Stool for gastritis: normal stool color for stomach disease

Why is my stool usually brown?

Feces are a mixture of dead red blood cells, undigested food, bile, and waste products formed as food passes through the intestinal microflora. Dead red blood cells are black, bile is greenish-yellow, and waste from processing leftover undigested food by intestinal bacteria is brown. Therefore, the brown color of the stool is provided by intestinal bacteria, which also perform a number of other vital functions (for example, facilitating the absorption of nutrients from food entering the body).

Unhealthy stool color:

1. Dark stools with mucus may indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
   . The cause may be a burst stomach ulcer or other serious illnesses.
2. Yellow-green stools usually occur with diarrhea
   . Yellow color may be associated with diseases of the liver and biliary tract.

Changes in stool color from dark brown to another shade (black, light or dark green) occur for a number of reasons, including bleeding from the rectum, stomach, or esophagus. Among the causes are diseases of the pancreas and gall bladder. But most often it is caused by diarrhea, in which food passes through the digestive tract faster than usual. Because of this, intestinal bacteria do not have time to give the stool the “correct” color.

What does the color of stool mean?

Normally, stool should be brown in color due to the yellow pigment. The color range of stool depends entirely on the concentration of pigment - it will be light, green or even black.

When examining a problem, you need to know its true cause in order to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

If you eat foods that contain a lot of iron, your stool will turn green. When taking carbonated water, jelly, pastry cream with an abundance of dyes, a similar situation will eventually occur.

Is green poop a sign of cancer?

When green stool appears, there is no reason to immediately panic or create catastrophic scenarios. Although abnormally colored stool can be a sign of cancer, most cases involve black, sticky stool. This is due to either bleeding from the stomach, esophagus, duodenum, or impurities of fresh blood (for colorectal cancer).

Although green stool is not usually a symptom of cancer, it should not be underestimated, especially if other symptoms (severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, high fever) appear.

Green coloring of stool 1-2 times in a row without side effects, most often caused by artificial food dyes, consumption of some natural foods, in particular leafy vegetables and berries. A change in the color of feces in combination with periodic diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting may indicate nonspecific intestinal inflammation, such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome.

Food

The most common cause of green stool is a change in eating habits and consumption of certain foods. This condition is typical for infants and toddlers when consuming artificial milk (Nutrilon, Milupa, etc.) or other baby food. Until the digestive system is completely accustomed to the new food, their stool may be colored green. The condition returns to normal quickly (within a few days). If this does not happen, an examination is required.

Foods that cause green (usually dark or even black-green) stool include:

• spinach;
• broccoli;
• blueberry;
• cabbage.

Leafy vegetables contain chlorophyll, a green dye that allows plants to produce oxygen. But the human body is not able to digest chlorophyll, so after eating this vegetable, the stool turns green. But it doesn't do any harm. Leafy vegetables are good for health.

In addition to healthy foods, such as the above-mentioned types of vegetables and fruits, changes in the color of stool are also caused by artificial food colors added by manufacturers to certain foods. The human body cannot process them, so it excretes them unchanged.

Necessary examinations and treatment

The condition in which the stool turns green cannot be ignored. We need to find the cause of this phenomenon. If something green was eaten the day before, and the general condition was not disturbed, then there is no reason to worry. However, if objective symptoms of intoxication or inflammation appear (nausea, diarrhea, headache, abdominal cramps, temperature), medical attention is needed, sometimes emergency.

Dangerous conditions that require immediate action include salmonellosis. The infection quickly provokes dehydration and can cause toxic shock and death. If you have symptoms of salmonellosis (vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the lower abdomen, fever, foul-smelling stools of all shades of green), you need to call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, it is necessary to give the patient sorbents orally and provide plenty of fluids. Do not hesitate in case of intestinal bleeding. This condition threatens human life. You need to promptly call an ambulance, explaining to the dispatcher the reason for the call. The patient should not be given anything until the doctors arrive. You need to lay it horizontally with a cushion under your head and cold on your stomach, this will reduce the bleeding.

Necessary research

If the pathology does not require emergency care, then you need to contact a specialist to determine its cause. The clinic will conduct a full clinical and laboratory examination, which includes:

• UAC and OAM.
• Blood chemistry.
• Bacterial culture of feces or vomit on nutrient media.
• Ultrasound, CG or MRI of the abdominal organs.
• ECG.
• Colonoscopy.
• FGDS.
• Determination of blood electrolytes.

The examination is prescribed by the doctor on an individual basis, so the list can be supplemented or shortened depending on the suspected pathology. In parallel with the examination, treatment is usually prescribed. If the patient is hospitalized in a hospital, then examination and treatment are carried out under the supervision and careful supervision of a doctor.

Treatment

Therapy for green stool depends on the cause of the pathology, its severity and the general condition of the patient. Salmonellosis, food poisoning, and acute intestinal infections require hospitalization in the infectious diseases department of a hospital. Bleeding - to surgery. Treatment is comprehensive and consists of:

• A diet with the exclusion of alcohol, which is prescribed by a doctor on an individual basis (fasting is one of the options).
• Antibiotic therapy with preliminary culture of feces or vomit on nutrient media to identify the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibacterial therapy. Before receiving the results, two antibiotics from different pharmacological groups are prescribed at once to ensure the widest possible spectrum of action on pathogenic microbes.
• Choleretic agents, which are designed to eliminate congestion in the biliary system of the liver (chophytol, allohol).
• Detoxifiers that remove toxins and waste from the body (Polysorb), antidiarrheal drugs (Smecta).
• Probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics that restore normal intestinal microflora (atsipol).
• Droppers with saline solutions, glucose, plasma, stopping dehydration, restoring blood loss.
• Symptomatic remedies.

In severe cases, direct blood transfusion, plasmapheresis, hemodialysis and surgery are possible. Self-medication is unacceptable and can lead to the most dire consequences, including death.

The smell, consistency, composition and color of stool are symptoms of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Among the reasons for the appearance of green feces in adults are the development of pathological processes in the body or changes in diet.

Bile dyes

Bile is a yellow-green liquid. It is formed in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, from where it flows through the bile duct into the small intestine. Along the way, it connects with the pancreatic duct, through which pancreatic juice enters the small intestine (duodenum). It contains pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that facilitates the absorption of fats. Bile activates pancreatic lipase, increasing its efficiency in digesting fats. As a result, more fat is absorbed from the small intestine into the body.

Bile dyes are a group of biological dyes; the most important is bilirubin. It is supplemented by biliverdin, which results from the breakdown of hemoglobin. Typically, bile decomposes as it passes through the intestines, its color changes to brown, and the remainder is excreted in the feces. But with diarrhea or other digestive disorders, the digestion of bile slows down, it is excreted unchanged, which can cause a change in the color of the stool from green to greenish-yellow.

Antibiotics and other drugs

Antibiotics, especially strong drugs used for severe infections, often destroy most of the health-promoting bacteria in the gut. Because bacteria produce brown waste in stool, a deficiency of bacteria results in green or greenish-black stool.

To prevent problems caused by antibiotics, it is recommended to take probiotics (a live culture that supplies the intestines with new bacteria) at the same time as they are taken.

There are other medications and nutritional supplements that cause changes in the color of stool. Among them are the following substances:

1. Indomethacin. This drug belongs to the group of NSAIDs. It reduces inflammation and lowers temperature.
2. Iron supplements. Basically, the reason for greenish stool is their use in large quantities. Sometimes constipation may also occur. After stopping the drug, the condition quickly normalizes.

3. A number of hormonal contraceptives (in particular, those containing medroxyprogesterone).

Medical procedures such as bone marrow transplants can cause green stool. When the body rejects the transplanted bone marrow, severe gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, and green stools occur.

Reasons for green color

The main reason for the change in the usual color of stool is the fat-soluble compound bilirubin, which is part of the main structure of bile and penetrates into the gastrointestinal tract.

If there is a digestive disorder or processed food moves very quickly through the intestinal tract, then bilirubin does not have time to oxidize and, when emptying, it comes out natural, not oxidized, that is, the feces become green.

There are also many other reasons why green feces appear. Another common cause is the content of inorganic iron compounds in foods and medications.

Such products include:

• red fish and meat;
• red bean varieties;
• foods and drinks with food colorings;
• sweets based on licorice syrup;
• dietary supplements with iron;
• medicines containing seaweed;
• drugs that replace iodine;
• sugar substitute.

One of the main causes of constipation and diarrhea is the use of various medications.

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To improve bowel function after taking medications, you need to drink a simple remedy
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Gastrointestinal diseases

Some types of parasites, viruses, and bacteria can also cause changes in the color of feces. Most often these are intestinal lamblia (giardia lamblia), noroviruses. The presence of these microorganisms is accompanied by diarrhea with green stools. Sometimes this symptom also occurs with common traveler's diarrhea. As a rule, the condition returns to normal within a few days without the need for treatment. Greens in feces appear in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other diseases of the digestive system accompanied by diarrhea (including hereditary disorders). Green stool in an adult can occur with irritable bowel syndrome, excessive use of laxatives (medicines that facilitate bowel movements).

An anal fissure is a tiny crack in the tissue around the anus, often caused by chronic constipation, the passage of hard stool. But sometimes this manifestation occurs with chronic diarrhea, nonspecific intestinal inflammation. Anal fissures can bleed, which causes the presence of blood in the stool and its coloration in a red-green hue.

Diagnostics

If green stool appears, you should consult a gastroenterologist. The diagnostic plan includes advanced laboratory tests and modern imaging methods of the digestive system. If necessary, the patient is referred for consultation to related specialists. The most informative ones are:

• Coprogram
  . When examining green stool under a microscope, it contains a large number of undigested food particles, an increased content of red blood cells and white blood cells, which indicates inflammatory processes in the intestines. If intestinal bleeding is possible, the Gregersen occult blood reaction is performed. A fecal elastase test can rule out pancreatitis.
• Bacteriological studies
  . When the color of the stool changes, a microscopic analysis is always carried out for helminth eggs. Be sure to culture feces on selective nutrient media to detect typical intestinal pathogens: Salmonella, Escherichia, Shigella. If there are difficulties in diagnosis, blood ELISA is prescribed to detect antibodies.
• Ultrasonography
  . In an adult, the appearance of green stool is often caused by somatic reasons, for confirmation of which an ultrasound of the abdominal organs is required. Sonography allows us to exclude space-occupying lesions and other severe intestinal lesions. Targeted ultrasound of the liver and gallbladder is necessary to diagnose cholecystitis and hepatitis.
• Radiography
  . Double contrast irrigoscopy helps evaluate the structure of the colon and identify areas of mucosal destruction, deep ulcers or diverticula. Barium passage X-ray is an effective method with which you can assess the condition of all parts of the gastrointestinal tract and detect signs of peptic ulcer disease.
• Additional methods.
  FGDS is recommended for signs of gastroduodenal pathology. For patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease, colonoscopy with biopsy sampling is indicated. To make a diagnosis of celiac disease, a cytomorphological examination of small intestinal biopsies is performed and specific antibodies are determined. To find out the cause of severe allergies, an immunogram is informative.

Nutrient malabsorption

This is a disorder associated with gastrointestinal diseases. Most nutrients are absorbed in the mucosa of the small intestine. This requires digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile. Failure of any of these components results in a deficiency in the body's supply of nutrients.

Treatment involves a combination of cause-and-effect solutions. The patient’s diet is adjusted, missing nutrients, minerals, and vitamins are introduced. If necessary, drug treatment is prescribed.

Salmonellosis

This is an intestinal infectious disease, usually not fatal, but unpleasant. It is risky for both children and adults. Its causative agent is the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis. This pathogen belongs to the group of Salmonella, which causes a number of other diseases (in particular, typhoid fever). The bacterium is often found in milk, eggs (and all products containing eggs, especially egg mayonnaise).

Sufficient heat treatment of any of the risky products destroys salmonella.

When food containing Salmonella bacteria is consumed, pathogens enter the intestines, attack the cells of the intestinal wall, and inflammation occurs. The infection manifests itself as fever, diarrhea with loose, watery stools. It is usually green in color and may contain mucus and blood. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting may occur. In people with weakened immune systems (eg, people with AIDS), salmonella can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. In this case, serious blood poisoning (sepsis) occurs, which can be fatal. The main prevention of the disease is to avoid eating foods (especially dairy and eggs) from unknown sources, especially in the absence of proper heat treatment of food.

When to seek medical help?

You should consult a doctor if symptoms, in particular diarrhea, persist for more than 3 days. Prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration and malabsorption. A visit to a specialist is also required if green stool is accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal cramps, blood in the stool, and nausea.

It is often uncomfortable for a person to talk to a doctor about stool and its external characteristics, but it is necessary. The doctor is called to help improve the condition. Before visiting, it is advisable to make a list of medications you are taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about your eating habits (if there are no changes, about recently consumed foods) and the presence of other diseases. This is the only way to make a correct diagnosis, determine the cause of green stool, and apply the correct treatment.

With a one-time symptom, as a rule, we are not talking about a serious problem. It is most likely caused by eating leafy vegetables. If the green tint of stool persists for more than 3 days in a row, accompanied by other signs mentioned above, a disorder may occur that requires a specialized therapeutic approach.

You should quickly consult a doctor if there is bright red blood in the stool, or if it turns black (this may be a sign of melena - the presence of digested blood in the stool). But sometimes blueberries and licorice consumed the day before can cause it to turn black.

Feces with gastritis, its difference from the feces of a healthy person

An unusual color of stool is the first sign of problems with the gastrointestinal tract. If there are other abnormalities in the form of pain in the abdomen, lack of appetite and frequent vomiting, then all this indicates gastritis. What kind of stool can occur with this disease, and what its color depends on, is described below.

How does acidity affect feces?

Irritation of the gastric mucosa provokes malfunctions of the digestive glands. If the secretion of gastric juice increases, then the patient experiences increased acidity; when the activity of the glands decreases, they produce less gastric juice and this manifests itself in a decrease in acidity. These two types of gastritis have different manifestations.

Increased

Often a person feels severe pain in the side, which can only be relieved after taking painkillers. For spasms, a hot heating pad can be used.

Pain in the stomach area occurs immediately after eating, sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, the patient experiences heartburn. They are characterized by problems with sleep and appetite. People with high acid gastritis are irritable, easily tired and often nervous.

A high level of acid affects the excretion of feces and most often this is expressed in constipation; in some cases, the interval between walking “in a big way” can be a week. Such long-term abstinence leads to poisoning of the body with toxins, which leads to problems with the skin, on which pimples and acne appear, and it acquires an earthy tint.

Reduced

This state of affairs is fraught with poor digestion of food. The stomach cannot cope with its function and large pieces of food enter the intestines, which threatens diarrhea. The lack of the proper amount of hydrochloric acid leads to the appearance of harmful bacteria, they provoke the processes of rotting and fermentation, and an unpleasant odor appears in the mouth.

Reduced acidity affects the quality of stool, when it is constantly liquid, which causes dehydration of the body.

Treatment of gastritis is carried out not only with medication, but also with the help of diet, be sure to drink plenty of water and herbal decoctions.

Therapy is complicated by the fact that in this case the beneficial substances supplied with food are more difficult to absorb into the blood, the person begins to suffer from excess weight, his health worsens and this affects the functioning of all vital systems of the body.

As a result, the patient is in a bad mood, irritated by trivial things, he develops apathy for many previously familiar activities, his hair begins to fall out, he feels heaviness in the stomach, and there are rashes on the skin. There are no sharp pains, but sometimes dull pain appears in the upper abdomen or near the chest, which can occur after overeating.

Black color

It will indicate the entry into human waste of blood, which can come from wounds and ulcers located in the stomach or esophagus.

Ulcers can also appear as a result of long-term use of strong medications or drugs, as well as as a result of alcohol abuse.

Medications undesirable for long-term use include: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets.

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach turns the blood black, and in some cases, stool may have brown streaks, the presence of which is explained by the influence of enzymes contained in the intestines and stomach on the color of the blood mass.

If the black discharge is not solid, but liquid, this may indicate a more serious disease than gastritis

When there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, they are always accompanied by other symptoms, including:

• Nausea,
• Weakness throughout the body
• Acute pain in the side and stomach area,
• The stool becomes very thin, its diameter is similar to that of a pencil,
• Changes in the skin.

As soon as blood is detected during bowel movements, you should immediately seek medical help.

In order not to panic in advance, you should know that the following products can stain feces black: beets, chokeberries, blueberries, pomegranates, prunes, coffee, black currants, blood sausage, blackberries, liver and bloody meats. Medicines containing iron and bismuth can also give black stools. Their coloring is temporary, while gastritis provokes a longer-lasting discharge of black stool.

Red color

Or a red-brown tint to the stool indicates the presence of blood in it, just don’t panic right away, perhaps such a change in color is not associated with serious problems, just before bowel movement you ate a red product with a strong coloring ability or drank red wine.

This can be affected by tomatoes, their juices, beets, red berries and gelatin of the same color. Sometimes red stool is caused by fissures in the rectum or other anal injuries. They may appear after frequent constipation, as a result of labor or after intimate contact.

Red stool can warn of the presence of helminths or inflammatory processes in the intestines. There will be accompanying symptoms: nausea, diarrhea and cramps.

Defecation with blood is provoked by a number of drugs that contain potassium or antibiotics, as well as polyps on the colon.

Light yellow color

This is a normal color for children's stool, but for adults the nature of its appearance should be checked.

Frequent causes of this phenomenon are:

• When you receive a large amount of indigestible fats that the body’s enzymes cannot cope with,
• Deterioration of digestion and poor absorption of nutrients,
• Fermentation in the intestines
• Impaired functionality of the pancreas,
• Malfunctions of the gallbladder and liver, in which a lot of pure bilirubin enters the digestive system,
• A person's consumption of large amounts of milk and products made from it.

Light yellow stools may appear after taking certain medications that have a strong effect on the liver, such medications include: oral contraceptives, antibiotics, drugs for tuberculosis and epilepsy, anti-inflammatory drugs with paracetamol.

With gastritis, a change in the color of stool to yellow is accompanied by certain symptoms:

• Bloating,
• Abdominal pain
• The appearance of temperature
• Darkening of urine
• Weight loss.

If these signs are present, then it is better not to delay visiting a doctor.

Gastritis can be identified by its characteristic symptoms, but sometimes it goes almost unnoticed, and only the color of stool can warn about the development of the disease. If the stool has become liquid or frequent constipation has begun, and at the same time it is of an unusual color, there is no need to be lazy, health is most important - consult a doctor to eliminate any guesswork and prevent the occurrence of complications of the disease.

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Source: https://spacream.ru/bolezni/gastrit/czvet-kala-pri-gastrite-i-ego-osobennosti

Treatment of causes of changes in stool color

If a person has an allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity to certain foods that cause chronic diarrhea, the risky food should be eliminated from the diet or its consumption reduced. This is mainly caffeine, dairy, fatty products, carbonated drinks. Keep a diary and write down which foods cause problems.

Treatment of a patient with infectious diseases is carried out by doctors from the infectious diseases department.

In case of infection, bed rest and increased fluid intake are usually prescribed (to prevent dehydration). It is advisable to use drugs that cleanse the intestines (for example, drugs containing dichloroquinoline). In severe cases, antibiotics are also prescribed.

In most cases, green stool is a condition that does not require concern. Long-term persistence of the problem may indicate the presence of a serious illness, but a one-time case may indicate the presence of natural dyes (from spinach, broccoli) in the stool.

Treatment for green stool caused by salmonella

Treatment of salmonella depends on the clinical form of the disease and the patient’s immune status. Therapy is symptomatic. The most important thing is to replenish fluids and minerals.

Treatment consists of:

• rehydration (oral and parenteral);
• diets;
• drug therapy;
• Antibiotics (penicillin, cotrimoxazole, quinolones).

In all acute diarrheal illnesses, rehydration is critical. It should take into account the basic daily fluid requirement, stool volume, vomiting, and temperature.

For salmonellosis, it is important to exclude all fatty, irritating foods, milk, meat, including diet ham, chocolate, leafy vegetables, fresh fruits (except bananas, grated apples). The diet includes mashed potatoes, rice, root vegetable soup, dry bread. Gradually, as the condition improves, pasta, lean meat, and fruits are added.

Medicines used include intestinal disinfectants and adsorbents. Drugs that slow down intestinal motility are not suitable for salmonellosis, because they enhance the absorption of toxic bacterial products.

Treatment of green stool caused by malabsorption

Symptoms should disappear once the offending foods are eliminated. If you are lactose intolerant, avoid milk and some dairy products. You can try lactase tablets, lactase-containing milk, or milk without milk sugar.

If you have celiac disease, you must follow a gluten-free diet that excludes products from wheat, rice, oats, and other grains. Gluten is also found in a number of processed foods, so it's a good idea to carefully research what ingredients are in each product.

Patients with malabsorption are prescribed high doses of vitamins and minerals. In case of lactose intolerance, calcium intake is increased (the daily dose of the supplement is 500 mg 2-3 times a day). Tablets containing live Lactobacillus bacteria may reduce flatulence, diarrhea and other symptoms associated with taking antibiotics, such as green stool. Lactobasillus acidophilus restores the natural intestinal microflora disturbed by drug therapy and diarrhea.

Treatment of green stool caused by parasitic infections

Parasites sometimes disappear on their own. But specialized treatment is always advisable, especially if symptoms are long-lasting.

Each disease has a specific treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to use antibiotics, sometimes corticoids, drugs that act directly against parasites. The choice of method always depends on the severity of the condition.

In most cases, the body copes with viral diseases on its own. Regular replenishment of fluids and proper nutrition are sufficient. The body needs to replenish missing minerals lost during diarrhea and vomiting. During treatment, auxiliary drugs in the form of probiotics and minerals can be used to support the exhausted body and stabilize the intestinal microflora.

Mild forms of bacterial infections are treated with sufficient fluids and a strict diet. Activated carbon and other anti-diarrhea medications are used. Imodium and Hilak forte are prescribed. For localized inflammation, antibiotics are used. In severe cases, hospitalization is required.

Treatment for green stool caused by anal fissure

An anal fissure either heals on its own or usually becomes chronic after 3 days. Treatment can be conservative or surgical. Conservative therapy includes sitz baths (in a decoction of chamomile, oak bark), laxatives, suppositories with a substance that affects the tension of the anal sphincter (antispasmodics), and analgesics.

The goal of surgical treatment is to heal the crack itself in the wall of the rectum and influence the tension of the anal sphincters. Dilatation (enlargement) of the rectum is performed under local or short general anesthesia. The expansion provides blood circulation to the torn edges of the crack, improving healing.

The crack is also removed (excision). This is a less effective method and does not affect sphincter tension. The first choice method is the Eisenhammer operation or internal lateral partial sphincterotomy (intersection of 1/3 of the height of the internal sphincter). This is a delicate surgical procedure that can lead to fecal incontinence and should be performed by an experienced proctologist.