The Case of the Green Poop

NurseStacey143, ADN, RN · Jul 27, 2003

My kids had a problem somewhat like that. IT ended up being the Ovaltine in their milk. It was neon green color. They didn't have loose stolls but maybe lactose intolerance could contribute to that. There are many people who are lactose intolerant and have no idea. Good luck figuring it out.

lindalee · Jul 27, 2003

Don't know but would think perhaps her food is passing through her system too quickly. Would definitely have her checked, the green color could be a bile product--think what it looks like when people have frequent vomiting--is this what you are describing?

memphispanda, RN · Jul 27, 2003

Does she drink a lot of colorful drinks like KoolAid? That can cause the green color. Anything with a lot of artificial color can. I would be worried if her stools are that loose all the time though--I'd be at the doctor!

glascow · Jul 27, 2003

My son had that problem to. I talked to his pediatrician about it. She said not to worry unless the stool is gray.

AHRN · Jul 28, 2003

We have found that the dyes in purple drinks, grape pedialyte, Kool-Aid, etc. turn stools Neon green, especially if the child has diarrhea.

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2003

Whenever my daughter eats anything with blue in it, like a slushie, she always has green poop for a couple of days. It is neon green and disgusting! She thinks it is hysterical!

Maybe something your child eats has hidden blue coloring in it. Sometimes foods are made with food colorings we are not aware are in there. It's a thought!

Browneyedgirl · Jul 28, 2003

Thanks for the responses. We don't keep kool-aid in the house. She drinks milk, juice, and decaf tea. I'm going to keep a log of what she eats and color/consitency of her bm for the next few days and call her doctor.

Dayray, RN · Aug 11, 2003

Wow this is great I came here wondering "now how am I going to find a post about green poop" and here it is. My prob is a littel different but I was wondering the same thing.

My 5 yo was in allot of pain the last few days. I kick myself for it now but I dident pay much attention to it as he had fallen a few days back (Yes I did check him for serious injury) I assumed he had a brused tail bone. He was complaining that his butt hurt and when I pressed on his tail bone (which is on the longer end of normal) he said that was where it hurt so anyway I was giveing him motrin and that seemed to help. But tonight he was crying and saying he had to poop. It was right after we ate so It made me thing constipation and I gave him about 1/3 of a fleets. He had results shortly there after it was hard and stained neon green in color. It had the same hue as bile you get from an NG. I guess it could be food coloring but it looks just like bile.He felt much better but I cant help but wonder... what the heck would cause a hard stool to be stained with bile?

LibraSun · Aug 19, 2003

Guys, I think you should check with your ped Doc. These are abnormal bowel movements and should be discussed with the PCP--not in an online message board.

We all know possible causes of stool changes, but we don't know the little patients. It is inappropriate for nurses to try to diagnosis in this arena.

ullee · Sep 25, 2003

Browneyedgirl, I wish the best of health to you and your little girl. I'm glad there's a website (allnurses.com) we have to come to when we're confused.

I'm sorry LibraSun but no one likes a know it all. People are not looking for surrogate doctors at these forums. They're only seeking some advice. It's too bad you state the obvious like a child. I hope whatever in your life is making you disdainful stops nagging you.

nursedawn67, LPN · Sep 25, 2003

My kids would get neon green poop when they were little, it turned out it was from all the Kaboom cereal they were eating!