diseases, Association of Infectious Disease Doctors of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. – 2021.
IMPORTANT!
The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes over time, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.
Baby's green stool - Articles about baby food from pediatricians and MAMAKO experts 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 babies 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 in 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 feces, vomiting, rash on the body - such complaints should be an obligatory reason for a visit to a children's doctor. 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;
- Gastrointestinal Ultrasound - to assess the functioning of the pancreas and liver.
Watch a video in which Rabiyat Salakhiddinovna Zayniddinovna, a pediatrician, will tell you why artificial and breastfeeding babies' stools are 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:
- lactose intolerance - lactose is excluded from the child's diet;
- allergic reaction - determine the allergen and exclude it from the diet of an artificial child or a nursing mother;
- helminthic invasion - give anthelmintic drugs;
- dysbacteriosis - correct the intestinal microflora with pre- and probiotics.