A 32-year-old member asked:
What can cause a change in stool color?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Wendell Goinsanswered
Vascular Surgery 44 years experience
Brown: The color of stool is most commonly various shades of brown due to a combination of several factors (bile content, transit time, diet, medications, intestinal flora/bacteria). These factors may result in green or even a yellow hue.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 37-year-old member asked:
What can cause changes in the color of feces?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Andrew Seibertanswered
Gastroenterology 37 years experience
Stool color: The stool changes colors regularly depending on diet and other factors. The only time the stool color is abnormal is if it is black or red, which can indicate active bleeding and occasionally when it is very pale in color, when it can represent blockage of the bile duct. Any other color is just a variant of normal. Hope that helps.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
673 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
What can cause stool that is very dark in color?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Andrew Seibertanswered
Gastroenterology 37 years experience
Black stool: If the stool is solid black or maroon, especially if it is very foul smelling, it may represent what is called melena, which is usually a sign of bleeding from the digestive tract. The bleeding is often active and this is a medical emergency. If you experience this, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
683 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 30, 2020
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