The green color of feces in an adult may be due to food intake or diseases that cause malfunctions in the functioning of various organs of the human body. In the framework of this article, the causes of such phenomena and ways to get rid of them will be considered, since a constantly present similar color indicates abnormal work, especially of the gallbladder.
Bile problems
By itself, it initially has a bright green color. As it moves through the intestines, it darkens, becoming at the final stage dark brown.
When moving quickly through the latter, she does not have time to change her color, remaining green. The following pathologies can cause it:
- thyrotoxicosis;
- inflammatory process that occurs in the small intestine;
- diabetes;
- gastrointestinal ulcer;
- celiac disease;
- a number of pathological causes listed below;
- salmonellosis;
- Giardia.
Foods that cause green stool
This color may not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the body. The color of the discharge changes depending on the diet. The stool can turn green while maintaining a similar state for several days when eating cereals. This is due to the fact that the body produces a large amount of bile to break down this difficult to digest food. It also contributes to the appearance of green feces in an adult without diarrhea.
In addition to them, the following products can affect the acquisition of the color in question by excrement:
- red beans, fish and red meat;
- black licorice;
- products containing chlorophyll and other green pigments: algae, cucumbers, dill, lettuce, sorrel, spinach, broccoli, savoy cabbage;
- muesli;
- fruit juices;
- vegetable purees from some baby food diets;
- eating foods with a lot of food colors.
The most persistent green color is preserved when consuming products containing the appropriate pigments. Even after refusing to include them in the diet, their inherent color can remain up to 5 days in excrement.
Presence of green mucus in the stool
The most dangerous phenomenon is the presence of green mucus in the feces in an adult. This symptom may indicate that there are problems with the digestive tract. The mucus formed in the intestine is a protective substance that appears due to increased secretion of the glands of this organ. Greenish mucous inclusions are characteristic in cases of intolerance to celiac disease or lactose, food allergies, malabsorption syndrome. It is also observed with dysbiosis.
As a result, diverticulitis is formed when the intestinal mucosa protrudes inward, which leads to various tumors and cystic fibrosis, which is a genetic disease, as a result of which a person will have specific feces throughout his life. Mucus in this disease is found in the feces due to increased secretion by the intestinal glands.
Physiological reasons
They are not dangerous to the body and do not require special intervention.
The causes of green feces in an adult without diarrhea can be as follows:
- The use of dietary supplements and other drugs containing seaweed.
- Some vitamin-mineral complexes can contribute to the appearance of such a color.
- The use of medicines containing iodine.
- Some sugars also increase the risk of green stool in an adult.
- Laxative teas and herbal capsules.
The most characteristic similar condition is for vegetarians, who include in their diet a large amount of plant food.
Pathological grounds
This color of excrement can indicate serious problems in the body. In this case, there is an increase in temperature in an adult with green feces, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are noted. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. A greenish tint appears as a result of the accumulation of dead white blood cells in the intestines.
The main causes of feces green in adults:
- rotavirus infection, accompanied by acts of defecation with an unpleasant odor, deterioration in general condition and the appearance of signs of intoxication of the body;
- stomach ulcer;
- violation of the innervation of the intestine;
- allergy to certain products, which contributes to their indigestion and the acquisition of a characteristic color by the chair;
- minor internal bleeding (with strong color turns black);
- thyrotoxicosis;
- Crohn's disease.
Potential ailments
The appearance of green feces in an adult may indicate the presence of a number of pathologies:
- Dysentery. At the same time, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, weakness in the body, an increase in body temperature, and hyperthermia are noted. In this case, a putrefactive odor, diarrhea, a sharp decrease in body weight can be observed, which indicates the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and requires contacting an infectious disease specialist.
- Dysbacteriosis Green feces in an adult after antibiotics may appear. In this case, stool disorder, bloating, belching, gas formation are noted. There is a substitution of useful pathogenic microflora, the content of leukocytes increases. As a result of this, the digestive process is disrupted, the incoming food rots, wanders, excrement turns green.
- Another cause of green stool in an adult is the presence of intestinal infections, such as cholera, dysentery. The person has constant attacks of nausea, vomiting, fever, fever, headache, body aches, abdominal pain, general weakness.
- Internal bleeding. It can be a consequence of a stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer, and is also formed due to cancerous tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. Blood entering the stomach triggers iron oxidation. If the food is not completely oxidized, then the feces in an adult are green. In the presence of bleeding, the following symptoms are noted: tachycardia, shortness of breath, blanching of the epidermis, decreased blood pressure.
- Hepatitis and other liver diseases. They lead to a significant decomposition of red blood cells, which leads to a lack of hemoglobin, which provokes a greater formation of bilirubin, which means the green color of feces in an adult. The same can be noted with some blood pathologies.
- Allergy. Intolerance to some products contributes to the development of inflammatory processes, which leads to a green color of excrement.
Causes of green diarrhea
They are not much different from those with respect to a normal stool of the same color. Thus, in addition to isolating causes without diarrhea of green feces in an adult, those with diarrhea are also distinguished.
The main problem is the violation of the stable operation of the small intestine. This, first of all, occurs as a result of the elimination of its normal microflora due to the intake of various antibiotics. This leads to a violation of the digestion of food, its fermentation and the appearance of green shades in feces. After canceling the course of antibiotics, stool usually returns to normal.
Also one of the common causes is the presence of intestinal infections.
Vomiting with green diarrhea may indicate intoxication.
Such diarrhea can be triggered by the presence of gastroenteritis. It is transmitted by contact. At the same time, chills, diarrhea are noted, mucus appears in excrement, signs of colds can occur: runny nose, sore throat, cough, green feces in an adult. Treatment should be aimed at combating the cause of this color.
Diagnostics
The doctor prescribes the following procedures and examinations when green stool appears in adults:
- Bakseeding for determining the state of microflora, the presence of pathogenic bacteria, including the presence of E. coli;
- microscopic examination in the presence of suspected presence of parasites;
- blood and urine tests;
- PCR analysis;
- coprogram - for microscopic examination of feces and the study of its chemical composition.
Treatment for green feces in an adult
It is prescribed depending on the reason that caused this phenomenon. When this color appears as a result of excessive consumption of certain foods, you need to change your diet. To remove toxins from the body, you can take the following funds:
- "Regidron";
- "Smecta";
- Atoxil and others.
It is important not to self-medicate, and if there is any doubt about the “guilt” of the products, consult a doctor.
It is necessary to follow a diet, exclude sour-milk, raw fruits and vegetables, fatty foods, alcohol, grapes, cabbage, soda, spicy foods, citrus fruits, coffee, legumes, spices, sweets and some other products.
With green feces, accompanied by vomiting, you need to take drugs that restore the supply of nutrients and water:
- "Citroglucosolan";
- "Rehydron" and others.
If the cause of green feces in an adult is intestinal infections, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or other drugs.
Activated charcoal can be used to remove toxins from the body. With diarrhea, infusions of various medicinal herbs are also taken - oregano, chamomile - and strong tea.
Finally
The green color of feces in an adult may be due to the inclusion in the diet of certain foods, primarily containing chlorophyll and other green pigments that are characteristic of algae, as well as the development of various diseases that lead to the appearance of this symptom. Treatment with a pathological nature should be aimed at identifying the cause and its elimination. It should be borne in mind that self-medication can lead to disastrous results. If such symptoms appear, especially accompanied by negative phenomena, you should consult a doctor.