Green stools in infants are a fairly common occurrence. The fact is that in the first months of the baby's life, normal feces are just beginning to form, so they often change color. However, this causes concern among parents, and in some cases it is well founded.
Green stool in an infant from malnutrition
In fact, the greenish color of feces is not always an occasion for a visit to the doctor. Quite often, this problem is associated with malnutrition, especially among babies who are breast-fed. If the child does not eat long enough, then he gets only the so-called "front" milk, which contains less nutrients. Therefore, many mothers are recommended to apply the baby to the breast for a long enough time so that he can get the "back", more fat milk. In addition, do not forget about hormones and other substances that pass into breast milk - they can also affect the color of feces.
Green stool in a child and nutrition
Quite often, a change in the color of feces is connected precisely with the features of nutrition. For example, a baby often has yellow-green stools immediately after switching to artificial feeding - in such cases, doctors, as a rule, recommend changing the milk mixture. In some cases, a greenish tint indicates an increased iron content in the porridge. Often, green stool in an infant appears after the introduction of other foods into the diet. For example, broccoli soup or greens can affect stool color. And do not forget about food colors - try to give your child only homemade products without preservatives and other potentially dangerous substances.
Green stool in an infant due to diseases
Unfortunately, sometimes the reasons for the appearance of green feces are far from being so harmless. For example, a change in stool color may indicate an allergic reaction. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the accompanying symptoms - the presence of a rash, vomiting, diarrhea and other signs of allergy. One of the most common causes is considered such a well-known disease as dysbiosis, which is associated with a violation of the normal composition of the intestinal microflora. At the same time, other symptoms are observed in the baby - nausea, loss of appetite, increased gas formation, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. In some cases, the dark green color of feces may indicate the presence of bleeding in the digestive tract.
Green stool in an infant: what to do?
Of course, such a sharp change in color of the chair bothers any parent. And if it has nothing to do with the nutrition of the mother or child, then you should consult a doctor. Immediate medical attention is required if digestive disorders (diarrhea, vomiting), bloating and severe pain in the abdomen, fever. In such cases, you need to pass the stool samples of the child for laboratory analysis - the only way to determine the presence of the disease. As for the treatment, it depends on the cause and nature of the disease itself.