Normal stool for a 4 year old child. What to do if a child has constipation: proper treatment depending on age

All parents are concerned about the health of their child. They may notice a change in the color of his stool, which is why they immediately begin to sound the alarm. Light-colored stool in a child in the absence of other symptoms is not a pathology. Such changes occur for various reasons, including those that do not threaten the baby’s health. In this article we will figure out why the color of a child’s stool may change and what to do in such cases.

The topic may not be attractive, but parents of a young child should be aware of what is happening to his body. It is important to know what type of stool is normal.

Character of feces

Compound

The stool should be about 75 percent water. The rest is a combination of dead and live bacteria that help digest food in the intestines, proteins, food waste, fats, salts and substances from the intestines and liver.

Smell

It is not surprising that the smell of feces will be unpleasant. Bacterial activity in feces creates a number of compounds and gases that cause this “odor.” However, as a rule, the stool of children who are breastfed has virtually no odor. If parents feel that the smell is too unpleasant, they can contact their pediatrician.

Color

Babies who are breastfed daily receive different micronutrients depending on their mother's diet. Depending on this, the color of the baby's stool may vary slightly. On the other hand, stool also changes in infants who are fed exclusively dairy products and receive the same type of food every day. The reason is that the baby's intestinal flora (the composition of bacteria living in the intestines) changes.

Consistency

Baby stool can be hard like butter or runny like yogurt. Babies usually have yellowish stools that are grainy and runny. However, infants fed dairy produce pudding-like stool. And if the baby has pellet-shaped stool, there is probably some problem.

Frequency of bowel movements

Most parents believe that the frequency of their child's bowel movements is not very important. However, this is not the case, and there are certain “rules”: for example, at six months of age this should happen at least once and no more than six times a day.

At this age, the rate at which food moves through the intestines becomes slower because if food passes through the gastrointestinal tract too quickly, the body does not receive enough nutrients. At the same time, food should not be delayed too much, as this may cause constipation.

Age

Newborn

A newborn baby's stool is sticky and black and green. It begins to form in his intestines shortly before birth. It contains bile, hair, or what the baby ingested in the uterus. As a rule, it has no odor. After a few days, the stool becomes watery and yellowish. It is noteworthy that a newborn baby's bowel movements are quite frequent: parents can change ten diapers a day.

Second to fourth month of life

During this period, the number of bowel movements is set to approximately four times a day. They most often occur if the baby is breastfed. However, due to the high concentration of nutrients in breast milk, it can be given to the baby only once a week, and the rest of the time fed with formula.

Fifth to twelfth month of life

When a child begins to eat solid food, stool changes: it becomes more rare (1-2 times a day) and denser. Children who remain exclusively breastfed at this age still have frequent and loose stools.

First-third year of life

During the second year of life, the child's stool becomes even more dense. Between the 12th and 18th months, parents may notice large undigested pieces of vegetables in the stool. The reason for this is that the intestines are not used to “working” with such food, and problems may arise. However, this will pass on its own: over time, absolutely all food will be digested normally.

Video - What is the norm for a baby?

What could stool be like?

The color of a baby's stool depends on the reaction to processes occurring in the body. Since a child cannot always explain what is bothering him or how he is feeling, a change in the color of his stool is the first sign of health problems.

The color of stool can be brown, yellow, white, gray, green, black, etc. In infants, changes in the color of stool occur more often than in older children. The thing is that the mother's diet affects the color and consistency of children's feces. Normally, newborn feces are mushy, yellow-brown and odorless. Light-colored feces in a child at this age can be formed due to the introduction of complementary foods with dry formulas. It is not difficult to distinguish this from pathology: this phenomenon goes away in about 2 - 3 days.

This phenomenon can also be caused by the process of teething. During this period, the immune system is weakened, and the body becomes more vulnerable to pathogenic microorganisms, which cause light-colored stool in the child. If the baby has been given antibiotics for a long time, the color of the feces may also change. This indicates problems with the colon microflora (dysbacteriosis) and requires treatment.

Dysbacteriosis can also form for other reasons. It is very easy to discover it yourself. The color of stool can be any color, but its consistency changes (it becomes either liquid (diarrhea) or hard (constipation)). There may be mucus or pus in the stool. A sign of the disease is a strong putrid odor of feces and colic. If signs of dysbacteriosis are observed in a child, he should be immediately shown to a doctor.

Causes of white stool in children

The causes of light-colored stool, which are described below, are observed mainly in children over one year of age. This phenomenon can be caused by:

inflammatory processes in the pancreas. This condition is very rare in children, but it can result in light-colored stool. With this condition, severe pain in the abdomen on the left and below is also observed;
infection. This condition is common in children. With it, all signs of intoxication are observed (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, etc.). In this case, the color of feces is light and has a gray tint. Changes in stool can be observed in the first days after bacteria enter the body or after treatment in the form of a reaction of the body to taking certain medications;
stagnation of bile. Bile contains a pigment that affects the color of stool. With pathologies of the organ, feces may become light-colored. Such conditions require urgent treatment;
Whipple's disease. This disease causes white feces in a child, with bowel movements occurring more than 10 times a day, and the feces have a liquid consistency with a strong, unpleasant odor.

Modification of feces can occur for a variety of reasons, but most of them, as practice shows, are harmless and go away within a few days. But if there is a general deterioration in the condition, you should urgently consult a doctor. Such conditions may indicate serious pathologies.

Causes of gray stool in children

Gray feces may appear in a child when the formula is introduced or changed. The stool becomes gray with a silvery tint in children whose mothers often feed them goat's or cow's milk. If the stool is hard and gray, your baby may be constipated. Dirty gray stools with the smell of spoiled cheese may indicate the consumption of large amounts of protein foods. In this case, it needs to be reduced and more carbohydrates added.

Feces may change color when taking certain medications: Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, etc. If they are canceled, the color of the stool becomes normal.

There are times when a change in the color of stool may indicate problems with the liver, pancreas or biliary tract.

If a child’s stool is gray for several days, this may indicate the development of certain diseases:

pancreatitis. Causes: insufficient development of the digestive system, improper nutrition. In children older than one year, pancreatitis can develop with excessive consumption of sweets and baked goods. Pancreatitis in children usually manifests itself in the form of light-colored stools with a strong unpleasant odor, abdominal pain, and elevated body temperature;
dysbiosis. It develops as a result of taking antibacterial drugs during pregnancy, prolonged treatment with antibiotics, and an incorrectly composed diet of the mother. Dysbiosis occurs when the balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the intestines is disturbed. In this case, the child experiences bloating and abdominal pain, light-colored stools with mucus;

hepatitis. Children who attend school or kindergarten often develop hepatitis A; this is most often associated with poor hygiene. This form of the disease occurs very rarely in children under one year of age. The child’s urine becomes dark in color, and the feces gradually acquire a light shade;
Gray stool can be observed with rotavirus infection. The child's condition worsens and the body temperature rises. The feces gradually change color and become light after 3-4 days after the onset of the disease.

The appearance of feces of a different unnatural color (green, black, etc.) is due to the same factors, so parents need to carefully monitor the child’s diet and regularly examine his body.

What to do?

Sometimes light-colored feces in a child have no effect on the health of the baby and do not indicate any pathologies. If, apart from a change in the color of feces, there are no other symptoms, parents should simply pay attention to the child’s diet these days.

You can often find reviews from mothers that, for unknown reasons, the light color of stool disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. These are precisely those cases when treatment is not required; it’s all about teething or changes in diet.

However, if, in addition to changes in the color of stool, other symptoms are observed (for example, dark urine, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, lack of appetite, extreme thirst, insomnia), and they do not leave within two to three days, you should definitely consult your pediatrician.

Diagnostics

A stool test is required to determine the health of the digestive system. There are several types of it:

Additionally, if a disease is suspected, a general urinalysis, an X-ray of the intestine, an ultrasound of the abdominal organs and an endoscopy may be performed.

Treatment

If white feces appear in a child not due to a change in diet, but due to the development of diseases of the internal organs, the doctor will prescribe treatment. It is individual - depending on the diagnosis.

If the cause is pancreatitis, treatment should be carried out in a hospital. Therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms, eliminating the cause and preventing chemical and mechanical damage to the pancreas. If a child is over two years old, he will have to fast for 24 hours - during this time the contents of the stomach are suctioned. This is necessary to prevent enzyme activation.
When the condition stabilizes, the child is transferred to a special diet, which consists of steamed, boiled or stewed food. Meals should be at least 5-6 times a day. This diet should be followed for at least a month. In parallel with the diet, drug treatment is carried out.
If light-colored feces appear due to dysbiosis, complex therapy is used, including taking medications and following a diet. It is important to eat foods that are enriched with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, for example, yoghurts, cottage cheese, kefir, etc. Vegetables and fruits not in raw form, porridge are also useful. To enrich the body with proteins, you need to eat lean meats and fish. Artificially fed infants need to be given special medicinal mixtures.
For hepatitis, treatment is also carried out exclusively in a hospital. During treatment, the child may be isolated according to the type of virus. It includes taking vitamins and special medications, restoring and maintaining liver function, detoxification, and reducing symptoms.
Whipple's disease requires complex treatment, consisting of medications, vitamins and a special diet. Therapy can take quite a long time - at least a year. During this time, you must constantly adhere to the “Table No. 5” diet, in which the consumption of fatty foods is significantly reduced.
To treat rotavirus infection, a special diet is followed and symptomatic therapy is used. Spices, fresh vegetables and fruits, milk, and fatty foods are excluded from the diet of patients. During therapy, preference should be given to fermented milk products, jelly, and liquid porridge. If the child also suffers from nausea and vomiting, it is important to prevent dehydration: for this, a weak solution of Regidron is given.

Medicines

Disease	Drugs
Pancreatitis	Enzyme preparations (“Mezim”, “Pancreatin”); analgesics; antispasmodics (“No-shpa”, “Papaverine”), glucose-based solutions, antisecretory drugs (“Famotidine”, “Octreotide”), drugs to improve microcirculation (“Trental”, “Dipyridamole”), antibiotics (for purulent, bacterial process).
Dysbacteriosis	The treatment takes place in two stages. First, antibacterial drugs, bacteriophages, are prescribed. At the second stage, replacement therapy is used - taking probiotics and prebiotics. Often used are “Acipol”, “Linex”, “Enterol”, “Lactobacterin”.
Hepatitis	For detoxification, it is necessary to administer a glucose solution, take activated carbon, and Enterosgel; to restore liver health, hepatoprotectors are used - “Essentiale”, “Silibor”; choleretic drugs - “Cholenzim”, “Hofitol”; immunomodulators – “Immunal”, “Dekaris”; antiviral medications - Interferon, Laferobion.
Whipple's disease	Antibacterial drugs (“Cotrimoxazole”); antibiotics – tetracyclines or penicillin drugs; vitamin complexes.
Rotavirus infection	Detoxification drugs (Smecta, Enterosgel, activated carbon); antipyretics (Nurofen, Panadol); antispasmodics (“No-shpa”); probiotics, prebiotics (Linex, Acipol).

Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of light-colored stool in children, it is necessary:

wash your hands regularly;
include vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy products in the diet;
thoroughly process food before consumption;
For a nursing mother, carefully monitor your diet.

Let's sum it up

Light-colored feces in a child can occur due to an incorrectly selected diet or a developing disease, which is important to detect and treat in time - otherwise the life and even the health of the baby may be in danger. Parents need to monitor their child’s condition and, if it worsens, immediately consult a doctor.

If the lightening of stool is episodic, and the child’s condition does not suffer at all, then nutritional factors are a common cause. If light-colored feces occur against the background of fever, general malaise that lasts for several days, or vomiting, then we can talk about a pathological aspect. In any case, to clarify the disease, it is necessary to carry out a differential diagnosis and exclude any harmless factors that provoke lightening of the stool. Panic in this case will not bring any benefit, but all parents need to know about possible pathological processes accompanied by lightening of stool.

Features of baby feces

If the liver produces bilirubin in normal quantities, then the color of the stool will be brown, light brown. In case of liver dysfunction, one of the symptoms is the color of the stool, but in addition to the lightening of the stool, the child’s urine should be examined. With pathological dysfunctions of the liver structures, the patient’s urine turns dark, cloudy.

Basically, the color of baby stool depends on nutritional factors. The more dairy products in your diet, the lighter the stool will be. In newborns, the entire diet is based on the consumption of infant formula or breast milk. With artificial feeding, the baby's stool will always be denser than with natural feeding. The task of pediatricians and parents is to be attentive to any changes in the child’s behavior and to conduct monthly monitoring of health indicators (stool, blood, urine tests, weighing and examination).

Predisposing factors

If light-colored stool is detected in a child, his general condition should be assessed, his urine examined, and his daily diet considered. Perhaps the menu selected by the parents is simply not suitable for the child. If your child's light-colored stool has become the norm, you should contact your pediatrician to select the optimal diet. If necessary, the child should be examined by other specialists in the field.

Signs of pathological processes

In almost 80% of all cases, the reason for the lightening of the child’s stool is a change in diet or its incorrect composition. This type of feces lasts for several days, after which it regains its normal color. The remaining 10% of children have a burdened clinical history, some complications from the functioning of internal organs or systems. Here they pay attention to all the nuances of changes not only in the child’s condition, but also in his bowel movements. If, against the background of light-colored stool, the child experiences obvious suffering, and the following symptoms are added to everything, then this requires immediate clarification and correction:

cloudiness and darkening of urine (dark urine with light stool indicates viral hepatitis);
stool liquefaction, diarrhea (the number of urges tends to be 10 or more);
intense abdominal pain;
high temperature, not brought down by anti-heat agents;
malaise, muscle weakness;
strong feeling of thirst;
emotional instability (mobility along with indifference).

All these signs are not normal. You should consult a doctor or call an ambulance. Emergency assistance is especially needed for vomiting and diarrhea in young children. Children have a very difficult time dealing with dehydration. It is enough to lose only 25% of the total norm and restoration of the water-salt balance must already be done in intensive care conditions. To compare the diagnosis to find out why the child has light-colored stools, you need to take into account many different factors. The high mortality rate of children under 3 years of age from intestinal disorders is due precisely to complications of intoxication (dehydration, septic shock, vomiting and diarrhea).

Light-colored stool and disease

Attentive parents always notice the slightest deviations from the norm, any changes from the usual way of life. Unfortunately, more and more children are born with congenital developmental pathologies or have hereditary factors that determine their future health. It is the perinatal development of the child that largely determines the clinical history of the little patient in the future. In some cases, lightening of the stool can signal serious diseases of the child’s internal organs or systems.

Possible pathologies

The main possible ailments include the following:

Development of dysbacteriosis. In addition to lightening, greenish streaks are present in the stool. With advanced dysbacteriosis, the stool foams and has a foul odor. The child often suffers from colic, and sometimes the stomach can feel very tense to the touch. A rash resembling hives may appear. The rash is localized on the child's stomach, butt or face.
Hepatitis A, B, C. Hepatitis is a serious disease that affects liver tissue and leads to serious complications, including the development of liver failure. A characteristic feature of hepatitis is a combination of light-colored stools and very dark urine. Even a doctor cannot diagnose hepatitis on his own, only on the basis of laboratory and instrumental studies.
Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. The disease is mainly registered in adult patients, but sometimes occurs in children. Light-colored feces are accompanied by frequent vomiting, nausea, pain in the abdominal area of unknown localization, and high fever.
Bend of the gallbladder. The bend is often an anatomical feature, an anomaly of formation. Over time, the child gets used to this form of the gallbladder; the condition does not cause any particular problems. Only systemic monitoring of a small patient is recommended. Clarification of stool here consists in the difficulty of separating the entire volume of coloring pigment, bile.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The cause of the pathology, especially in newborns, can be congenital malformations of the epigastric organs, anomalies in the structure and size of the organs. Pathologies can also develop as the child grows under the influence of various endogenous or exogenous factors.
Rotavirus infection. Rotaviruses are accompanied by a clear clinical picture with deterioration of health, increased body temperature, diarrhea and other signs. The first day after infection, the stool in children has a yellowish pale tint, but in subsequent days the stool will clearly resemble white clay.
Whipple syndrome. A rare disease, often of an autoimmune nature. The pathology is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes and the development of persistent iron deficiency anemia. The number of acts of defecation per day can reach 8-10 times, while the consistency of the stool will be formed. The smell of feces is unpleasant, the color has a grayish tint. A child has light-colored stools, like clay, that occur precisely with this disease.

Other symptoms that characterize abnormal abnormalities should be considered. Thus, the appearance of blood impurities in a child’s stool may indicate both Whipple’s syndrome and advanced dysbacteriosis. Internal hidden bleeding is possible. Here you should take a stool test for occult blood. Sometimes the child’s condition, even with pathologically altered stools, may not suffer. Of course, this does not apply to rotavirus infection.

Important! Light, almost white feces in children can also appear against the background of a burdened allergy history. Thus, with the allergic nature of changes in stool color, corrective therapy for the contributing condition is required. Timely therapy allows you to get rid of disturbing stools in 3-4 days. Only the attentiveness of parents and adequate participation of doctors will help the child overcome all possible illnesses.

Yellow feces

Normally, baby feces are yellowish in color and have a soft, mushy consistency. Darkening of the stool occurs as the child ages, when a new diet is formed. When consuming pureed pumpkin, carrots and beef, the baby's stool will be bright yellow. A slight change in the color of the stool may indicate various disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Saturated yellow stools, up to an orange tint, indicate a disruption in the functioning of the pancreas, kidney or liver structures. This occurs due to difficulty in removing bile. The feces are colored the color of bile.

Darkening of urine with light yellow stool in a child or a change in its color may indicate the development of inflammation of the kidneys and urinary tract (pyelonephritis, cystitis). Typically, the development of inflammation is accompanied by an increase in temperature and a burning sensation when urinating.

A change in the color and consistency of stool while the child remains in normal health does not require serious medical correction. Seeing a doctor is necessary if abnormal stool persists for more than 5 days, as well as if unpleasant symptoms appear in the form of nausea, excessive regurgitation of curdled masses, vomiting in older children. The child’s body requires special attention, an individual diet and constant examinations by doctors. This is the only way to ensure the child’s full development without illness.

But perhaps it would be more correct to treat not the effect, but the cause?

What does light-colored stool mean in children?

Light-colored stool in a child can signal many problems. It is by the consistency and color of stool that parents can judge the problem conditions of the child. But you shouldn’t panic right away, because feces sometimes change color due to the fact that the baby was fed a new product. Therefore, the mother must first analyze the events preceding such changes.

What affects the color of stool?

It is worth taking into account the fact that at each age children's stool has a different color. As soon as the baby is born, its stool is called meconium. Such stool will have an almost black color and a very viscous consistency. In the first 3-4 days, this situation is normal; later, the stool will begin to lighten. It is also considered normal if the discharge has yellow or white inclusions with a small amount of mucus.

A week after birth, the feces will take on a normal appearance - light yellow or light brown in color and liquid consistency. In a healthy child, stool should be homogeneous and at the same time have the smell of fermented milk products. Until the baby is 3 months old, green or mucous inclusions may still be found in his discharge. This is normal for babies.

The darkening of stool directly depends on the quantitative content of a pigment such as bilirubin. This substance is produced in the liver and is removed from the body in urine and feces.

In many ways, the color and consistency of the discharge depends on the foods consumed. Babies under one year of age are mostly breastfed, so dairy and plant foods make the stool light and liquid. The more milk, the lighter the stool. As the child's diet changes and heavier foods appear in it, the stool will become darker and harder. If a child has white feces, then the mother must remember what she ate or what she fed the child, which could reflect this color in his feces.

Light-colored stool in a child, even white, can be caused by excessive consumption of calcium-containing foods. For example, a mother, worried about the development of her baby’s skeletal system, begins to overfeed him with cottage cheese or sour cream. As a result, the baby begins to use it to go to the toilet. Light-colored stool can also be caused by carbohydrate foods. And of course, we shouldn’t forget about the teething period, when most babies’ stool changes color and also becomes liquid.

To understand why the contents of a child’s diaper change, first of all, you need to pay attention to the accompanying factors: how old is the baby, what does he or the mother eat, and whether teething has begun. Answering all of these questions will help significantly narrow down the potential causes of changes in children's feces. It is also worth paying attention to the general condition of the baby: does he have vomiting or fever, has his appetite deteriorated, or has his night sleep been disturbed. If at least one of these conditions is inherent in the baby, then you need to seek help from a specialist. After all, it is quite possible that light-colored stools are a sign of the development of some disease.

White stool may indicate hepatitis. But parents should not immediately panic, as this disease is accompanied by other symptoms. First of all, the urine darkens. If the mother saw that everything was fine with this, then there is no need to be nervous and worry again. Discolored stool may indicate other problems.

Formula-fed babies usually have firmer stool consistency. Its color can vary from gray to yellow. The color change may be due to a change in the mixture or the introduction of new foods into the diet. For example, if the baby is already one year old, then he can be given beets in small quantities. Accordingly, its discharge will immediately acquire a darker color.

Why does feces turn white?

The reasons that provoke light-colored stool in a child may be associated with the following conditions of the body:

Flu or rotavirus infection. In such a situation, the feces will not only lighten, but also acquire a gray tint. Such changes are observed not on the first day of the disease, but after 3-4 days, and in some cases, the stool becomes light-colored after recovery. This is a peculiar reaction of the body, which, along with feces, tries to remove the remnants of medications. If the problem is the flu or infection, then the baby will experience vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances along with light stools. Such conditions require observation by a doctor.
Biliary stagnation. The dark color of stool is caused by the presence of certain bile substances in the masses. If for some reason bile stagnation begins in the child’s body, then his secretions will begin to lighten. Here it is worth taking into account the anatomical features of the child’s body, because it is quite possible that the bile ducts and gallbladder are shaped in such a way that they are bent or twisted. This causes obstruction. And again, this situation requires control by doctors.
Inflammatory process in the pancreas. Despite the fact that this disease is more common in adults, children also suffer from it. This applies more to the age category from 4 years, when the child already has a fairly extensive diet. Inflammation of the pancreas makes itself felt not only by light-colored feces, but also by the appearance of periodic (and as the disease progresses, constant) pain on the left side under the ribs, discomfort in the upper abdomen and in the navel area. If the disease develops quickly, the pain will radiate to the lower back and back. Therefore, when the baby begins to complain of this kind of discomfort, parents should immediately take him to a gastroenterologist.
Whipple's disease. Unfortunately, little is known about this disease, since it occurs infrequently. The most striking sign of such a disease is loose stools 10 times a day, which are light gray in color. In this case, the consistency of stool can be foamy or pasty.
Reaction to medications. The children's body is more susceptible to various types of chemicals. Therefore, if a child was given antibacterial, anti-inflammatory or antipyretic drugs, then it is more likely that his stool will become different.

So that parents do not worry in vain, they must monitor the child’s condition. After all, many diseases have parallel symptoms that help to quickly identify the problem. This means that it is possible to react quickly by showing the baby to the appropriate doctor.

But, nevertheless, if a child has light-colored stool, then in most cases this is simply due to poor nutrition. As a rule, this characteristic of feces is observed in those children who consume large quantities of fatty cottage cheese, sour cream, and milk. Of course, parents prefer homemade fermented milk products, but this is what makes the stool light, viscous and even oily.

Why does stool turn yellow?

Yellow feces are normal for babies who are breastfed. For “artificial” babies, the color of feces varies in the range of brown shades. As the child grows, the color of his stool will change to a darker direction. But, again, the baby’s nutrition and the presence of any conditions play a decisive role.

The color of stool largely depends on the foods consumed. For example, if a child is fed carrots or pumpkin in large quantities, the masses will acquire a yellow-orange hue. If the color is saturated, then this may indicate the development of a pathological process in one of the organs such as the pancreas, liver or kidneys. If these organs prevent the removal of bile from the body, the stool will turn yellow.

This shade occurs in cases where the baby begins to be transferred to a new brand of formula, and the feces may have an unpleasant odor. If there are any changes in feces, parents should carefully monitor the child's condition. If the color and consistency do not change within 2-3 days, and the baby experiences additional symptoms (nausea, vomiting, fever, dark urine, etc.), then you should immediately contact a medical facility.

Dangerous situations

There are a number of cases when light-colored stool in a baby can signal the onset of a problem in the body. At the same time, it is not necessary for the baby to begin to behave restlessly. If light-colored bowel movements go away on their own after 2-3 days, then, most likely, the mother was inattentive in selecting foods for her baby. But there are a number of situations when long-term monitoring of a child can cost him not only his health, but also his life.

In addition to liquid consistency and changes in stool, such dangerous conditions include the following symptoms:

urine becomes darker and foamy;
the child begins to defecate frequently, and the frequency of this process can reach 10 times a day;
the baby complains of severe abdominal pain, and if he cannot speak yet, he tries to curl up and does not allow him to touch his stomach;
the child constantly feels sick and vomits, which is why his need for fluid increases;
The body temperature begins to rise, and antipyretics do not give the desired result.

All of these conditions require immediate response. In addition, it would be useful to get advice from a doctor if the mother notices that the baby’s light-colored stool lasts longer than a couple of days or that this appearance returns with a certain frequency. In this case, the baby will have to undergo tests to identify the true cause.

As a conclusion

But if the mother is worried about some unclear sign, then you can always show the baby to the doctor. After all, early detection of a disease makes it possible to cope with it faster and avoid possible complications. The child's body is very delicate, so parents should treat the health of their baby with special attention.

Why does my baby have white, light or yellow stool?

The color of stool is one of the indicators of human health. This characteristic of stool is especially informative in young children, who cannot always talk about their well-being. Therefore, it is quite justified that parents, especially of a baby, pay so much attention to their children's bowel movements. Sometimes the source of excitement or even panic is the appearance of white feces in a child. But this phenomenon does not always pose a danger to the baby’s health. Let's consider why a child has white stool, what is associated with the light color of stool and how dangerous it is.

Why is baby's stool white?

Experts note that white stool is very rare in children under the first year of life. Light-colored feces may appear in a child during the introduction of complementary foods. Therefore, when the baby’s stool becomes lighter, the mother must remember what new product was introduced into his diet.

Sometimes parents notice white feces in their child during teething. In this case, this is a temporary phenomenon that does not require any treatment and goes away on its own.

Another reason for light-colored stool in a child under one year old is intestinal dysbiosis. This disease is quite common in children of this age. In this case, the baby’s stool becomes frequent, liquid, often changes consistency, and may contain fragments of undigested food and mucus. A child suffering from intestinal dysbiosis behaves restlessly, sleeps poorly, may lose appetite, and lose weight.

Other reasons for the appearance of white feces in a child include the following diseases and conditions:

Taking medications. First of all, light-colored stools occur after taking medications containing calcium, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibacterial agents.
Consumption of certain foods. Products that help lighten children's stool include fatty and sweet foods, and those that contain large amounts of calcium (homemade sour cream, milk, cottage cheese).
Influenza and adenoviral infection. Most often, it is for this reason that white feces appear in a child. Typically, feces lighten a few days after the first signs of the disease appear and have a grayish tint. Sometimes a change in stool color occurs 1-2 days after recovery, as a reaction of the body to taking medications.
Stagnation of bile in the gallbladder. The characteristic brown color of stool is given by a special pigment that is secreted simultaneously with bile. If bile stagnates in the gallbladder, this pigment also does not come out, and the stool becomes lighter. This condition can be caused by obstruction of the bile ducts, although sometimes it is due to the anatomical features of the gallbladder, for example, its bending or twisting.
Hepatitis. White stools are the main symptom of hepatitis. However, you need to know that in the case of this disease, the white color of the stool is necessarily accompanied by darkening of the urine. It becomes very concentrated, resembling the color of beer. In addition, the development of hepatitis is often accompanied by pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, nausea, and deterioration in the child’s general condition.
Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. This disease, fortunately, is quite rare in childhood, but still occurs in some children. In addition to light-colored stool, the child experiences nausea and pain in the upper abdomen, which often radiates to the back and lower back.
Whipple's disease. A not very common pathology, the main symptom of which is liquid white feces in a child. The frequency of bowel movements with this disease reaches 10 times a day or more, the stool has a pungent odor and a pasty or foamy consistency.

Yellow feces in a child

Yellow feces in a baby who is only breastfed in the first months of life is normal. In babies on artificial nutrition, it normally already has different shades of brown.

At an older age, the bright yellow color of the stool, first of all, may indicate that the baby is eating a lot of orange vegetables, such as pumpkin or carrots.

At the same time, saturated yellow stool in a child may be a symptom of the development of a pathological process in the pancreas, liver, kidneys, if it is associated with impaired bile secretion. It is explained by a large amount of bile pigment, which gives the stool a bright yellow color.

In an infant, bright yellow stool often indicates poor absorption of mother's milk. The same type of stool occurs when a baby is switched to a new artificial infant formula. In this case, the stool has an unpleasant sour smell. If your child's stool does not return to normal within a few days, you should take him to your pediatrician.

In any case, in case of any changes in the child’s condition, including long-term changes in the color of his stool, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Should you be concerned when you see light-colored stools in your child?

One of the indicators of the successful functioning of a child’s body is the consistency and color of stool. No mother will remain indifferent to the non-standard appearance of the contents of a child’s potty, especially if she is not sure what such a symptom means. Light-colored stool in children does not always require immediate medical attention, but it is worth knowing about the reasons for its occurrence so as not to miss a dangerous pathology.

Stool color in children - the norm and its variations

When breastfeeding, your stool should be yellow or apricot in color.

The stool of children and adults is colored by the bile pigment bilirubin, a derivative of erythrocytes, red blood cells. The liver filters out this pigment, then removes it through the bladder and intestines. It is considered normal for children's stool to be brown in various shades.

If this is the stool of a newborn or a baby under one year of breastfeeding, then it is predominantly yellow or apricot in color. For bottle-fed or mixed-fed babies, a cream, brown or gray tint is added to the traditional color, depending on the type of complementary foods or formula.

In children older than one year, the color of the stool can be affected by the foods the baby eats. Thus, beets give the contents of the pot a red color, carrots give them a bright orange color, and drugs taken for anemia turn them dark brown or black. The predominance of meat products in baby food also turns the stool dark brown.

Changing your diet as a cause of light stools

The appearance of light-colored stools is usually very alarming for parents, but often the reason for this may simply be changes in the children's menu. Most often this is the consumption the day before of a large amount of dairy food with a high percentage of fat content - undiluted homemade milk, cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, fermented milk drinks. They can give the stool a light yellow or light cream tint.

The same color of stool may appear when a child eats a large amount of sweets. If the child feels well, does not show anxiety, there is no fever or abdominal pain, it is worth observing the stool for 1-2 days. Usually, after adjusting the diet, this symptom disappears.

Rotavirus infection and the contents of a child's potty

Fever and vomiting may be symptoms of rotavirus infection.

If, in addition to a change in the color of the stool, a child experiences an increase in temperature, as well as signs of intoxication such as diarrhea or vomiting (usually both of these signs), then it is quite possible that he has a rotavirus infection.

The stool changes color from light yellow on the first day to gray-white in the next two to three days. In addition to these symptoms, respiratory manifestations may appear: redness of the throat, runny nose, cough, as well as headache and abdominal pain.

A common symptom with this infection is refusal to eat and increased fatigue. In Whipple's disease, which is very rare and of unknown origin, light-colored stool streaked with blood is one of the characteristic signs.

Along with very frequent bowel movements, such patients can be diagnosed with anemia, polyarthritis, and enlarged lymph nodes. If signs of a viral infection appear in a child, to avoid complications, you should immediately seek medical help.

Medicines that change stool color

This symptom may be a side effect when using certain categories of medications. Stool becomes discolored due to the liver's reaction to certain medications. They may be:

Paracetamol
Acetylsalicylic acid derivatives: Aspirin, Laspal
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesulide
Antifungal: Griseofulvin
Antiepileptic drugs: Acediprol, Valproic acid, Convulex, Leptilan

If such a reaction to the use of drugs occurs, you should consult with the specialist who prescribed the treatment in order to avoid complications for the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Dysbacteriosis and light stools

Dysbiosis in children can occur after taking antibiotics.

One of the side effects of taking antibiotics can be dysbiosis - a change in the balance of microflora in the intestines and stomach towards the predominance of pathogenic bacteria. This condition is manifested by a violation of the usual stool consistency, alternating diarrhea and constipation, and the appearance of light-colored stools with pieces of undigested food and mucus.

Loss of appetite, restless sleep, weight loss due to dysbiosis are also common. You should not attempt to correct this condition on your own; you should consult a gastroenterologist.

Most likely, he will advise taking prebiotics (Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin, Acipol), after which the stool should take on a normal color and consistency.

Teething

Something that seems to have absolutely no effect on the condition of the intestines, such as the eruption of baby teeth in a baby, can also affect the color of a child’s stool. Here you just have to be patient and try not to miss the appearance of respiratory or viral infections during this period of temporary decrease in immunity. It is not necessary that light-colored stools necessarily appear in all teething babies. However, if this symptom is accompanied by the following:

swelling and redness of the gums
restless and short sleep
slight increase in temperature
loose stool
decreased appetite

To alleviate the condition, you can give a mild pain reliever and do not insist on feeding. After the teeth appear, the stool should return to normal.

Light-colored stools are a reason to get tested for hepatitis

Hepatitis can cause changes in a child's stool.

It is this reason that the child’s parents try to exclude when they see white stool, which is one of the signs of infection with the hepatitis virus. In addition, the following symptoms may be present:

darkening of urine (dark beer color)
pain in the right upper abdomen and severe bloating
yellowing of the skin
yellowing of the sclera of the eyes
loss of appetite
nausea
heat.

To clarify the diagnosis, you need to contact a pediatrician or infectious disease specialist. Most likely, they will order laboratory tests to clarify the diagnosis. Hepatitis can also have a smoothed course, when there are no other symptoms except increased fatigue and pain in the right hypochondrium.

Unidentified hepatitis is dangerous due to its transition to a chronic form, cirrhosis of the liver; it poses a threat to others, as it is transmitted through blood and most biological fluids of the human body.

Biliary tract pathologies

Discoloration of stool may be a consequence of pathologies of the biliary tract and pancreas, such as:

Inflammation of the gallbladder, or cholecystitis, can manifest itself in addition to light-colored stools, also by pain in the epigastric region after spicy and fatty foods, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Its cause may be complications after a sore throat, flu, scarlet fever, gastritis, a reaction to lamblia, worms.

Often, cholecystitis occurs as a result of abuse of fatty, fried foods in combination with a sedentary lifestyle, exclusion of vegetables and fruits from the diet. The gastroenterologist will prescribe a diet, treatment, and give recommendations for a healthy lifestyle.

Another disease that can cause light-colored stools is a kink in the gallbladder. It can occur as a complication of cholecystitis, or it can appear when the diet is not followed, the child lifts unbearable weights, or experiences prolonged stress.

The video will tell you in detail about the baby's stool:

Manifestations of the bend may include pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting after eating, increased gas formation, cracks in the outer corners of the mouth, and coating on the tongue. When the gallbladder is bent, bile accumulates, stagnates, and metabolic disorders occur. This condition is fraught with complications such as diabetes, deterioration of muscle and vascular tone, and decreased vision.

Pearlescent or light gray color of the stool appears with a disease such as pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs mostly as a result of frequent consumption of spicy, fatty, fried and smoked foods. In addition to the acute form of this disease, manifested by acute girdle pain, chronic pancreatitis may occur, which is not easy to diagnose.

There may be bitterness or dry mouth, chronic or paroxysmal pain, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, constipation. These symptoms are relieved by sitting or bending forward. Treatment in a hospital and adherence to a diet can lead to a complete recovery of the child.

Having seen light-colored stool in a child, you need to try to clarify the reason for its appearance. To do this, it is necessary to analyze his diet, medications used, and exclude teething. If the baby’s condition does not cause concern, there are no symptoms of viral, infectious or other diseases, it is enough to simply observe him for several days. If you suspect a gastrointestinal pathology, if you experience pain or fever, you should immediately seek medical help.

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Possible causes of yellow stool in a child

Yellow feces in a child can be considered an indicator of health. By the color of feces it is easy to determine what the baby is sick with.

In addition, by examining the contents of the pot, we can draw preliminary conclusions about how the internal organs responsible for metabolic processes work.

Normal color of stool in children

In a newborn baby receiving milk from the mother's breast, the stool, if there are no health problems, turns yellow or apricot.

The pigment contained in bile, bilirubin, gives the necessary color to stool. This substance is a derivative of red blood cells.

The pigment passes through the “filters” of the liver and is excreted into the bladder and intestines. Thanks to the addition of this substance, the stool turns brown, and this color can be either pale or rich.

The stool of a baby who is fed artificial milk formula is not apricot, but cream. Sometimes it turns grayish, which is affected by the components specifically contained in the product.

The color of stool in a child older than one year is also dependent on the food consumed. For example, after the intestines digest borscht, the feces of a 2-year-old baby may turn reddish.

From carrots, the contents of the pot will definitely be bright orange, and from medications to replenish iron deficiency, it will be rich brown.

The stool of a child who has entered his second year always becomes darker due to frequent consumption of meat dishes.

But not only cutlets, but also any other products that occupy a major place in the diet can affect the color of stool.

Therefore, it is considered normal if a child’s feces have the following shades:

dark brown (due to a diet consisting of a variety of foods);
light brown (appearing as a result of eating only plant foods);
black-brown (formed under the influence of constantly consumed meat products);
light yellow with a hint of orange (resulting from a strict dairy diet).

A child’s stool can also be quite light in color, which can cause concern among parents. However, in most cases, mom and dad have nothing to worry about, since the pale yellow color of the stool is the result of the baby feeding on cottage cheese, cream and milk.

It is these foods that are most often given to growing children, which is why their feces acquire a creamy color.

Sweets eaten in large quantities are often the culprit for lightening stool. If, despite the appearance of feces, a 2-year-old child feels fine and does not have a fever, then there is no need to worry about him.

Although it doesn’t hurt to monitor the baby’s condition for several days. This will help you find out if your child is experiencing symptoms such as stomach pain and diarrhea.

In children over 4 years of age, stool is bright yellow. The reason for this phenomenon is the child’s consumption of large amounts of fresh grated carrots or boiled pumpkin porridge.

But in some cases, the acquisition of yellow stool may be associated with the occurrence of pathological processes in the liver, gland under the stomach, kidneys or bile ducts.

“Problematic” child’s bowel movements

But why a child develops diarrhea, in which the intestines are emptied in masses of a yellow hue, only a doctor can determine, since many ailments manifest themselves this way.

Children over 1 year of age most often suffer from yellow diarrhea due to food intoxication as a result of eating a product that has passed its expiration date.

The degree of poisoning can be either mild, when the baby suffers only from diarrhea and abdominal pain, or severe, in which the functioning of other organs is disrupted.

An infectious disease of the digestive tract or a failure in the production of enzymes necessary for digesting food can cause a child to feel unwell.

The production of insufficient amounts of these substances is associated with a hereditary factor.

In addition, the baby's intestines may defecate yellow feces with an unnatural frequency due to individual intolerance to certain foods and drinks.

Proof that a child has a hereditary fermentopathy, that is, galactosemia, phenylketonuria or celiac disease, is usually not only diarrhea.

These diseases have symptoms characteristic only of them. Frequent yellow stools and some other symptoms also manifest themselves in diseases of the digestive system - gastritis, colitis and enterocolitis.

Doctors determine which particular illness is troubling the child by the location and nature of the pain, the frequency of bowel movements and the appearance of the stool.

Another common cause of yellow diarrhea is emotional stress in the baby.

Not less often than stressful situations, problems with stool are caused by an imbalance of beneficial and opportunistic microflora of the digestive tract.

Unfortunately, in children there is also a disease that leads to frequent yellow bowel movements, such as acute leukemia - blood cancer.

Another manifestation of a dangerous pathology is bleeding and ulceration of the walls of the digestive organs.

A 2-year-old child may suffer from frequent bowel movements with yellow feces after long-term use of drugs that destroy pathogenic microflora in the cavity of the digestive organs.

The fact is that along with harmful bacteria, under the influence of a special medicine, beneficial microorganisms responsible for the normal functioning of the digestive system also die.

In children, the balance between pathogenic and beneficial bacteria is much easier to disrupt. In addition, a small child, unlike an adult, is almost not protected from side effects.

Therefore, after a course of treatment of the baby with antibacterial drugs, his condition must be monitored for a long time. The occurrence of yellow diarrhea is a reason to urgently consult a pediatrician.

Actions before visiting a doctor

If a child often goes to the toilet, but does not suffer from vomiting, pain and other symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, then he needs to be looked after for some time.

When monitoring your baby, you should exclude foods that can stain feces from his diet. If, despite all the measures taken, the stool remains light yellow, then the child needs to be taken to the clinic.

A doctor’s consultation will be needed urgently when the parents discover that the baby’s stool has not only turned white, but also his urine has darkened.

Even a 3-year-old child can develop hepatitis or dysbacteriosis. It is also possible that the baby will begin to feel unwell due to problems with the functioning of the gallbladder.

But only a pediatrician can draw conclusions regarding the reasons for the lightening of stool, who will prescribe medications for the child that are effective, but necessarily gentle on the child’s body.

By the way, medications are also often responsible for changes in the color of stool.

If parents suspect that it was the medications that made the stool light, then they are advised to monitor whether the color of the stool changes after finishing taking the medications.

Until it was possible to get to the pediatrician, it is recommended to give Smecta powder to a child suffering from diarrhea.

Parents need to find out what their baby recently drank and ate and who he came into contact with. It is much easier to find out this from 2-year-old children than from one-year-old children, because the latter are unlikely to be able to tell their parents about anything, who will have to draw their own conclusions.

At the same time, they should focus on how the baby relates to food. If he refuses to breastfeed and complementary foods, then there is no doubt that the child is sick.

When the baby, despite diarrhea, happily feeds on breast milk, there is nothing to worry about, since soon the “yellow liquid problem” will disappear on its own.

Children over one year old can be given not only Smecta to normalize stool. Enterosorbents such as activated carbon and Enterosgel also cope well with this task.

Thanks to special medications, it will be possible to remove toxins from the body. If vomiting occurs, which often accompanies diarrhea with yellow feces, the child should be given weak tea, saline solution or plain boiled water.

A child who has a fever and pain in the epigastric region needs to be urgently taken to the hospital.

Diarrhea, supplemented by the listed symptoms, may indicate the development of serious pathologies.

Therefore, having realized that it is impossible to cope with diarrhea and unpleasant sensations on your own, you need to rush to the doctor so that the doctor examines the sick child.

In desperation, you should not resort to folk remedies, as they may turn out to be useless, and the time during which the necessary measures could be taken will be lost.

So, a child’s stool turns yellow for various reasons. Usually, light-colored stool is associated with the consumption of certain foods, but in some situations, yellow stool is a sign of disease.

Light-colored stool in children does not always require immediate medical attention, but it is worth knowing about the reasons for its occurrence so as not to miss a dangerous pathology.

Stool color in children - the norm and its variations

When breastfeeding, your stool should be yellow or apricot in color.

Changing your diet as a cause of light stools

Rotavirus infection and the contents of a child's potty

Fever and vomiting may be symptoms of rotavirus infection.

A common symptom with this infection is refusal to eat and increased fatigue. In Whipple's disease, which is very rare and of unknown origin, light-colored stool streaked with blood is one of the characteristic signs.

Medicines that change stool color

This symptom may be a side effect when using certain categories of medications. Stool becomes discolored due to the liver's reaction to certain medications. They may be:

Paracetamol
Acetylsalicylic acid derivatives: Aspirin, Laspal
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesulide
Antifungal: Griseofulvin
Antiepileptic drugs: Acediprol, Valproic acid, Convulex, Leptilan

If such a reaction to the use of drugs occurs, you should consult with the specialist who prescribed the treatment in order to avoid complications for the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Dysbacteriosis and light stools

Dysbiosis in children can occur after taking antibiotics.

Loss of appetite, restless sleep, weight loss due to dysbiosis are also common. You should not attempt to correct this condition on your own; you should consult a gastroenterologist.

Most likely, he will advise taking prebiotics (Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin, Acipol), after which the stool should take on a normal color and consistency.

Teething

To alleviate the condition, you can give a mild pain reliever and do not insist on feeding. After the teeth appear, the stool should return to normal.

Light-colored stools are a reason to get tested for hepatitis

Hepatitis can cause changes in a child's stool.

darkening of urine (dark beer color)
pain in the right upper abdomen and severe bloating
yellowing of the skin
yellowing of the sclera of the eyes
loss of appetite
nausea
heat.

Biliary tract pathologies

Discoloration of stool may be a consequence of pathologies of the biliary tract and pancreas, such as:

The video will tell you in detail about the baby's stool:

Noticed a mistake? Select it and press Ctrl+Enter to let us know.

Tell your friends! Share this article with your friends on your favorite social network using social buttons. Thank you!

What does light-colored stool mean in adults and children, causes and diagnosis

Blood, feces and urine are the main components of the initial diagnosis of any disease. It is their indicators that indicate the direction of the diagnostic search. The “root” of pathological processes is determined.

Other diagnostic methods - bacterial analysis, morphological studies, instrumental methods, etc., are aimed at determining the genesis of the disease, its localization and severity, helping the doctor select an effective treatment plan.

What, for example, does light-colored feces in adults and children indicate, what changes in the body does it indicate?

Causes of light-colored stool in adults

Processes of changing the color scheme of human feces always indicate intestinal problems. Examination of feces gives specialists the opportunity to identify any pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Light-colored feces in an adult can occur due to dietary habits and excessive consumption of:

potato and rice dishes;
sweets, juices and confectionery products based on starch and juice of the tropical fruit tapioca;
dairy and fermented milk products;
dairy cream, full fat sour cream and butter
alcoholic drinks of dubious quality.

Lightening of feces can be caused by:

medicinal calcium containing medications;
drugs for acid-dependent diseases (antacids);
means that relieve diarrhea;
X-ray contrast agent – barium sulfate;
antibiotics and drugs used in the treatment of heterogeneous diseases.

Usually, the effect of such provocative factors does not cause significant concerns or changes in well-being. After 5-6 days, having adjusted the diet and eliminated provoking factors, the stool returns to normal and acquires its usual color.

What should attract attention?

If the feces become light and dark urine appears along with it, signs of intoxication, fever or elevated temperature, the stomach swells from the accumulation of gases and there is a sharp weight loss - this cannot be ignored, since these symptoms indicate serious problems in the digestive organs.

In particular, the development of pathological processes in the liver, infectious intestinal lesions or functional disorders of the gallbladder.

Diseases that cause the appearance of light-colored stool

Diseases that cause lightening of stool

A number of diseases cause pathological disorders in the gastrointestinal tract as a result of which discoloration of feces occurs. These include:

Diffuse inflammatory diseases of the liver, due to infection with specific viruses of various hepatitis genotypes.
Bacterial and viral damage to the gallbladder (cholecystitis), causing impaired bile secretion.
Obstruction of the openings of the pancreatic ducts during pancreatitis, which can completely disrupt intrasecretory functions.
Enzymopathy is a violation or complete absence of the production of enzymes by the pancreas.
Inflammatory processes of the entire digestive tract (Crohn's disease) and intestinal flu, disrupting normal digestion.
Malignant formations in the gastrointestinal tract.

All this is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms:

Formation of suppurative foci and fistulas in the intestines;
Violation of body thermoregulation;
Nausea and dizziness.

Sometimes bile stagnation causes abdominal pain and light-colored stools.

1) Very light-colored stool can appear either due to completely harmless reasons (excess dairy and plant foods), or due to various pathological processes. Usually these are problems of the liver and gallbladder.

Very light color of stool in adults, photo

The pathology is caused by a lack of bile secretion and its insufficient separation due to the formation of stones in the intestines. Promote its formation - dysfunction of the digestive system and disruption of the processes of natural bowel cleansing.

Very light-colored stool accompanied by unpleasant odors is evidence of a functional disorder caused by the inability of the gastrointestinal tract to completely digest fats and absorb them against the background of obstruction of the pancreatic ducts, malignant formations in the gallbladder or pancreas.

Caution should be shown when the problem is periodic or permanent. A single manifestation is most likely related to diet.

2) Light green feces, in addition to a green vegetable diet or vegetarian diet, are promoted by stagnant processes in the small intestine caused by neoplasms or ulcerative lesions in its cavity.

Acute inflammatory processes in the intestines lead to massive death and accumulation of white blood cells in its lumen, which acquire a light green color and smell of rot.

Feces acquire a pathological light green color due to a microbial imbalance in the large intestine or with general infectious intoxication of the gastrointestinal tract (dysbacteriosis and dysentery).

The frequent occurrence of such symptoms requires a serious examination to avoid further complications.

3) Light yellow feces. The cause of the pathology lies in pathological functional disorders in the pancreas. This is expressed in a lack of secretion of digestive enzymes, designed to ensure uninterrupted absorption and digestion of fats.

The general processes of digestion are disrupted, leading to a change in the color of normal light brown stool to a light yellow color.

Pathologies of the gallbladder and liver diseases also lead to a change in the color of feces. Failures in the processes of bile secretion are caused by bilirubin entering the gastrointestinal tract in its natural, non-oxidized form, which gives the stool a light yellow color.

This is accompanied by a more saturated color of urine and severe gas formation in the intestines caused by fermentation of its contents.

One of the reasons for the change in normal color is excess milk intake. This phenomenon can occur in children fed breast milk. Light yellow feces in a child after a year often appear after eating milk porridges and dry milk formulas.

This is not a pathology, but a normal physiological manifestation of a still incompetent pediatric gastrointestinal system.

Gray feces - when is a disease possible?

Gray feces, photo

With normal light brown stool, its color is due to processed bile pigment, but its strong discoloration to a light gray color indicates a lack of bile in the intestines.

Violation of its entry into the organ is evidence of the presence of pathological changes caused by:

Inflammatory narrowing of the bile ducts.
Blockage of ducts by tumor formations.
Inflammatory processes in the gallbladder (with cholecystitis).
Inflammatory foci in the pancreas (mainly with pancreatitis).
Inflammatory processes affecting the entire gastrointestinal tract (Crohn's disease).
Tumors in the liver, gallbladder or pancreas.

The formation of light gray feces can be caused by:

addiction to foods high in fat;
use of barium X-ray contrast agents;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics;
anticoagulants and antimycotics
some oral contraceptives.

In pregnant women, this color of stool may be the result of allergic reactions.

Causes of light-colored stool in a child

In most cases, the appearance of discolored feces in children is due to a not fully formed digestive system. This fact is considered a physiological property of the child’s body and should not cause concern.

In other cases, the following may serve as a provocative factor:

improper diet of the child - fatty milk and fermented milk foods;
excess sweets;
long-term treatment with antibiotics, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs;
Quite often, color changes occur during the eruption of the first teeth.

Having eliminated all causative factors, the child’s bowel movements return to normal. The little man is unable to explain to his parents what is bothering him and where it hurts.

It is necessary to closely monitor the child's natural waste and pay attention to possible changes in the color of the urine. With internal problems, the urine usually becomes dark.

In children one year old and older, light-colored feces may appear due to:

1) Rotavirus gastroenteritis. A change in the color of feces is accompanied by diarrhea, a general deterioration in health, symptoms of intoxication and fever.

In subsequent days, the color of the stool takes on a light yellow color, and on days 2-3 it becomes pale gray. Respiratory symptoms, signs of polyarthritis and enlarged lymph nodes appear.

2) Dysbacteriosis. The provoking factor is antibiotics, which cause a bacterial imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract towards an increase in pathogenic microorganisms.

A child's stool is manifested by a series of diarrhea and constipation, with the inclusion of mucus and undigested food fragments. Possible symptoms include apathy towards food, poor sleep, weight loss.

3) Focal inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). The disease can be suspected by the color of the urine; it resembles a dark beer. Symptoms include:

light-colored stool, abdominal pain (in the upper part) and bloating;
yellowing of the skin and outer membrane of the eye;
apathy towards food and high temperatures;
signs of intoxication.

The clinical picture can manifest itself in a mild form, when severe fatigue and pain in the hypochondrium are the only symptoms.

If not detected in a timely manner, the disease becomes chronic, increasing the risk of developing cirrhosis.

4) Gastrointestinal pathologies - dyskinesia of the bile ducts, bending and inflammatory pathologies of the gallbladder and pancreas. They appear as a consequence of ENT infections, scarlet fever and influenza, gastritis, as a reaction to helminthic infestation or as a consequence of an improper diet.

As a complication of the inflammatory processes of cholecystitis, a deformation of the gallbladder (kink) is formed, causing accumulation and stagnation of bile, contributing to the disruption of metabolic processes. It is complicated by the development of diabetes, decreased vascular and muscle tone, and decreased visual function.

At the slightest suspicion of internal problems, you should immediately contact a specialist. It is important to eliminate the cause in time and prevent the development of pathology.

What to do when to go to the doctor?

If there is a prolonged change in feces to a light color and there are obvious symptoms of poor health, it is imperative to go to the doctor for a consultation. As prescribed by your doctor, take the appropriate tests and undergo the necessary diagnostic examination.

Monitor the dynamics of the development of pathological processes - if the manifestation of light-colored stool in adults and children for a long time is accompanied by signs of internal diseases - the need for urgent treatment is obvious.

Light-colored stool in a child

so what scares you? would it be better for you if the poop was coal black?

Well, maybe it’s from the dairy. Lord, such questions)))

Green feces in a child

We fed the baby, my son went to the toilet only with our help. Now we switched to NANcomfort, the stool has become dark green in color, there is bloating, but the child feels good. Just wondering if the color will change over time? or it will remain so frightening.

light-colored stool in a child

If the stool is not white or gray, then it’s okay.

Light-colored stool in a child

maybe there are not enough enzymes, or fatty milk is not digested, it happens

Light-colored stool in a child.

We've been here for three days now. Light doesn't eat well, almost nothing but sweets.

light-colored stool in a child

Another question is, why do you give your child a liter of milk?

naturally milk! all is good.

White feces in a child. what is this for?

Intestinal dysbiosis, 9 month old child

When we were ten months old, we ended up in the hospital with an intestinal infection, the same thing happened, and sometimes the stool could come out in flakes, after discharge we drank Creon 10,000, Acipol and liquid diluted in jars, I don’t remember the name, they are expensive 5 pieces (half a course) 1000 rubles . It is called from three letters, and the key is something like an immunoglobulin complex. And on a diet, malashki porridge, no yoghurts, cottage cheese or other dairy products. Only a mixture was allowed.

Get tested for dysbiosis, sensitivity to antibiotics and bacteriophages. And then act on the results. We took such a test for a fee, also at 9-10 months, but after antibiotics it started to fail. They didn't find anything at the clinic. And for a fee, staphylococcus and klebsiella were found, treated and everything went away.

A child produces white poop: the main reasons for the formation of light-colored feces

The color and shape of a child's stool depends on his age and diet. Up to a year, defecation products have a mushy consistency, and their color varies from yellow to light brown. Light-colored stool is rarely excreted in a child and alarms parents with its appearance. Discolored feces can tell a lot.

What causes whitish stool?

In children of all ages, white poop indicates health problems. Stercobilin gives the stool its usual brown color. The development of any pathology causes a malfunction in the body, and the production of this substance decreases. If, apart from the changed color of the stool, no signs of illness are observed, parents should pay attention to the child’s urine. If the shade remains in the same tone, it is recommended to monitor the baby’s general well-being.

If your baby has white bowel movements, it is important to remember what he ate the day before. In an infant, changes in stool depend on the milk obtained from the mother’s body and the woman’s diet. The predominance of fermented milk products makes children's stool colorless. The color of the baby's poop may change due to the recent transition to a new formula.

Children who have access to a common table have white bowel movements due to the abuse of calcified or carbohydrate foods. For example, a large portion of curd and sour cream promotes the formation of discolored and thicker viscous stools.

One of the safe causes of light-colored bowel movements is teething. The relationship between the two events has not been fully studied, but parents often note a combination of similar phenomena. There is no need to do anything, it is only important to monitor the baby’s condition and notify the pediatrician.

Parents should also be aware that white feces in a child sometimes provokes the use of medications:

antimycotics – Griseofulvin;
Paracetamol in large doses;
antibiotics – Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Augmentin;
Aspirin and drugs with acetylsalicylic acid;
anti-inflammatory nonsteroids - Nimesulide, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac;
medications against epilepsy - Dipromal, Acediprol, Leptilan, Encorat, etc.

Diseases with symptoms of “white feces”

Let's look at why white feces may still be released. If stool changes are not related to nutrition or treatment, the disorder is due to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Defecation is affected by problems of the biliary system, intestines and liver. Thus, white stool can be a symptom of various diseases.

Rotavirus infection. The clarified stool is released in the form of diarrhea, the child vomits and the temperature rises. At first, the stool turns yellow, but on the 2nd day it resembles clay. Additionally, a picture of acute respiratory infections is drawn - headache, discomfort in the throat, runny nose, cough, poor appetite.
Dysbacteriosis. The white stool liquefies, and green mucous inclusions are visible in the masses. The stool is foamy and foul-smelling. The child complains of abdominal pain, often farts, and itches due to skin rashes.
Pancreatitis. The inflammatory process in the pancreas makes itself felt not only by whitish feces, but also by pain near the navel or in the abdomen on the right. Nausea, vomiting, thirst, temperature fluctuations require the attention of parents and consultation with a gastroenterologist.
Whipple's disease is a rare pathology in children. It manifests itself as an increase in stool frequency up to 10 p.m. per day, excretion of light gray feces, iron deficiency anemia. The child's lymph nodes become inflamed and the temperature rises.
Hepatitis. A dangerous disease will be diagnosed if for several days in a row the bowel movements are light gray in color and the urine becomes too dark. Yellowness of the skin will appear later.

What should parents be wary of?

If a child is voiding colorless masses, parents should look for additional abnormalities:

temperature;
child weight loss;
lack of appetite;
severe bloating;
changed color of urine;
baby's complaints of abdominal pain;
yellowing of the skin and eye sclera.

The combination of colorless feces with any of the listed conditions indicates the need to call an ambulance. Serious diseases such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, and biliary dyskinesia occur with such disorders.

How to treat children with white stools

If the pediatrician is unable to determine the root cause of the deviation, the child is sent for additional examination by an infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist. If hepatitis is diagnosed, the patient is hospitalized and treated with anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs (Ribavirin, Interferon-alpha). After treatment, to prevent relapses, the little patient is registered and periodically sent for examination.

If the discharge of colorless feces is associated with abnormalities of the bile ducts, the therapeutic course consists of antimicrobial and painkillers, antibiotics and vitamins.

The pancreas, which has spoiled the color of the stool, is supported with medications of different groups:

Clarified stool should not be ignored. If a newborn or one-year-old baby secretes it frequently, the baby should be examined for dysbacteriosis. In children under 12 months of age, instability of the intestinal microflora is common.
Keep track of what and how your child eats at the family table. At 2 years old, children actively imitate adults, so they may eat the wrong product or become oversaturated with their favorite dairy products.

If your child passes white stool for more than 5 days, take him to the doctor even if there are no other problems. Remember that mild situations develop into serious pathologies if time is lost.

Why does my baby have light-colored stools?

Light-colored feces in a child occur in different situations. In general, it is impossible to talk about a specific normal color of stool, because it depends on various factors. First of all, the age of the child influences. The consistency of stool in infants is mushy. The formation of stool occurs approximately after the first week of life, before which the feces are viscous and black - meconium, which gradually changes color and brightens, first green, then the color resembles apricot. The color and consistency are affected by the baby's nutrition, and the stool of infants is sharply different from that of older children.

Causes of light-colored feces

When the baby's stool becomes lighter, parents should think about it, but they shouldn't immediately label it as jaundice. It must be remembered that the brown color of feces is given by the pigment stercobilin, and if the child has light-colored feces, it means that something has gone wrong in the functioning of the digestive organs.

If the feces lighten, if the baby no longer has other symptoms, there is no need to panic. You should immediately pay attention to the color of the urine. If it is difficult to determine the color of urine, parents need to pay attention to the child’s behavior: his appetite, sleep, anxiety due to pain, and more. The child’s diet should be under the control of the mother, because the color can change when various substances enter the child’s body. For example, when a child eats a lot of dairy products, namely cottage cheese or sour cream, gray feces appear in the child due to too much calcium in the child’s body, resembling clay. The same shade is characteristic when consuming carbohydrates in large quantities.

If the diet is varied with natural dyes, then the shades of feces can be completely different. However, natural dyes cannot cause light-colored feces in a child. Only dairy and plant products lighten stool, so infants have light-colored stool. Children on artificial nutrition have feces ranging from gray to yellow. Changes also depend on the start of complementary feeding.

Pediatricians note that when the first teeth erupt, the child may also experience white feces. In any case, an extra consultation with a specialist will not hurt. The causes of changes in stool color are influenced by taking certain medications. If the child is not bothered by anything other than the detected light-colored feces, then there is no need to take special measures. Mothers should simply observe their children’s behavior and bowel movements.

Dangerous situations of light stool

If the body malfunctions, lightening of the stool is a sign of disease. Failures usually occur in the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. The reasons for such situations are as follows:

The occurrence of dysbacteriosis is characterized by the development of loose stools with the presence of green mucus in it, foaminess is sometimes observed, and feces have a sour and putrid odor. The child has light-colored stools. In addition to these signs, the child is bothered by severe abdominal pain, the stomach is swollen, the skin becomes covered with a rash, and the general condition deteriorates sharply.
Viral hepatitis is a frightening diagnosis for parents. It can be confirmed by a doctor based on a thorough examination of the child and laboratory tests. Parents can check the color of urine at home; with hepatitis, it is dark in color, reminiscent of beer. The feces become greyish. The skin and visible mucous membranes do not always immediately give a yellowish color.
Inflammatory diseases of the pancreas often affect children's bodies. Problems with the functioning of the gland can arise from the first days of life. One of the most indicative symptoms of impaired organ function is light-colored stool in a child, the amount of which increases. The child suffers from pain in the abdomen, mostly in the upper left quadrant and around the navel. Suffering from symptoms of extreme thirst, nausea with vomiting, bloating, and elevated body temperature. Changes in the organ are affected by large amounts of chocolate or other sweets eaten by the child.
If the gallbladder is bent, an ultrasound examination is performed. The bend interferes with the normal exit of bile from the bladder, and the entry of the latter into the opening in the duodenum is aggravated, stercobilin does not enter the intestines and the stool does not turn into its characteristic color.
Viral infections. Rotavirus is considered one of the most difficult to tolerate infections. Its onset is characterized by a rise in body temperature, accompanied by obvious symptoms of general intoxication. The stool becomes loose and frequent - diarrhea. On the first day, yellow stools are typical, in subsequent days the color changes, becomes lighter, and by about 3-4 days the color acquires a light gray tint. Flu symptoms accompany the disease, such as sore throat, headache, runny nose, weakness, fatigue, and hyperemia of the pharynx. The child's appetite disappears, the child is exhausted and complains of disturbing pain.
Whipple's disease is quite rare. The reasons for its occurrence are not fully understood. With this disease, a sick child can defecate from five to ten times a day; the stool is light or gray, contains admixtures of mucus and blood, and has a strong unpleasant aroma. Other clinical manifestations of the disease occur depending on the severity and stage. These include inflammatory processes in the joints, increased body temperature, iron deficiency anemia, lymphadenopathy, and pale skin tone.

Conclusion

Constipation in children- a common cause that causes significant discomfort in children and anxiety in parents. According to various sources, constipation is the reason for visiting a doctor in 3-5% of cases. Constipation is detected in 1-30% of children.

A short episode of constipation in children is common and usually lasts only a few days. The right diet and sufficient fluid volume - this, in most cases, is enough. However, some children develop chronic constipation (persistent and severe). Regularly soiled laundry (often mistaken for diarrhea) may mean your child has chronic constipation.

Normal stool frequency in children

The frequency of stool in children is not constant and varies over a fairly wide range. The following statements and norms are relatively generally accepted:

The first bowel movement (meconium bowel movement) occurs within 36 hours of birth. In 90% of children, meconium is passed in the first 24 hours of birth.
During the first week of life, the baby has an average of 4 bowel movements per day. This indicator is very variable and depends on the type of feeding: artificial or natural.
Up to 2 years of age, the average number of bowel movements can vary from 3 times a day to 1 time every few days.
After two years, the number of bowel movements is 1-2 times a day
After 4 years – 1 time per day

Despite the average statistical indicators given, a breastfed baby may not have bowel movements for 7 or even 10 days, and this may be the norm. In formula-fed children, the variability in normal stool frequency is even greater.

Classification of constipation

It is advisable to divide constipation in children into two broad categories:

Mild and/or temporary constipation that lasts only a few days. This is a very common situation that can happen again from time to time.
Chronic (persistent and severe) constipation. It is much less common. Its treatment differs from the more common – mild, temporary constipation.

So what is constipation?

Constipation in children is called:

Difficult defecation, or defecation that requires significant effort and/or
Pain during bowel movements. and/or
Bowel movements are less frequent than usual.

Note: there is a large range of normal frequency. One to three bowel movements per day is considered normal. Stool less often than once every two days can be constipation. However, this may still be normal if the child does not strain too much during bowel movements, does not experience pain, and has soft and well-formed stools.

The following criteria have been developed for the diagnosis of functional constipation (Rome III)

Bowel movements less than twice a week
An episode of stool incontinence after acquiring hygiene skills
Previously observed episodes of severe stool retention
Large stool volume

The diagnosis is made by observing at least 2 of the six listed criteria within a month.

Children aged 4 to 18 years

Bowel movements less than twice a week
Episodes of stool incontinence
Episodes of volitional retention of stool
Painful or difficult bowel movements
Large stool volume
Large diameter fecal bolus

Diagnosis is made by observation at least 2 out of six the listed criteria within two months.

What are the causes of constipation in children?

Food and drinks. Poor diet is a common cause of childhood constipation:

Insufficient content of dietary fiber, fiber (the rough part of food that is not digested and remains in the intestines) and/or
Insufficient fluid intake.

Stool becomes hard, dry, and makes bowel movements difficult when the intestines are low in fiber and fluid.

Consciously holding a chair: the child feels the urge to defecate, but resists. This is a common cause of functional constipation. You may notice this in your child by squeezing their legs together, sitting on their heels, or other similar actions that help suppress the feeling of bowel movement. Prolonged conscious retention of stool increases the volume of stool and, subsequently, makes it more difficult to pass. There are a number of reasons why children may struggle to hold stool:

the previous bowel movement may have been difficult and painful. Therefore, the child tries to postpone defecation, fearing pain and discomfort again. (anal fissure, perianal irritation, sexual abuse, hemorrhoids)
unfamiliar or uncomfortable environments (for example, public restrooms). The child may "temporarily switch off" bowel movements until he returns home.
emotional problems, depression.

Diseases leading to constipation in children

Quite a lot of diseases can lead to constipation: thyroid disease, as well as some intestinal disorders; one of the factors for constipation may be an allergy to cow's milk. If constipation is a symptom of a disease, then, as a rule, other symptoms are also present, because it is extremely unlikely that this will be the only manifestation of the disease. Some medications may cause constipation as a side effect. Anyway, If constipation is a chronic problem, you should consult your doctor.

How can you prevent constipation in a child?

Eating foods with a lot of fiber and plenty of water helps increase the volume of the stool, but at the same time the stool becomes soft and the intestines are easy to empty. Regular exercise also promotes normal bowel movements.

Jacket potatoes with baked beans or vegetable soup with bread.
Dried apricots or raisins for dessert.
Porridge or other high-fiber grains for breakfast.
Fruit with every meal.
You may not want to let your child take candy until he or she has eaten the fruit.

If children do not want to eat foods high in dietary fiber, add dry bran to yogurt. Yogurt will soften the unpleasant taste of dry bran.

Beverages. Adequate fluid intake is important for normal bowel function. However, some children have the habit of drinking only juice, soda or milk to quench their thirst. They can satisfy their appetite with them and therefore eat little food containing a large amount of fiber. Try to limit these types of drinks. Give water as the main drink. However, some fruit juices that contain fructose or sorbitol have a laxative effect (eg prunes, pears, or apple juice). This may be useful from time to time when stools become heavier than usual and you suspect constipation may soon develop.

Some other tips that may help:

Try to get your child used to going to the toilet at a specific time. After breakfast, before school or kindergarten is the best option. Try and allow enough time so that he doesn't feel rushed.
A reward system is sometimes helpful for young children who are susceptible to bowel retention. For example, a small treat after each successful trip to the toilet. However, try not to make a tragedy out of a toilet problem. The goal is for the situation to be normal and not cause tension - a matter of everyday life.

Mild/temporary constipation in children and its treatment.

Most episodes of constipation in children last only a few days. Many children strain to “squeeze out” a large or hard fecal lump. This does not really matter, the consistency of the stool will soon return to normal. Treatment for temporary constipation is the same as for preventing constipation. That is, diet with plenty of fiber, drinking plenty of fluids, and possibly fruit juice that contains fructose or sorbitol. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a laxative for a few days. During an episode of mild constipation, the functions of the lower intestine (rectum) are not affected. Therefore, you can stop laxative treatment as soon as stool becomes easy to pass again. Treatment usually takes several days.

Chronic (persistent and severe) form of constipation

Chronic constipation in children is defined as severe and prolonged defecation disturbance. It most often develops in children aged 2 to 4 years, but it occurs in both older and younger children. Symptoms and features of chronic constipation include:

Repeated situations when the child experiences difficulties or problems with bowel movements.
The child regularly soils his underwear with very soft stools or feces in the form of mucus. This is often regarded by parents as diarrhea.
The child may become irritable, eat little, feel unwell, experience abdominal pain from time to time, and generally have a low mood.
The doctor can often feel the terminal intestines filled with hard, lumpy feces when palpating the abdomen.

Next, we will try to explain how chronic constipation can develop and its symptoms. Specifically, why soiled laundry is a symptom of chronic constipation. Typically, stool accumulates in the lower part of the large intestine. If stool accumulates, it begins to pass into the rectum (the last part of the intestine), which dilates. This sends signals along the nerves to the brain saying “you need to go to the bathroom.” When relaxing the anus on the toilet, it takes a little effort to “squeeze out” the feces. But if the child ignores the signal and holds back, the feces remain in the rectum. Gradually, a large, dense fecal lump forms in the intestine. The rectum then dilates and becomes much larger than normal. This contributes to the formation of a fecal blockage, in which dense feces “get stuck” in the rectum. If the rectum remains overstretched for a long time, then the normal sensation of the urge to defecate is weakened. In addition, the muscle strength of the walls of the rectum decreases, it becomes “lazy”.

Additional portions of feces approach the fecal bolus located in the rectum. The lowest part of the stool lies just above the anus. Some of these "fresh" loads liquefy and flow out of the anus. This stains the baby's underwear and bedding. In addition, some of the soft stool, liquid stool from the overlying parts of the large intestine, can “bypass” around the fecal bolus. It also oozes from the anus and can be mistaken for diarrhea. The child has no way (!) to control this leakage and soiling of the laundry. If the stool blockage is eventually completely removed (via an enema), it quickly becomes filled with hard stool again due to the fact that the walls of the rectum are stretched and weakened.

What is the treatment for chronic constipation in children?

Eat a high fiber diet and drink plenty of fluids. This is described above, but, as a rule, in addition to this, the prescription of laxatives is required.

Laxatives

Laxatives are usually prescribed if a child develops chronic constipation. Their first goal is to empty the rectum and resolve fecal blockage. This can usually be done fairly quickly with just an adequate dose of a strong laxative. Sometimes laxative suppositories or cleansing enemas are necessary to resolve the stool blockage. After you have had a bowel movement, it is important to continue taking laxatives as prescribed by your doctor. This may be necessary for several months, and sometimes even up to two years. When a child takes laxatives every day, the following happens:

The child goes to the toilet more often and has regular bowel movements. As he goes to the toilet more often, the stool becomes smaller and softer. This will allow stool to pass more easily. The child will be freed from the fear of going to the toilet with a large, hard, painful lump.
Overdistension of the rectum decreases, and it can gradually return to normal size, functions are restored properly.

Constipation is unlikely to reoccur. If laxatives are stopped prematurely, the fecal impaction is likely to recur in the weakened ampulla of the rectum, which has not had enough time to return to normal size and regain strength.

Substances that increase the volume of feces. This is, for example, bran. They make the stool soft but voluminous.
Stool softeners. These substances liquefy and soften stool. For example, docusate sodium (which also has a weak stimulating effect).
Osmotic laxatives. For example, lactulose and polyethylene glycol. These substances retain fluid in the colon by osmosis (reduce the absorption of fluid into the blood from the lumen of the colon).
Stimulant laxatives. For example, senna or sodium docusate. They act on the muscles in the intestinal wall and “squeeze” less than usual. Sena preparations are not recommended for use in children.

Your doctor will usually recommend using laxatives. However, it is quite common to need two laxatives at the same time over a period of several months if one drug does not produce the desired effect. For example, an osmotic laxative plus a stimulant. Over time, the dose is gradually reduced and the medicine is discontinued. It is important to continue treatment as long as your doctor advises. Chronic constipation often recurs if treatment is stopped too early.

Light-colored feces in a child are not always the norm, although in infants this is usually associated with the consumption of formula and dairy products. However, with such a symptom, it is important to monitor the child’s condition: if the problem does not go away for several days, there is a fever, diarrhea, the baby feels unwell and weak, you should consult a pediatrician.

Features of feces in a child

As the child grows, both the color of the stool and its structure change. Thus, feces become more shaped due to the introduction of vitamins, fats, etc. into the diet. Food preferences also have an impact. For example, after eating beet puree, your stool and urine may turn pink. A similar thing happens when consuming other products that have a coloring pigment.

The color of the stool depends entirely on the amount of bilirubin, an enzyme responsible for the functioning of the liver. If the organ produces this component in normal quantities, the color of the stool will be light brown, but if the liver is malfunctioning, the color of the discharge may become lighter. In addition, the more dairy products a person consumes, the lighter the stool.

The task of pediatricians is to take a responsible attitude towards any changes in the child’s stool and urine, since they may indicate the presence of a disease.

Predisposing factors

Light-colored stool can occur in children of all ages. The main reasons include his eating habits. If we talk about infants and children under two years of age, then this color of stool can occur when they consume fermented milk products or too fatty foods. In this case, the structure of the stool itself will be oily. This is due to the fact that the digestive system cannot yet cope with such heavy food.

The mother’s diet, the intake of certain medications and vitamins, and the presence of diseases affect the baby’s stool.

But there are other reasons:

Teething.
Introduction of new dishes to the diet.
Eating foods high in calcium.

Having discovered light-colored excrement, it is necessary to assess the child’s condition - if he does not feel very well, he should definitely consult a doctor.

Symptoms of pathological processes

In 80% of cases, this happens when the diet changes - the light shade of stool will last for several days, then return to normal.

In other cases, the problem may be caused by a pathological process. In this case, the child’s condition worsens, and the baby may experience anxiety. If the following symptoms appear, you should definitely consult a doctor:

cloudy or darkened urine;
diarrhea;
severe abdominal pain;
elevated temperature;
thirst;
general malaise.

Such signs are not the norm. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Possible diseases with light-colored stool

The pathologies listed below can cause lightening of stool.

Dysbacteriosis

With dysbacteriosis, greenish streaks are present in the stool. If dysbacteriosis is advanced, the stool foams and an unpleasant odor appears. The child may suffer from colic, the stomach becomes tense. Sometimes a rash appears on the stomach or face.

Hepatitis

It is a serious disease that affects the liver and can cause serious complications. A characteristic feature of hepatitis is a combination of light-colored feces and dark urine. A doctor cannot diagnose this disease without laboratory tests.

Pancreatitis

This disease usually occurs in adults, but is often diagnosed in children. In this case, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever appear.

Bend of the gallbladder

The bend can hardly be called a pathology, since it is an anatomical feature of the body. Typically, this condition does not affect the child’s health in any way, and the stool becomes lighter due to difficulties with the removal of bile and coloring pigments.

Gastrointestinal diseases

The cause of pathologies in children under one year of age can be congenital problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Diseases can also develop as the baby grows older under the influence of various factors.

Rotavirus infection

It is characterized by severe symptoms: health deteriorates, body temperature rises, and diarrhea bothers you. In the first day after the disease, stool may be pale yellow, then it becomes completely white.

Whipple syndrome

A rare autoimmune disease. When it occurs, the lymph nodes become enlarged and iron deficiency anemia develops. The number of bowel movements per day can increase up to 10 times.

Allergy

In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to additional symptoms: itching, redness of the skin, sneezing, rash.

With timely treatment, such symptoms can be eliminated in 3-5 days, but only if the parents detect the symptoms in time.

What to do if you find yellow stool in your baby

Normally, a child's stool has a yellowish tint and a mushy consistency. However, when eating a number of foods (pumpkin, carrots, even beef), the stool can turn bright yellow. If the mass is closer to orange in hue, this may indicate a serious illness and dysfunction of the internal organs, especially the pancreas, for example, with problems with the excretion of bile.

If the color of stool does not return to normal within 3-5 days, you should consult a doctor, and if accompanied by vomiting or nausea, call an ambulance immediately.

Diagnosis and treatment

It is impossible to ignore the current condition of the baby, since a change in the color of stool may indicate a serious pathology and it does not matter at what age this occurs: at one year, two or four. Only by consulting a doctor can you determine what pathology led to such a change in the color of stool. To identify the problem, they may prescribe:

radiography;
blood analysis;
examination of stool and urine;
endoscopy.

Treatment depends on the cause of the change in stool color:

Pancreatitis. In this case, treatment will be carried out in a hospital. Therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms and eliminating the cause. If the disease occurs in a child over two years old, he will need to “fast” for 24 hours, since during this period the contents of the stomach are suctioned. After the condition has stabilized, it is necessary to transfer the baby to a diet consisting of boiled or stewed dishes.
Infants under 1 year of age should be given special medicinal mixtures.
For hepatitis, treatment will also be carried out in a hospital: taking vitamins, drug treatment. Therapy is aimed at restoring liver function.
If you have Whipple's disease, you need to follow a special diet No. 5 (with a minimum amount of fatty foods), take vitamins and medications. Moreover, therapy can last for a year.
Treatment of rotavirus infection is carried out with the use of medications and diet. If you have vomiting and nausea, you should use Regidron.

Since light-colored stool can be a sign of serious illness, it is very important to consult a doctor promptly.