Black feces in an adult or a child is an occasion to think. Normally, discharge during bowel movements should not be dark. A change in the color of feces can indicate the development of a disease. Therefore, if you did not have to use dyeing products, you should make an appointment for a consultation with a doctor.
What should be a normal feces?
According to the state of feces, you can determine how the digestive system works and whether all systems of the body as a whole function correctly. It is no coincidence that an analysis of discharge from the intestine is carried out necessarily upon admission to the hospital. Feces are the mass that is excreted after the digestion of food. Black feces in an adult can be normal only with certain foods (described below). If the dark color of feces is observed against a background of normal nutrition, you must make an appointment with a doctor.
The type of feces depends on the dietary habits of the patient, as well as on the time the feces are in the rectum. In healthy people, a dense feces of moderately soft consistency should be allocated. The color should be brown. In this case, the shade will depend on the products that the patient consumed the day before.
Feces in newborns
Young mothers may be frightened by black feces in the baby in the first hours after birth. A qualified doctor must prepare a woman in advance. The black feces in infants that have just been born are meconium. The first bowel movements of the baby contain amniotic fluid, which the baby absorbed in the womb. Mekonium has a viscous, sticky consistency, it can stick to the baby’s skin. In this case, feces are easily washed off with plain warm water. To wash the newborn in the early days, it is recommended to use boiled water.
Original feces usually come out no more than two days. Then the baby's stool acquires a softer consistency, becomes light yellow or greenish. If black feces in crumbs are observed for more than three days, you should definitely inform your doctor about this.
What foods make feces black?
In the body of any person throughout life there are biochemical reactions aimed at converting food into energy. Some substances are converted to others. So, after eating delicious dishes, feces enter the intestines, the color of which directly depends on the composition of the food.
In a healthy state, black feces in an adult may well appear. The reasons for this will be the use of coloring products. The color of feces almost always changes when eating foods containing animal blood. This sausage is a “blood-drop”, a liver, some types of meat. Black feces can also occur with excessive consumption of coffee or strong tea. The following plant products can also stain the feces: red beets, tomatoes, grapes, blueberries, pomegranates, prunes, and chokeberry.
If the feces turn black and the person feels great, there is no reason to panic. All that needs to be done is to observe the condition of the stool after changing the diet. If the color has recovered, then the digestive system is functioning properly. But the presence of black feces for several days is an occasion to seek help.
Crohn's disease
May indicate the development of a serious disease of black feces. What causes this symptom? A change in feces can be observed against the background of the development of Crohn's disease, in which certain sections of the digestive tract become inflamed. The pathological process most often has a chronic character. The patient may experience periods of remission and exacerbations. Inflammation develops in the internal mucous membrane. Most often, the disease manifests itself in the small intestine.
The main cause of the disease is a pathological reaction of the patient's immune system to the intestinal microflora. The patient may have a genetic predisposition to the development of Crohn's disease. The first unpleasant symptoms, as a rule, appear at the beginning of puberty. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, dark color of feces - all this indicates the development of a pathological process. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure the disease. Therapeutic actions are aimed at stopping inflammation, bringing the patient's condition to prolonged remission. The severity of unpleasant symptoms helps to reduce a special diet. You will have to refuse spicy, fried and smoked dishes. Sour vegetables and fruits are also excluded.
Stomach bleeding
An outpouring of blood from the stomach is a dangerous complication that can threaten the patient's life. Unpleasant symptoms can develop not only with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, but also with many other pathologies.
Most often, gastric bleeding occurs with peptic ulcer. This is a pathology in which ulcerative formations appear on the mucous membrane. If you do not start therapy in a timely manner, the disease becomes chronic. Statistics indicate that up to 15% of the world's adult population suffers from gastric ulcer in one form or another. Among residents of megacities, the disease is more common.
Regular stomach pains, belching, heartburn - all these signs indicate the development of peptic ulcer. If black liquid feces appeared against the background of the pathological process, an ambulance must be called immediately. This symptom indicates gastric bleeding. Procrastination can cost a patient's life.
First aid for gastric bleeding
You can not hesitate if the patient has red vomiting and black feces is observed. What can cause such symptoms? Such signs will indicate the presence of heavy bleeding from the stomach. Proper action before the ambulance arrives is of great importance. When the above symptoms appear, the patient should be reassured, laid on a flat surface. An ice bladder should be applied to the epigastric region. Such actions will help to narrow the blood vessels, bleeding will become less intense.
If there is a suspicion of gastric bleeding, the patient should be prohibited from drinking and eating food. Further treatment will be carried out by a qualified specialist in a medical facility.
Intestinal bleeding
Outflow of blood from the lower digestive tract can also lead to the appearance of black feces. What can cause such a complication? Hemorrhage into the lumen of the colon or small intestine may be present in cancer pathologies, polyps, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon or small intestine.
The most common cause of hemorrhage is intestinal diverticulosis. This is a pathology in which there is a saccular protrusion of the walls of the colon or small intestine. Most often, the disease develops in adult patients amid weakening of the muscles supporting the intestines. Black feces in an adult after 50 years may indicate precisely the development of this pathological process. With the development of a complex form of the disease, the patient requires surgical intervention. If diverticulosis is asymptomatic and intestinal bleeding is not observed regularly, special therapy is not required.
Surgery
Why else can there be black feces in an adult? Causes may include surgical or diagnostic procedures on the intestines or stomach. In this case, a change in the color of feces will also indicate the development of internal bleeding. It is no coincidence that patients, even after uncomplicated surgical interventions, should be under medical supervision for some time in a hospital.
Black stool immediately after surgery against the background of a relatively normal patient condition (taking into account the ongoing manipulations) should not be a reason for panic. Immediate therapy should be given if black feces are excreted several days after surgery. There is reason to panic if symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting are additionally present. Internal bleeding can be quickly stopped if qualified medical personnel are nearby.
The day after tooth extraction is also a variant of the norm of black feces. Why is this phenomenon present? The dark color of feces is due to the fact that the patient swallowed blood during dental procedures. In this case, the stool should recover in a few days, there is no reason for concern.
Blood clotting disorder
In patients with hemophilia, black feces is often observed, which may mean blood entering the intestinal lumen. This is a hereditary disease, the development of which is due to the lack of enzymes responsible for blood coagulation. Representatives of the stronger sex suffer from unpleasant symptoms. Why does the fairer sex get black feces? Causes in women should be sought in other disorders.
In patients with hemophilia, the likelihood of post-traumatic bleeding increases significantly. In addition, a serious threat to life arises from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Simple gastritis can cause internal bleeding.
If the diagnosis of hemophilia is made, it will not be possible to completely cope with the disease. The basis of treatment is replacement therapy. Medicines are used to replace blood coagulation factors. Additionally, plasmapheresis, blood transfusion can be prescribed. A mild form of the disease does not affect life expectancy. However, the patient should be under the constant supervision of a physician.
Intestinal infection
If the patient does not feel well, symptoms of poisoning appear, black feces may also be present. What changes the color of feces? This condition may indicate a change in the composition of the intestinal microflora. Most often, unpleasant symptoms develop in preschool children due to fragile immunity. However, intestinal infections can occur at any other age.
The spectrum of pathogens is very wide. The disease can be transmitted by airborne droplets, by contact, or through spoiled food. Often, problems are encountered by patients who do not follow the rules of personal hygiene. As a rule, the disease begins with the onset of fever and nausea. Then the patient opens vomiting, diarrhea appears. The chair often has a dark brown or black tint.
Therapy is aimed at suppressing the activity of pathogenic microflora with the help of antibiotics. Also, the patient is prescribed a diet, water balance is restored.
Summarize
A black chair is a sign that makes you think. If the patient feels normal, there is no reason for panic. However, consultation with a doctor will not be superfluous.