Light feces in children indicates some problems in the body. Disturbances in the activity of organs can immediately be seen by the color of the stool and their consistency. But you shouldn't panic right away. Sometimes light-colored stools are the result of food eaten.
Baby feces
We need to start with the fact that in children the shade of bowel movements can be different depending on age. When a baby is just born, his stool is called meconium. It is almost black in color and viscous in texture. This situation persists for four days. Then, instead of meconium, light feces appear. Babies who have just been born may have white or yellow stools and a small amount of mucus. This is normal.
Baby feces up to three months
Why a child may have light feces, E. O. Komarovsky, a practicing pediatrician, tells in great detail. 7 days after birth, the color of the baby's stool becomes light brown or yellow. The consistency of the stool becomes liquid. If the child is he althy, then the feces will be homogeneous, with the smell of fermented milk.products. Such bowel movements persist until the age of three months. At the same time, mucous or green blotches sometimes appear in the feces. For babies, this is the norm.
What determines the color of feces?
The color of feces primarily depends on the amount of the enzyme bilirubin contained in the feces. This substance is produced by the liver. Bilirubin is excreted from the body along with feces or urine. Light-colored feces in a child may indicate improper production of a substance. In this case, a urine test should be done. And if it has a dark color, the help of a pediatrician will be required.
Also, the color of the feces depends on the products that were consumed. Babies who are not yet a year old are breastfed. Therefore, their stools are light and liquid. The more milk, the whiter. Over time, the baby's diet begins to change, so the stool will gradually harden and darken.
You also need to know that the bowel movements of a baby whose diet is based on mixtures will be denser than normal. And the color can vary from yellow to gray. The same thing happens when introducing new foods into the diet. When a child turns one year old, he can already consume beets in small quantities. In this case, the bowel movements will immediately take on a darker shade.
White feces
Why is the child's feces light, almost white? The foods you eat can affect this. Especially if they contain a lot of calcium. For example, a young mother, worried about the strength of the child's bones, begins toinclude a lot of milk, cottage cheese, etc. As a result of eating white foods, the color of the bowel changes accordingly.
Light, almost white feces are often caused by foods high in carbohydrates. And also it can change color when the child is teething. At this time, the stools become not only lighter, but also liquid. White stool is the result of hepatitis. But only a doctor can determine this for sure, since the symptoms of the disease are manifested not only by the color of the stool.
What should I pay attention to when changing the color of feces?
Most often, light feces in children are the result of malnutrition. Especially if the baby is overfed with fatty cottage cheese, milk and sour cream. But nevertheless, when the color of feces changes in a child, you need to carefully consider the accompanying factors. Analyze nutrition, see if teething, and assess the general condition of the baby.
Be sure to check for fever or vomiting. It is important to know whether the child has lost his appetite and whether his sleep is disturbed. If there are any deviations from the norm, then brightening feces can be an indication of a disease that has arisen. Therefore, in this case, the baby should be examined by a pediatrician.
Causes of light stools
Why did the child have light feces? The reasons for this may be different:
- Flu. In this case, the stools will become not just light, but will additionally acquire a gray tint. Changes in stool color occur on3rd or 4th day after the onset of the disease. In some cases, the stool brightens even after complete recovery. This is the reaction of the body, trying to eliminate the remnants of drugs.
- Rotavirus infection. The child has a fever. Then diarrhea and vomiting begin. The stool turns yellow at first, and the next day it becomes like clay.
- Stagnation of bile. Due to its presence in the feces, they acquire a dark color. Therefore, when the shade becomes lighter, the cause of this may be biliary stagnation. In this case, the anatomical features of the body must be taken into account. Sometimes the bile ducts can be twisted or bent.
- Inflammation of the pancreas. Most often, this disease affects adults. But not immune from inflammation of the pancreas and a child who is 3 years old. Although the disease mostly affects children from 4 years of age. With inflammation, not only stools brighten, but additional symptoms appear.
- Whipple's disease. This disease is little known, because it is very rare. But the main symptom of the disease is frequent bowel movements. They can be from ten or more times a day. Moreover, the color of the feces is light gray. And the consistency of the stool is pasty or frothy.
- Reaction to drugs. Children are very susceptible to medications. Therefore, the color of the feces may change due to the child taking antibacterial, antipyretic or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Yellow feces
Light yellow feces in a child is considered the norm,if the baby is infancy. As it grows, the stools change their color, becoming darker. Basically, the color of feces depends on the products that are included in the diet. If the baby is fed pumpkin or carrots in large quantities, then the stool will be yellow-orange. Saturated color may indicate a disease of the pancreas, kidneys or liver. If they prevent the release of accumulated bile from the body, then the feces become yellow.
In some cases, it becomes like this because of a new brand of formula that is given to the child instead of the usual one. The feces are accompanied by an unpleasant odor. If after a few days the color of the feces has not changed from yellow to normal, then you should immediately show the child to the pediatrician. Especially if at the same time there was vomiting, nausea, dark urine, etc.
Dysbacteriosis
Light feces in children may occur against the background of certain diseases. One of them is dysbacteriosis. It can appear even in the smallest children. Dysbacteriosis is an imbalance in the intestines. The reasons may be diseases that the baby's mother suffered during pregnancy, or antibacterial drugs and antibiotics taken by the baby. An important role is played by the nutrition of mother and baby. Dysbacteriosis is characterized by very light stools that have an unpleasant sour smell.
Hepatitis
Light-coloured feces may appear due to hepatitis. But this disease is accompanied by other factors. The child develops lethargy, loss of appetite and nausea begins. But firstdark urine is a symptom. Then the feces begin to lighten. At first, the chair will be light yellow, and then completely painted white. At the same time, it will also acquire a grayish tint.
Hepatitis B occasionally starts in children under one year old. Especially if the baby has become a carrier of a viral infection. This type of hepatitis has a latent period. The disease can develop slowly, up to six months. At first, the child's urine darkens and the stool brightens. Then the appetite disappears and sleep is disturbed. Then vomiting appears and the temperature rises.
Light-colored feces in a child (2 years old) may be a sign of hepatitis A. In this case, the baby's skin turns yellow immediately. First, the urine darkens, then the feces turn white. All other signs of the disease are the same as in viral hepatitis B.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process in the pancreas. This disease can also occur in children even at an early age. The reasons are malnutrition and the digestive system that has not had time to form. With pancreatitis, the feces become light in color, pain in the abdomen appears, and its swelling is noted. The child suffers from nausea and vomiting. The baby has a fever and begins to be very thirsty. In children beyond infancy, the most common cause of pancreatitis is the excessive consumption of sweets and confectionery.
What should I do if my baby's stool is light in color?
Light stool in a child (2 years old) can become so due to nutrition. At the age of twoBabies are given a variety of foods. The body can react differently to a change in diet. And as a result, feces sometimes become light in color. If the child does not have fever, vomiting or other symptoms of the disease, then he needs to be observed for several days. At this time, pigmented foods are excluded from the diet. If no changes have occurred and the color of the feces remains light, then the child must be shown to the pediatrician. When the stools turn white, and the urine becomes dark, this is an alarm signal. And if there are no more symptoms of illness (nausea, fever, vomiting, etc.), then the baby should still be examined by a doctor.
Even a child who is 3 years old can get hepatitis or dysbacteriosis. The baby may have problems with the gallbladder. But only a doctor can accurately determine the cause of light stool. When treating a baby, though sparing, but still medications are prescribed. They can also cause light-colored stools. In this case, you need to analyze when the feces began to change color. If, apart from this, no additional symptoms are observed, then just wait a couple of days when the stool returns to normal. But if this does not happen, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.
