Why does a person have black feces. Black feces in adults and children: meanings and causes

Preparation, the defecation process itself and the end result is a delicate topic, but relevant for discussion. Feces of a suspicious consistency, color, shape - can make an absolutely healthy person run to the hospital in a panic, while others are not worried about what this means.

When you see black feces at the bottom of the toilet bowl, analyze why it is black, what it may be connected with. There are quite a few reasons for this phenomenon, sometimes they are harmless and natural, but sometimes they can become an alarming sign of a disease.

Norms of color, shape, consistency of feces

In a healthy person who does not have digestive problems, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, leading a healthy lifestyle - the following norms related to the process of defecation are laid down:

Quantity and quality. The allocation of feces should occur 1-2 times a day, every day, but at least 3 times a week, subject to good health. Isolation occurs easily, painlessly, the daily amount fluctuates within 200-400 gr. There is no stool for more than 72 hours - constipation, emptying more than 3-4 times a day - diarrhea.
Form. According to the Bristol scale, feces that have a cylindrical, rounded shape are the norm, there are inclusions of undigested food, cracks on the surface.
Consistency - dense, but soft, decorated.
Smell - unpleasant, but not sharp, normally should not be putrid, sour.
Color. In an adult, healthy person who is on a balanced diet, the color of feces varies from light to dark shades of brown.

Factors affecting the color of feces

There are many reasons for changing the color of stool and it depends on what you eat, drink or take as a medicine, if there are no accompanying symptoms.

Color of feces.	Factors that influenced the result.
Light beige color, white with a gray tint.	Obstruction of the bile ducts, low salt content in bile.
Light yellow.	Nutrition with dairy products.
Light brown.	The predominance of plant foods in the menu.
Brown, dark brown.	Balanced, mixed diet.
Dark green tint.	It is observed in vegetarians who eat vegetables, fruits and plenty of fresh herbs, sea kale. Preparations containing iodine.
Dark brown with red tint	Unaltered, undigested blood. The use of foods that have a red color: beets, pomegranate, red wine.
Black brown.	Predominantly the use of meat products, black berries: black currant, blueberry. Taking activated charcoal.
The feces are black-green in color.	May be related to iron supplementation.
Black feces.	Black feces. Taking drugs containing bismuth. Symptom of internal diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: ulcer, internal bleeding, colitis, malignant tumors, etc.

One of the main causes of constipation and diarrhea is use of various drugs. To improve bowel function after taking the drugs, you need every day drink a simple remedy ...

Causes of black stools that do not require treatment

Before you start worrying about the color of your bowel movements, think about what this phenomenon could be from, consider the food you drank and ate the day before. Eating a large amount of certain fruits, vegetables, drinks significantly affects the color of feces in black.

These dye products include:

Children's surprise in black

Do not worry when you see liquid black-green feces on the diaper of a newborn baby, this is nothing but meconium - the original feces.

The first feces of the child, consisting of digested in the womb:

amniotic fluid;
epithelial cells;
bile;
prenatal hair;
leaves the intestines within two to three days of age.

In older children, the appearance of a black "surprise" in the pot may be associated with the popular food supplement Hematogen, used to prevent anemia.

Modern milk formulas, cereals and their vitamin complexes, including iron, may well give the bowel movements a dark shade.

If the child feels great, jumps, runs, eats and sleeps well, then the attack in the form of black feces should not bother you. In case of deterioration in the general condition of the baby, an increase in body temperature, the appearance of nausea and vomiting - seek medical help immediately!

Black stools in pregnant women

"Interesting position" does not affect the color changes in the feces of the woman who is in it.

The culprits are vitamins, namely their excessive amount contained in the aforementioned berries and fruits, which expectant mothers now eat "for two".

Anemia of pregnant women is not uncommon, therefore, an iron preparation prescribed at the doctor's appointment indicates a change in feces from the usual brown to unexpected black.

How does medication affect stool color?

When taking this or that medicine, it is advisable to carefully read the instructions for the drug, the side symptoms that occur in case of an overdose and not only.

The most well-known medicines that affect the appearance of black feces include:

- an enterosorbent that has an antidiarrheal, intestinal cleansing effect, removing toxins, poisons from the body, staining feces black.
Iron preparations (Maltofer, Orferon, Ektofer, Monofer, etc.) - prescribed for iron deficiency anemia.
Multivitamin complexes containing iron (Vitrum, Elevit, Multi-Tabs).
Medicines for gastrointestinal diseases, antiulcer drugs containing bismuth oxide (,).

What diseases cause black feces?

You need to start sounding the alarm when black feces occur in a combination of the following symptoms:

Nausea, vomiting, vomit with;
Fever, high, low blood pressure;
Dizziness and numbness of the limbs;
Intoxication of the body after alcohol.

The combination of these signs can indicate serious illness and mean immediate medical attention.

Disease	Description	Symptoms
(colitis).	Inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, affecting all its departments, is characterized by the formation of ulcers, wounds on the walls of the intestine.	General malaise, fever, diarrhea, liquid feces with blood impurities.
Ulcer disease.	Chronic process in the upper parts of the digestive tract, frequent localization - stomach, duodenum. The latter is more common in adult men, exacerbated by alcoholism, smoking.	Pain arising on an empty stomach, passing after eating, heartburn.
		With complications: vomiting of "coffee grounds", tarry black loose stools, anemia, tachycardia,
Gastrointestinal bleeding.	The source of bleeding can be a pathological process of any nature, localized from the esophagus to the rectum.	Paleness of the skin, lowering blood pressure, excretion of unchanged or altered blood with vomiting or feces. The more massive the bleeding, the earlier it appears, melena is a black, tarry stool.
Leukemia	Acute diseases of the blood system affecting the bone marrow.	Pain in the joints, bruising of the skin after minor injuries, in severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding occurs.

Video:

A phenomenon such as black stools may indicate a serious illness or bleeding in the organs. Therefore, when black feces appear, you should pay attention to other symptoms. Various products can also stain the feces, but in any case, you should pay attention to this and, if necessary, immediately consult a doctor.

The color of the stool depends on the work and food that entered the body during the day. However, the color, like the consistency, the frequency of the stool, has its own norm. So, for example, the color of feces from yellow-brown to dark brown is considered normal. Black color is definitely not normal for stool.

Faced with such a phenomenon, a person begins to worry about what black feces means and whether it is dangerous. You don't have to panic right away. It is necessary to remember what was eaten the day before, since the reasons can be physiological and non-dangerous, and carefully observe further signs and symptoms:

Feces can turn black when eating a large amount of black and dark foods, such as black grapes, prunes, beets. In this case, only the color changes, and not the consistency and frequency of the stool. If you stop eating these foods, your stool will return to its normal color in a couple of days. In some cases, the stool can be liquid, as prunes not only stain, but also weaken.
Some drugs can also cause changes in stool color. For example, activated charcoal, which is completely excreted with feces and stains it, iron preparations, which are oxidized in the stomach and intestines and become dark in color, preparations containing bismuth. The color returns to normal when the drugs are discontinued.
Bleeding in the esophagus and. Black feces indicate bleeding in the upper sections. The blood in the stomach oxidizes, then mixes with bile in the duodenum and turns the stool black. This is an alarming symptom that requires immediate hospitalization. possible with varicose veins of the esophagus, injuries of the esophagus, ulcers and malignant tumors of the stomach. When bleeding, in addition to black stools, other symptoms appear, for example, nausea, vomiting like coffee grounds, weakness, dizziness.

Drug treatment and possible complications

If black feces appeared not due to physiological causes, but due to bleeding, then without medical help there can be many complications and unpleasant consequences.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a life and health threatening condition. Complications after the appearance of black feces:

hemorrhagic shock. This is a serious condition of the body, which develops as a result of extensive blood loss. With hemorrhagic shock, the patient has a heart rhythm disturbance, a fall. With more than 50% blood loss, irreversible hemorrhagic shock and complete loss of consciousness develop.
. Anemia (or anemia) can also develop with small but constant blood loss. Symptoms of anemia: pale skin, chronic fatigue, dizziness, headache, tinnitus.
Acute renal failure. With blood loss, the kidneys (one or both) can stop performing their function due to insufficient blood flow, which leads to serious violations of protein metabolism in the body.
Death. The most dangerous and undesirable consequence. When trying to treat bleeding on their own, the lack of medical care and serious damage to the stomach, the outcome may be the most unfavorable.

Treatment of bleeding in the digestive tract requires compliance with bed rest, complete rest. If the source of the bleeding is identified, it is advisable to apply an ice pack to the area.

The procedure helps to determine the source of bleeding.

If FGDS showed that blood is secreted from the lower esophagus (with varicose veins of the esophagus), the source of bleeding can be cauterized immediately.

In addition, various hemostatic drugs are injected into the vein. With a serious loss of blood, a transfusion or donated blood is performed. In the event that drug therapy is ineffective, an operation is performed to resect the ulcer or source of bleeding.

Alternative treatment

It is extremely dangerous to self-diagnose and self-medicate with gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, before using any means, it is important to consult a doctor so as not to worsen your condition.

Black loose stools caused by a large amount of prunes or grapes can be treated with folk remedies when diarrhea begins against the background of a large amount of laxative products. In this case, there will be no other symptoms of illness, pain, dizziness, but there may be weakness caused by dehydration.

People's advice:

The first thing to do is to stop eating large amounts of prunes, beets and black grapes. Often this is enough. But there are times when you need to stop diarrhea quickly.
The safest remedy for diarrhea is boiled rice. It strengthens and quickly helps to overcome diarrhea. You just need to boil the washed rice in water so that you get a half-soup-half-porridge. Then drain the water and drink this rice water. The rice itself is not required. The broth should not contain salt and sugar.
There is a way to treat diarrhea with apples. You need to eat an apple without a peel every 2 hours and nothing else to eat or drink. This method can be effective for diarrhea, but if bleeding is suspected, apples cannot be eaten, they irritate the walls of the stomach, increase the acidity of gastric juice due to malic acid. It is not recommended to eat apples on an empty stomach for people suffering from gastritis or ulcers.
Good for black tea. It is enough to brew strong tea and drink it during the day. If you overdo it, you can get constipation instead of diarrhea.
A decoction of pomegranate peel gives a good effect. The peel should be washed, chopped, poured with water and boiled for about half an hour. Strained broth drink 2 tablespoons an hour before meals.
Sometimes a solution of potato starch helps. You need to dilute a spoonful of starch in a glass of cool purified or boiled water and drink this solution in one gulp.

Black stool during pregnancy

Any suspicion of bleeding when carrying a potential threat to the mother and child. Therefore, it is advisable for a woman carrying a child to consult a doctor with any questions and concerns.

However, black feces during pregnancy are not always a sign of bleeding and a serious illness. As a rule, a pregnant woman is examined for prophylaxis, but most often the cause of black stools is hormonal changes. At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman's body begins to rebuild, for this reason, a woman often has various organ dysfunctions.

During pregnancy, the color of feces may change due to elevated levels. It is this hormone that also affects frequency, mood swings, nausea, etc.

In the case of bleeding, black feces is only an initial symptom, after a while other disorders appear that will be reflected in regular pregnancy.

Be sure to consult a doctor if black stools in a pregnant woman are accompanied by fever, severe weakness, pallor, cold sweat, nausea and vomiting.

Sometimes black feces are a consequence of treating a pregnant woman for constipation. Due to the reduced tone of smooth muscles, constipation can torment a pregnant woman from the first trimester. Constipation often leads to hemorrhoids and other troubles, so women begin to actively deal with this with home remedies: eat prunes, drink dried fruit compotes, eat more vegetables and fruits, grapes, currants, blueberries. As a result, constipation disappears, but black stools appear, colored by these products. In this case, it is enough to remember your diet and reduce the consumption of black berries and fruits.

More information about the causes of stool color changes can be found in the video:

Sometimes during pregnancy diarrhea and poisoning appear, which a woman treats with relatively safe activated charcoal. And he, as you know, also stains feces.Despite the fact that most often black feces during pregnancy is a normal phenomenon, it is better to play it safe and get tested.

The presence of black stool indicates the presence of a serious disease or bleeding in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. That is why you should not ignore this problem, and you should not lose sight of the other symptoms that have appeared. Food products can also create a black color, but in any case, a visit to a specialist is necessary, since he will be able to understand the situation in detail. It is better to play it safe and go for an examination than to convince yourself that everything is normal and start problems. In this article we will understand the question: if the feces are black, what does this mean?

Black feces: causes and possible diseases

The work of the gastrointestinal tract is interconnected with the color of feces, consistency, frequency of stools. For these indicators there is a norm. Thus, the stool is normal in color from yellow-brown to dark brown. If the stool is black, this indicates a problem.

Faced with a similar phenomenon, many begin to worry. But for starters, it’s better to remember what foods were consumed the day before, since it is quite possible that the reason for the black color of feces lies in the use of certain foods.

So, let's analyze the possible reasons if the feces are black, and what this means.

Reason 1

Black stools are associated with the consumption of large amounts of dark and black foods, which may contribute to a change in the color of the stool, but not the consistency and frequency of the stool. If you stop using these products, then after a couple of days the normal color will be restored.

Important! Sometimes there is a feces of a liquid consistency, for example, the use of prunes not only causes staining, but also contributes to weakening.

Reason 2

The use of certain drugs also contributes to discoloration:

With the use of activated charcoal, stool staining in a dark color is observed.
Using iron preparations, oxidation occurs in the stomach and intestines, which contributes to a dark color.
Preparations that contain bismuth in their composition also cause staining of feces.

Important! Cancellation of drugs contributes to the normalization of color.

Reason 3

The black color of feces characterizes bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. In the stomach, the process of blood oxidation occurs, mixing with bile, which is located in the duodenum, and staining the stool black. This is an alarm bell that needs immediate hospitalization.

Also causes bleeding:

varicose veins of the esophagus;
esophageal injury;
malignant tumors;
ulcer.

Important! In addition to the black color of feces, the bleeding process is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and weakness.

Reason 4

Chronic constipation causes discoloration of feces, which may be black in color. Constipation occurs as a result of malnutrition or the use of medications. Very often, constipation accompanies bedridden patients.

Black stool during pregnancy

What does black stool mean during pregnancy?

Important! Any assumptions about bleeding during a woman's pregnancy are a threatening factor for the expectant mother and child. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion, you should immediately contact a specialist for qualified advice and solving an important problem.

The presence of black stool does not always indicate bleeding and a serious illness. A woman who is carrying a child is examined for the purpose of prevention, since very often the cause of black feces is hormonal changes:

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the body of the expectant mother is rebuilt, and it is for this reason that all kinds of disorders in the functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract occur.
A woman's pregnancy contributes to elevated progesterone levels. The presence of this hormone provokes frequent urination, affects mood swings, and causes nausea.

When bleeding, the black color of the feces indicates the initial symptom, the next step will be anemia and other disorders that are instantly visible with regular examination and blood tests.

Important! If the black color of the feces is accompanied by an increase in temperature, the presence of severe weakness, a pale complexion, the presence of nausea and vomiting, then you should immediately contact a specialist.

There are cases when the black color of feces occurs when treating a pregnant woman for constipation. Reduced smooth muscle tone contributes to constipation, which causes inconvenience to the expectant mother from the first months of pregnancy.

Constipation causes hemorrhoids and other problems, so pregnant women actively consume prunes, grapes, currants, blueberries, drink a lot of dried fruit compotes and include a large amount of vegetables and fruits in their diet. As a result, constipation disappears, but a colored black stool appears. If you reduce the use of dark fruits and vegetables, then the color of feces normalizes.

If the disease appeared in adults?

A change in the color of feces in healthy adults, if the presence of other symptoms is not observed, should not cause panic and concern. In this case, black feces may indicate the use of coloring products.

There is a list of dye products that can change the color of feces:

meals that are high in calories
red dry or fortified wine;
sausage made from blood;
meat with blood, liver;
currants, blueberries and blackberries, as well as juices from these berries;
dark grapes, chokeberry, the use of juices from them;
prunes;
iron-containing substances such as bananas, apples, persimmons, pomegranates;
tomatoes, beets;
drinking large amounts of strong coffee or black tea.

You need to analyze your own diet of products for the last couple of days:

If you exclude, in your opinion, suspicious vegetables and fruits, then the color of the excrement will return to normal in a day.
If there is no change in the color of the feces for about three days, then food preferences are not the cause of the black color.

Sometimes long black fibrous inclusions are visible in the feces. It may be the undigested remains of a banana, while you need to be sure that this is not a helminthic invasion.

Important! When using anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs for heartburn, it is also possible to change the color of the stool, which becomes black. This is not a reason to stop taking medications, because after the end of the course of treatment, the temporary effect disappears.

In addition to color, you need to pay attention to the consistency of feces. The cause of liquid black bowel movements can be:

improper digestion;
intoxication of the body;
the presence of diseases.

Important! The appearance of liquid black bowel movements should be the reason for contacting specialists - and the sooner the better.

How to deal with such a problem in children?

The presence of black feces in children causes great anxiety and anxiety in parents. If this happens, then it is necessary to observe the condition of the child.

Important! If the baby is active, has a normal body temperature and nothing bothers him, then the black color of the feces is caused by the food taken, so you should not worry too much.

Black feces in children means one of the following factors is present:

The first days of a child's life are accompanied by a black color of feces. This is a normal physiological process. While in the womb, the baby had to constantly contact with amniotic fluid, mucus and other substances, constantly swallow them. After birth, the baby's stomach is cleared and all this comes out along with black feces.
The black color of feces appears when the baby moves from breastfeeding to artificial. This situation is normal, in a few days everything will return to normal.
Bananas can also cause black stools. When a child first meets such a fruit, a similar reaction may occur, but after a few days the body gets used to it and the stool returns to normal.
Infant formula contains a lot of iron. The use of such food can provoke the appearance of black stools, so do not worry, because after a few weeks the stool normalizes.
The use of iron-containing vitamins can cause the appearance of black stool. Knowing the reason, you should not stop using this drug.
The most common cause of black stools is the food you eat. You need to remember what the child ate. Black stools can occur from apples, bananas, grapes, red or black currants, blueberries, blackberries, tomatoes, beets, or liver dishes.

Important! If the baby has a high temperature, there are complaints of feeling unwell, there are signs of nausea, while the feces are black, then you should immediately contact a qualified specialist.

There are many factors that can contribute to discoloration of stools:

Using normal foods, children have the usual dark brown color of excrement.
If the child eats vegetarian food, then the color of the feces becomes light brown.
When using a milk diet, a pale brown or pale yellow hue of feces is observed.
The use of meat products characterizes the black-brown color of the stool.
The use of sorrel and spinach causes a greenish tint to feces.
Excessive consumption of pork is characterized by a reddish hue of feces.
The use of various berries - blueberries, blackberries, black currants - contributes to the black and black-brown color of excrement.
The use of iron-containing preparations contributes to the black color with a greenish tinge of feces.
The use of bismuth characterizes the presence of black feces.

It is necessary to introduce complementary foods to the baby very carefully, while adhering to general recommendations. The use of too sour, sweet or heavy food can harm the emerging intestine and cause serious pathologies. It's best to resist the temptation to let your child try a new food ahead of time and prevent liver and stomach problems from developing.

Important! You should never self-medicate. Taking, at first glance, harmless drugs, you can harm the whole body. It is better to entrust the care of the baby to qualified specialists.

What is the risk of this symptom for the elderly?

What does black stool in the elderly indicate? Fecal masses in the elderly are darker than in the younger generation. This is normal and does not require any treatment.

However, the following points must be taken into account:

Bedridden patients have a slow metabolic process, in connection with this, a change in the color of feces may also occur.
The appearance of black feces in the elderly is characterized by a very likely sign of gastrointestinal bleeding or there is a "shutdown" of vital organs, an inability to properly consume food products.

Important! If an elderly person has black feces, diarrhea, or feels unwell, then it is necessary to call a doctor, as this indicates health problems.

In what cases is medical assistance needed?

Consider the symptoms in which you need to urgently contact a qualified specialist or call an ambulance:

the vomiting process suddenly began;
dizziness and loss of consciousness;
a high temperature has risen sharply, which cannot be brought down by anything;
drops in blood pressure occur;
the patient has a chronic bowel disease;
the patient has chronic anemia;
the patient is predisposed to chronic liver disease;
there is numbness of the limbs;
there are suspicions of oncological diseases, cirrhosis, or such diseases are present in relatives;
there was intoxication of the body due to the huge amount of alcohol.

Important! With such symptoms, you can not self-medicate and waste precious time. If at the same time all the feces are black, then an urgent medical consultation is necessary to establish the correct diagnosis.

What diseases does black stool indicate?

One of the reasons for the appearance of black feces is internal bleeding, which can be provoked by polyps, peptic ulcers, varicose veins of the esophagus, or injury. Bleeding can occur from Crohn's disease, histoplasmosis, hookworm, and various other diseases. Such a treatment process is subject to a long period of time and mandatory control by a medical specialist.

Important! Sometimes surgery, resulting in intestinal infections, can cause a change in the color of feces.

Black feces may indicate such diseases:

the presence of inflammatory processes in the small and large intestines;
varicose veins of the esophagus or stomach;
the presence of gastritis and leukemia;
deep degree of defeat of helminthiases and mycoses;
peptic ulcer or inflammation of the gastric mucosa;
intestinal pathologies and the development of tumors;
plague.

Sometimes inappropriate use of drugs contributes to the development of gastrointestinal pathologies.

Important! In case of violation of the scheme of taking medications, tiny ulcers, erosions on the intestinal mucosa may occur. The damaged membrane bleeds, and the blood changes the color of the stool.

The presence of internal bleeding, except for black feces, is indicated by:

low level of hemoglobin in the blood;
pale skin tone;
change in thermoregulation;
the occurrence of an unreasonable amount of cold sweat.

Important! If the black color of the feces also has a greenish tint, then this is almost always the cause of the development of infectious diseases. Greenish-black diarrhea is characterized by the presence of dysentery. Only when the body is damaged does other accompanying symptoms appear, such as the appearance of nausea, then vomiting, weakness, dizziness, which leads to loss of consciousness.

General malaise and black stool indicates the presence of the disease. Consider some of the characteristic signs of diseases:

Gastric ulcer - accompanied by characteristic sores on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. This is a chronic disease.
Gastritis causes - inflammation of the walls of the stomach. Both adults and children are susceptible to this disease. The main symptoms of the disease are characterized by the presence of black stools, diarrhea, heartburn, and vomiting.
Cirrhosis of the liver - occurs in people over 40 years of age. The main symptom of such a disease is the presence of black stools. In most cases, the patient's stool has a liquid consistency, in addition, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness may be present. This color of feces causes internal bleeding and implies an urgent appeal to a medical specialist.
Oncological disease of the liver or colon is an incurable disease that develops with advanced cirrhosis of the liver. Typical symptoms of this disease:
- black color of feces;
- the presence of vomiting;
- a sharp weight loss of the body;
- the presence of blood in the feces;
- aching pain in the abdominal cavity;
- low pressure;
- diarrhea;
- lethargic state.
Bleeding of the stomach - very common in people who often take strong antibiotics. Also, internal bleeding is typical for people who abuse alcoholic beverages.
Gastroenteritis is an infectious disease, which is characterized by the presence of black feces with a pronounced pungent odor.

What drugs can cause black stools?

What does black stool mean? If a black stool is detected, it is necessary to analyze the presence of medications that are constantly taken.

Unusual color can cause the following drugs:

Medicines that are used to treat anemia. The use of sorbifer, ferrum, aktiferrin, maltofer characterizes the black shade of feces.
The use of vitamin complexes, such as Vitrum.
The use of activated black charcoal.
The use of drugs that serve for the treatment of the stomach, which include bismuth-De-Nol.

Important! If these types of drugs are constantly taken, then there is no need to worry about excrement.

But these groups of medicines should be treated with special attention:

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are prescribed for the treatment of inflammation of the joints, ligaments, and muscles. The use of aspirin, denebol, diclofenacs of all kinds can cause an unusual color of excrement.
The use of drugs that can reduce blood viscosity. Anticoagulants also cause unusual coloring of feces.
Uncontrolled drug use.

Important! These substances alone cannot stain the feces in a nasty black color, but they can provoke damage to the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, there is internal bleeding with varying levels of intensity. The blood that decomposes turns the feces black. This pathology causes unpleasant symptoms with the presence of pain in the epigastric region, a burning process, signs of nausea and the presence of vomiting. In such a situation, you should immediately contact a medical professional.

Normal stool color

The normal color of feces varies from light brown to dark brown. The stools should be formed, not frothy, runny or too hard. Small inclusions of undigested food residues may be allowed. Normal color is an individual indicator of each adult.

Important! If the color of the excrement is suspicious enough, but the color shade is difficult to determine, then you can use a paper test. To do this, you need to put some bowel movements on a clean white sheet of paper and look at the result. With this test, the color manifests itself to the fullest.

Normal stool color can vary from dark brown to yellowish brown. This is determined by the presence in it of processed bile and undigested food particles that a person has consumed over the past two to three days. A very dark, black, or dark green stool is not characteristic of a healthy person, unless it is associated with eating, which can affect the discoloration of feces, as well as taking certain medications. Consider what foods and drugs contribute to the darkening of feces, and in which diseases the feces become dark green or black.

Physiological causes of dark stools

We list the foods, the use of which almost always causes darkening of the feces:

red table beet;
prunes;
red grape varieties;
pomegranate;
blueberry;
black currant;
offal;
blood sausage, etc.

Trying to determine what the dark color of feces means, you should pay attention not only to the diet in recent days, but also to other changes in the body. If there are no other warning symptoms, and one of the above foods was present in the diet, there is nothing to worry about.

Also, the staining of feces in a dark color can be provoked by the intake of certain pharmaceuticals, namely:

Activated carbon;
bismuth preparations;
vitamin and mineral complexes, etc.

As a rule, a possible change in the color of feces when taking medications is warned in the instructions attached to them.

Pathological causes of dark stool color

The appearance of dark-colored feces, which is not associated with the intake of foods and medicines that can color the stool, should cause concern. If dark stool is associated with any pathologies, it may persist for several days or be observed periodically. At the same time, other pathological signs are also often noted. In such cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor and conduct a diagnosis in order to find out why the feces have become dark in color and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Consider what in most cases means the dark color of feces associated with pathological conditions of the body.

In many cases, very dark and black stools indicate bleeding. Most often this occurs with internal bleeding from the stomach, esophagus or intestines, which is provoked by:

peptic ulcer;
oncology;
the presence of polyps;
varicose veins of the esophagus.

Also, darkening of feces can be with other diseases accompanied by bleeding of the upper gastrointestinal tract:

gastritis;
esophagitis;
histoplasmosis;
intestinal diverticulum;
ankylostomiasis, etc.

Other symptoms in such cases may include:

pallor;
dizziness;
weakness, etc.

Provoke internal bleeding can also take certain drugs that reduce blood clotting (Aspirin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, etc.). Less commonly, dark stools may be associated with large amounts of swallowed blood from nose or mouth bleeding, or from trauma.

Article prepared by:

Cal is able to turn black when interacting with many internal and external signs. Sometimes this color of fecal masses does not indicate the presence of a disease, but is a sign of the norm. The dark color may be due to certain medications or foods. However, sometimes a symptom needs urgent medical attention. Normally, feces should not be black. Fecal masses often darken in pregnant women. This symptom is due to the active restructuring of the body and the lack of certain vitamins and minerals. It usually resolves on its own and does not require any medical intervention. When a symptom occurs, the patient should find out what the dark color of the feces indicates. It is required to remember what products were recently consumed.

Some women have dark-colored stools during pregnancy

In this article you will learn:

Normal color of feces

Very dark, almost black feces - deviation. The normal color of feces is brown. The acceptable color range is quite wide. The color of feces depends on many factors.

Normal fecal matter can be from yellow-brown to dark brown. The color depends on the recently eaten foods and the presence of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The indicator is also associated with the amount of bile in the stool.

Sometimes patients begin to figure out why there is black feces, mistakenly confusing it with dark brown stools. Such cases are not uncommon. To accurately determine the color of feces, it is enough to conduct a simple test at home. To do this, they are applied in a thin layer on a white sheet of paper. This will help to most accurately recognize the shade.

Normal bowel movements should be brown.

Each person usually knows what color of feces is the norm for him. Color varies insignificantly. If deviations occur, you should immediately find out why the feces are black. This will allow you to eliminate the violation in a timely manner or make sure that it does not exist.

Normally, fecal matter should be dense. Do not run or be foamy. The process of bowel movement is regular. Constipation or diarrhea may indicate some kind of abnormality.

Many patients do not know what causes black feces. For this reason, they go to the doctor when it is not necessary. In most cases, the condition does not need medical attention.

Black currant berries stain feces in a dark color

Black color as a sign of the norm

Black feces can be the result of eating certain foods. The main ones are described in the table.

The table helps a person understand whether there can be black stools from beets or other foods. In some cases, the change in color is due to the use of excessively strong coffee or tea. This is only possible if the drinks were drunk in large quantities. One cup is not capable of provoking staining.

With regular use of very strong coffee, you may notice that the bowel movements become dark

Staining feces black may be due to the intake of high-calorie foods. It is for this reason that the symptom often manifests itself after any holidays and feasts. Color change often occurs in people who often consume prunes.

In rare cases, the symptom may be associated with pomegranate consumption. In addition, the symptom may be due to the presence in the diet of natural juices from certain fruits or vegetables. When staining feces, the patient needs to find out as early as possible what black feces mean. This can help to detect certain diseases in a timely manner.

When color changes due to the use of specific foods, the color will become normal as a result of eliminating them from the diet. It is enough to refrain from them for several days. If the color of the feces has not changed, you need to visit a doctor and undergo the necessary studies.

When taking activated charcoal, the patient's feces become dark

Patients often believe that the symptom is not related to the use of specific foods and try to find out why an adult has black stools when there are foreign fibers resembling worms in the stools. Such a symptom may appear after a person has eaten, for example, a banana.

The color of feces when taking medications

Fecal matter can change its color while taking certain medications. There are many medications that can cause this symptom. Usually the condition does not pose any danger. When contacting the hospital, the doctor will tell you what medications can cause black stools.

When taken regularly, the following drugs can provoke a change in the stool:

medicines for the treatment of anemia;
some vitamin complexes;

In case of internal bleeding, the stool becomes black.

bismuth-based medicines to eliminate diseases of the digestive system and intestinal tract.

Black feces in an adult against the background of taking the listed funds does not pose any danger. The condition does not require additional treatment and treatment to a doctor. The color returns to normal immediately after stopping the medication. This occurs without the use of concomitant medications.

The causes of black stools should be identified as early as possible. In certain situations, the condition is dangerous. Doctor's help may be required if the symptom occurs during the reception:

nonsteroidal drugs to eliminate the inflammatory process in the body;
anticoagulants;
drugs.

Feces change color to black in some bowel diseases

Of particular danger is the condition, which is a consequence of the use of drugs. The listed drugs as the cause of black feces in an adult are not able to independently provoke a change in color. However, such medicines can damage the mucous membrane of the digestive organ and intestinal tract.

If the mucous membranes are damaged, the risk of internal bleeding is high. Blood stains feces. In the presence of such a pathological condition, the patient is concerned about:

severe pain in the stomach;
vomiting reflex;
decrease in working capacity;
burning in the region of the stomach.

In the presence of these symptoms, dark feces in a child or adult is of great danger.

Stools of a liquid consistency and black color are a sign of the onset of cirrhosis of the liver.

Change in stool color in the presence of various diseases

The causes of dark stools in an adult also include various diseases and disorders. The deviation may be due to:

the presence of ulcerative and erosive lesions in the stomach and intestinal tract;
the presence of intestinal pathologies;
deviations of the biliary tract;
the presence of neoplasms of various types;
the presence of infectious diseases.

To find out which symptom of a disease is black stool, the patient should consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive study. In the presence of an underlying pathology, feces, as a rule, have a liquid consistency. In this case, the disease is characterized by:

change in the color of the skin;
gag reflex with foreign impurities;

If the child has a fever and the stool has turned black, you should show it to the doctor

severe dizziness;
the formation of anemia;
severe pain in the digestive organ;
rotten burp.

Black stool after surgery is especially common. In this case, you need to report the symptom to your doctor. The risk of developing various complications is high. Repeat surgery may be required.

Black feces are the main symptom of cirrhosis of the liver. In this case, the stool is liquid. Pathology is accompanied by a sharp decrease in blood pressure. The heartbeat quickens, and well-being worsens significantly.

Changing the color of feces in children

In a child, black feces may be a sign of a deviation or norm. Parents may not worry if the color of the feces has changed in the baby, but the state of health has not changed for the worse. In this case, the symptom is highly likely to be associated with the recently consumed food. Does not need treatment.

Taking iron supplements can cause discoloration of feces

Parents should immediately find out why the child has black feces if he has become lethargic and complains of a painful sensation in the abdomen. In the presence of a symptom against the background of any disease, body temperature may increase.

It will require immediate medical attention or even hospitalization. The risk of complications is high.

Black-green stools may be present in a newborn baby. In this case, the symptom is a sign of the norm. Such secretions are observed 2-5 days after birth. They contain amniotic fluid and inclusions that have accumulated during fetal development.

Black stools may also be present when taking iron or administering an excessive iron mixture. In this case, the condition does not pose any danger. There is no need to see a doctor.

What else can signal the black color of feces, is described in the video: