Normally, the color of stool can vary from yellow-brown to dark brown. Its color is given by digested food particles and bile pigments secreted into the intestines from the bile ducts with bile.

Black is often a sign of a serious pathology of the digestive system, but it is often associated with the use of certain foods and medications.

Food and medicine

Black stool can appear after eating a number of foods. These are red beets, prunes, red grapes, blueberries, pomegranate. A change in the color of stool can occur after eating dishes such as blood sausage and offal. Stool staining can be observed for two to three days, and this symptom is not accompanied by any other changes in the general condition.

Black stool is usually the result of taking pharmaceutical drugs containing iron, which are widely used to treat anemia, certain complex vitamins, drugs containing bismuth (used to treat chronic stomach diseases), and activated charcoal. A number of other drugs can also turn stool black, which can be found out by carefully reading the instructions included with the drug.

If black stool appears, you need to carefully analyze your diet over the past few days. As a result of taking foods and medications, there is no health hazard and does not require treatment. Within two to three days after eliminating the use of these foods and pharmaceuticals, the normal color of the stool is restored.

Medicines containing acetylsalicylic acid do not stain stool, but with prolonged use they affect the circulatory system and can cause black stool as a result of the development of internal bleeding.

Diseases accompanied by the appearance of black stool

It’s a completely different matter if black feces appeared suddenly and seemingly for no reason. If black feces appear, the causes of this symptom should be sought in the gastrointestinal tract. This clinical symptom indicates from the digestive tract, especially its upper parts. Black feces, also called melena, most often occur with peptic ulcers with localization of the ulcer in the stomach or duodenum, intestinal diseases, varicose veins of the esophagus, and stomach tumors. With a bleeding pathological focus located in the intestine below, the blood is usually red. However, with weak peristalsis, black stool can occur even with bleeding from the initial part of the colon.

The coloring of stool black occurs as a result of the fact that under the influence of hydrochloric acid contained in gastric juice, red hemoglobin in the blood is converted into black hemin.

With internal bleeding, in addition to black stool, other typical symptoms appear. When the process is localized in the stomach, bloody vomiting often appears. In this case, the vomit under the influence of gastric juice changes and takes on the appearance of: The patient experiences hypotension, dizziness, and general weakness. Upon examination, tachycardia, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes are revealed. With severe bleeding, acute vascular insufficiency syndrome develops, requiring emergency care.

The appearance of black feces, which is accompanied by general weakness, abdominal pain of varying nature and intensity, nausea, vomiting and fever, requires urgent medical consultation.

Strange color of stool may appear as a result of consuming certain foods, medications, vitamins, or nutritional supplements. But not many people know that black feces in an adult is a sign of many gastrointestinal diseases, which means it’s worth finding out why this phenomenon occurred.

Why does an adult's stool turn black when eating food?

If a person’s stool color changes dramatically, there is no need to panic. The first thing to do is to remember all the foods that he consumed over the past two days. In most cases, this is the main reason for the change in the color of stool.

There are several main products that lead to the appearance of black stools:

• coffee;
• red beets in any form;
• pomegranate, blueberries, currants, black grapes;
• red wine;
• prunes;
• tomatoes and tomato juice;
• sausages and dishes containing large amounts of blood.

If, after detecting a change in the color of stool, no painful sensations appear, you should not draw premature conclusions. To begin with, you just need to observe your stool for three days. Usually during this time everything goes away.

What does black stool mean in an adult when taking medications or vitamins?

A change in the color of the discharge may occur due to the fact that the person took one or several medications the day before:

1. Activated carbon. If the drug was used for poisoning in the required dosage. During the elimination of toxins and the medication itself, the color of the stool changes to gray or black. This may last for several days.
2. Vitamin complexes or individual supplements often affect the color of the discharge. This is especially worth considering during pregnancy. Often they affect the color of the stool. This is considered completely normal and does not require any treatment. This is how excess iron is removed from the body. There is no need to stop taking vitamins.
3. Aspirin, Nimesil or Ibuprofen. In case of prolonged use of one or more drugs, the color of the masses may change - this will involve the corresponding processes in the body.
4. Medicines containing bismuth. Typically, such drugs are prescribed to treat intestinal ulcers or various ailments developing in the duodenum.

The cause of black spots in the stool of an adult with illness

If gray and black spots appear in the discharge, you should pay attention to the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This may indicate:

• bleeding occurring in the upper parts of the system;
• intestinal ulcer;
• development of a tumor in the stomach;
• varicose veins of the esophagus;
• gastritis;
• in acute form;
• ulcerative colitis;
• esophagitis;
• Crohn's disease;
• plague;

Stool coloring occurs under the influence of hydrochloric acid contained in the stomach. It is she who contributes to the appearance of black hemin, formed from red hemoglobin.

In the case of internal bleeding, in addition to the existing symptoms, others often arise. Among the most common manifestations:

Often, with severe bleeding, acute heart failure develops. Painful sensations may occur. In this case, the patient needs immediate medical attention. Otherwise, the condition will only get worse. It is not recommended to take any medications before the arrival of a qualified specialist.

Have you started to notice black stool and does it scare you? Do not immediately panic, such a change does not necessarily indicate the development of diseases or bleeding, it can be completely harmless and provoked by foods from your diet.

What should the color of normal stool be and why?

The normal color of stool in an adult should be brown. This is due to the fact that bile takes part in the digestion of food in the human body. And although bile itself has a yellow-green tint, after a long “journey” through the intestines it turns brown.

But the stool of children who have just been born may be black, even normally. This is typical for newborns who cleanse their intestines of original stool called meconium. Therefore, for 3-4 days in the diaper, newborn babies may experience black bowel movements.

In an infant, stool that is yellow-green and yellow in color is considered normal. However, in children who are bottle-fed, the stool is usually darker and thicker.

In women, black-colored feces can be observed during pregnancy and subsequently childbirth, when blood vessels in the esophagus, stomach or small intestine burst due to strong and painful contractions. In a pregnant woman, such a symptom can appear even in the early stages if she suffers from severe toxicosis.

What foods can cause stool to turn black?

The reasons for the formation of black bowel movements in an adult and a child can be very banal and depend on what foods they consumed the day before (1-3 days before bowel movement).

Stool may turn black from:

• Strong tea and coffee consumed in large quantities. Coffee and tea contain natural colors (and sometimes artificial ones) that can affect the color of your stool.
• Blood sausage and offal. It is worth remembering that when blood dries or is heat treated, it turns black. During digestion, blood sausage is not completely broken down, and small pieces of it can be excreted in the stool, turning it black.
• Beetroot. When beets enter the stomach and come into contact with hydrochloric acid, which is produced to digest food, they change their color to black, and can also stain stool.
• Prunes, blueberries, black currants, red and black grapes, pomegranate. The natural pigment of all these foods is not absorbed by the body, but is excreted in the feces. In addition, undigested berry skins may be added to the stool.
• Red wine. Wine contains iron compounds, which turn black after oxidation. But if you only drank a glass of wine, it is unlikely to cause dark-colored stool (unless you ate nothing else besides wine).

• Poor quality alcohol. Alcohol, which has a chemical structure dangerous to the human body, may cause irritation of the gastric mucosa and other gastrointestinal organs, causing moderate or severe bleeding. A similar situation occurs with alcohol poisoning.

What medications can make stool black?

But food is not the only cause of black poop. Sometimes this symptom occurs when you take one of the following medications:

• Antibiotics. Under their influence, the natural intestinal microflora often changes, and therefore the body will not be able to fully digest food. As a result, dysbacteriosis occurs and black-green stool appears.
• Preparations containing iron. As we already mentioned, when it enters the stomach, iron oxidizes and turns black. If its particles are not digested, the feces will have a similar color. For example, such a symptom can be observed in a pregnant woman who takes vitamin complexes with iron.
• Activated carbon. Coal is not absorbed by our body, but only helps normalize intestinal function. Therefore, the activated carbon that you drank will definitely come out along with the feces, turning them black.
• Medicines containing bismuth, a metal that is used to treat ulcers. Bismuth salts may also stain stool and tongue, and a woman who is breastfeeding may experience dark discharge from her nipples (it is important to talk to your doctor about the advisability of stopping breastfeeding or changing your medication). But such side effects are considered normal and disappear after stopping the course of treatment. This happens, for example, after taking De-Nol and Vikair.

Please note that if, while taking a course of medication, only a change in the color of feces is observed among the unusual symptoms, there is really no reason to worry. But if diarrhea or constipation is added to everything else, it’s worth visiting a doctor.

What disease can black feces be a symptom of?

Doctors associate the appearance of dark-colored stool with bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract (if internal bleeding occurred in the lower sections, the stool would be red or burgundy).

Most often this happens in the presence of diseases such as:

Gastritis, esophagitis, stomach or intestinal ulcer

With such diseases, the integrity of the walls of organs is compromised, which can bleed. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and burning in the abdomen, regular heartburn, diarrhea, constipation and black stool, which may appear only occasionally.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

This is a very dangerous cancer in which the process of producing blood cells is disrupted. It is more common in children and adolescents than in older men and women.

The symptoms of the disease are very vague: the child may experience weakness and fever, like a cold. The lymph nodes will certainly enlarge, and the mucous membranes of the internal organs may begin to bleed, which causes black stool.

Varicose veins of the esophagus

This is a pathological condition in which the outflow of blood from the veins of the esophagus is disrupted, as a result of which they begin to expand. Under the influence of food that passes down the esophagus every day, varicose veins are often damaged and bleed.

Adults over 50 years of age are more likely to get sick. This disease occurs more often in men than in women.

Tumor formations in the stomach

If a tumor has formed in the gastrointestinal tract, it can interfere with the natural passage of food and its digestion, and therefore the patient will certainly experience problems with stool and abdominal pain. Also, the tumor may be partially destroyed and its cells will come out with feces.

More often, black stool staining occurs when tumors form on the esophagus, stomach, colon or pancreas.

Inflammatory process in the esophagus or intestines

Often, inflammation is a consequence of another disease that causes damage to the membranes of organs. As a result, their integrity and the entire digestive cycle may be disrupted.

Most often, Crohn's disease leads to similar consequences - a very dangerous inflammatory disease that can affect the entire digestive system from the mouth to the rectum. A person may experience associated complications: conjunctivitis, stomatitis, monoarthritis, erythema, liver dystrophy and cirrhosis, pyelonephritis, cystitis.

Plague

This is a deadly disease that develops under the influence of the plague bacillus. It can affect lymph nodes, lungs and other internal organs, causing sepsis (general infection through the blood). Usually accompanied by a very high fever.

Fistulas that can bleed can form on the surface of the body and inside organs. Fortunately, modern medicine can save even a person with the plague.

Histoplasmosis

Another disease, the causative agent of which can affect all internal organs of a person, although the lungs are initially attacked. In mild forms, histoplasmosis may not reveal itself in any way; only periodically the patient’s temperature may rise.

In acute cases, the temperature can rise sharply to 40-41˚C. The disease requires immediate hospitalization.

Hookworm disease

Common symptoms of infection are itching, swelling, cough and sputum, high temperature (up to 38-40˚C). Black stool appears within 4-5 days after the helminths enter the body.

Hepatitis, liver cirrhosis

These diseases can cause severe internal bleeding. Therefore, if you or someone close to you has black stool (and possibly “coffee vomit”), call an ambulance immediately.

What to do if the stool suddenly turns black?

If you notice a symptom such as black colored feces, first think about what you ate a couple of days before bowel movement.

If in the last 2-3 days you have not consumed foods or medications that could cause the symptom, and at the same time you have no symptoms of malaise or pain, continue to monitor yourself for a few more days. If black feces do not appear again, there is no need to worry.

But if the problem returns, doctors must look for its causes. Therefore, be sure to consult a therapist for a detailed diagnosis of your health. Do this also if the symptom appeared after drinking alcohol - a healthy body should not react to alcohol this way.

But keep in mind that if you have any disease, you should not perceive the appearance of black stool as one of its “normal” accompanying symptoms. This may be not just a symptom, but a signal of a worsening of your condition or the development of a complication. Therefore, be sure to visit your doctor and tell him about this.

Under what circumstances should you urgently consult a doctor?

If the cause of unusual stool in a person is bleeding or the development of a disease, it is usually accompanied by:

• abdominal pain;
• an increase in temperature (sometimes very sharp and dangerous - up to 41˚C);
• dizziness;
• nausea and/or vomiting (including blood);
• presence of blood in feces;
• bleeding from the anus.

If you have at least one of the listed symptoms, immediately call an ambulance or try to get to the hospital yourself as soon as possible! It is especially important to do this if you are diagnosed with an ulcer, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or another disease described in the previous sections.

Remember that even a 5-minute delay can cause death, since often very dark or black-green stool is a consequence of internal bleeding.

Also, do not delay visiting a doctor if you have been experiencing symptoms for several days or the problem has occurred in a small child older than one week.

Video: possible causes of stool color change

Black color of stool always causes anxiety and serious fears for one’s health. This is often justified, as it is a sign of a serious illness.

But in some cases, the color of stool can be affected by the food consumed, vitamins, medications and other factors that do not pose any threat to health.

The normal color of stool is brown and can be dark or light. The most common and harmless reason for changing color to black is food consumed. Foods that can affect the color of stool:

1. fruits of prunes, red and black grapes;
2. beet;
3. bananas and apples;
4. chokeberry;
5. black currant;
6. coffee (especially for grain coffee and in large quantities);
7. blueberries and blackberries;
8. tomatoes.

If these products have been consumed for the last 2-3 days, then it is advisable to exclude them from the diet. After this, the black color of the stool should disappear within three days. If this does not happen, then the reason is not in the products consumed.

Black stool may be a result of taking medicines, rich in iron. For example, Ferrum - Lek. In this case, there is no need to interrupt the course of treatment.

Activated carbon can also turn stool dark in color.

In cases of taking medications and vitamin complexes rich in iron, black stool color is considered normal and does not require any treatment. After taking the medications, the color will return to normal.

There are cases when a change in the color of an adult’s stool requires urgent medical intervention and a full examination.

Internal bleeding– a dangerous condition that can lead to death. Internal bleeding is usually accompanied by symptoms such as poor health, weakness, dizziness, pain, nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

At constipation, especially chronic, the color of stool may be black. Constipation can occur due to poor diet and use of medications. Bedridden patients often suffer from constipation.

How to deal with this problem in children?

Black feces in a child causes great concern and anxiety for parents. First of all, you need to pay attention to the condition of the baby. If he is active, does not complain of feeling unwell, and does not have a high temperature, then the black stool is a consequence of the food he has eaten. Let's look at the main causes of black stool in a child.

In the first days of a baby's life, black feces are caused by a normal physiological process. While in the womb, the child swallowed amniotic fluid, mucus and other substances. After birth, the stomach is cleansed and all this comes out with black feces.

Black feces may appear during transition from chest artificial feeding. This is normal and will go away in a few days.

Introduced into the child's diet bananas may also cause black stool. Very often, such a reaction occurs when the baby first gets acquainted with this fruit. After some time, the body will get used to it and the stool will return to normal.

Mixtures, which are rich in iron, can affect the color of your baby's stool. After a couple of weeks, the stool will take on a natural color.

The cause of black stool may be taking vitamins, which contain iron. There is no need to worry about this and interrupt the course of treatment.

The most common and harmless cause of black stool is food food. Remember what your baby ate.

There is no need to worry if his diet included the following foods: grapes, apples, bananas, blueberries, black or red currants, blackberries, tomatoes, beets or liver dishes.

You should seek help from a doctor if your child complains of feeling unwell or in pain, is feeling nauseous, has a fever, or is simply being capricious for no reason. Black stool may be a sign internal bleeding!

What does this symptom mean for older people?

Most often, the stool of older people is darker in color than that of younger people. This is normal and does not require any treatment.

Vitamin complexes, which are rich in iron, are also the cause of black stool. There is no need to interrupt the course of taking vitamins.

Some medications can change the color of stool.

Activated carbon and food are the causes of black stool.

If an elderly person's black stool is accompanied by diarrhea and deterioration of the condition, then it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

U bedridden patients The color of stool may be black. This is due to the slow metabolic process.

Also, liquid black feces occur in older people before death. The reason for this is the “switching off” of vital organs.

In what cases is medical help needed?

It is necessary to urgently call an ambulance if:

• vomited;
• a high temperature has risen and does not go down;
• the person lost consciousness;
• the patient complains of numbness in the limbs;
• changes in blood pressure occurred;
• the patient has chronic liver disease;
• the patient has a chronic intestinal disease;
• chronic anemia.

If black stool is accompanied by at least one of the above symptoms, then the patient needs urgent medical attention.

Can stool be black if you have liver disease?

Cirrhosis– a disease that is more common in people over 35 years of age. One of the main signs of this disease is the black color of stool.

In most cases, the patient's stool is watery and may also be accompanied by vomiting and dizziness. This color of stool is explained by internal bleeding and requires immediate medical attention.

Liver cancer– develops as a result of advanced cirrhosis. Main signs: lethargy, low blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

With such a diagnosis, the patient should be under the supervision of specialists.

Gastroenteritis– an infectious disease, the characteristic feature of which is black stool with a pungent odor.

Treatment is prescribed by a doctor after all necessary tests have been carried out. Treatment usually takes place in a hospital, especially if a child is sick.

What disease could this be a sign of?

If black stool is accompanied by a general deterioration in the body’s condition, nausea, high fever, and diarrhea, then most likely the person is sick.

Gastritis– inflammation of the stomach walls. Gastritis affects adults and children. The main signs of the disease: black feces; diarrhea; vomit; heartburn.

Stomach ulcer- a chronic disease characterized by ulcers on the walls of the stomach and duodenum.

Stomach bleeding– most often occurs in people taking strong antibiotics on a regular basis. Internal bleeding is also not uncommon in people who abuse alcohol.

Cancer liver or colon - an incurable disease, which is characterized by: black feces, nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool, sudden weight loss, abdominal pain.

A few important points in conclusion

Black stool looks scary, but is not always a sign of any disease. First of all, you need to analyze your diet over the last 2-3 days and remember what medications you took. If, in your opinion, nothing could have caused the change in stool color, then you need to consult a doctor.

The stool of a healthy person is yellow-brown in color and has an even texture. Feces contain bile as well as undigested food debris. Under the influence of various factors, stool may acquire a different color, for example, darken. Dark stool often occurs after eating certain foods that contain dyes.

In addition, such a symptom may indicate the development of various pathological processes in the human body.

Basic characteristics of feces

The following characteristics of feces are distinguished:

• consistency;
• smell;
• quantity;
• color

Changes in these indicators are usually noticeable and may indicate the development of many pathologies.

Quantity

A healthy body usually defecates once a day. The amount of feces is approximately 100-250g.

Most often, an increase in the amount of feces indicates the development of the following conditions:

• decreased performance of the pancreas;
• disorders of digestive processes in the small intestine;
• decrease in the volume of bile that enters the intestines;
• pathology of absorption by the intestinal lining.

A decrease in the volume of bowel movements usually occurs as a result of constipation, caused by the predominance of easily digestible foods in the menu or a decrease in food intake.

The main factors causing constipation are:

• exposure to toxic substances;
• intestinal malformations;
• obstructions in the passage of feces through the intestines: neoplasms, adhesions or scars.

In addition, constipation can occur as a result of mental disorders.

Stool consistency

The stool of a healthy person has a soft consistency, which primarily depends on the amount of water it contains.

The structure of feces changes under the influence of the following factors:

• compaction of feces is observed in some pathologies of the rectum, as well as constipation;
• mushy feces can occur due to inflammation of the large intestine or impaired digestion;
• diseases of the pancreas or a decrease in the volume of bile entering the intestines cause ointment-like feces;
• loose stools occur as a result of disrupted digestive processes in the intestines or accelerated passage of feces;
• foaming feces are a symptom of fermentative dyspepsia;
• liquid stools similar to pea puree may indicate the development of typhus;
• colorless liquid stool accompanies cholera.

If any change in the consistency of feces occurs with frequent bowel movements, then malfunctions in the intestines may occur. Typically, these conditions are triggered by poisoning, infections, or impaired functioning of the nervous or endocrine system.

A single loose stool in some situations may indicate an exacerbation of appendicitis, so if there is any change in the consistency of the feces, you should consult a doctor.

Color and smell of feces

The normal color of stool is brown.

Stool color may change for the following reasons:

1. If bile does not enter the intestines, the stool becomes gray-white in color.
2. Black color usually indicates internal bleeding in the digestive organs.
3. Light yellow stool color appears when the functionality of the pancreas is reduced or the digestive processes deteriorate.
4. The green color of stool occurs due to increased peristalsis or due to bilirubin entering the stool.
5. Dark brown color of stool occurs with pathologies of the stomach and large intestine, after eating meat in large quantities, and with constipation.
6. A red tint to stool appears with intestinal ulcers.
7. As a result of eating plant foods or speeding up the passage of food through the large intestine, light brown stool may occur.

The normal smell of stool is not strong. With the development of various pathologies, feces may acquire a sour, putrid or fetid odor.

Causes of dark stool

Dark stools can appear for various reasons. The most common are the following:

1. . The disease occurs as a result of digestive pathologies, hereditary factors, and after chemical poisoning. The patient develops mucus and blood in his stool. The person also suffers from bloating and pain in the abdomen. In addition, hemorrhoids can occur due to a sedentary lifestyle, heavy lifting, or constipation. These conditions can cause bleeding, turning the stool dark.
2. Caltham color can occur after unsuccessful surgery on the digestive organs.
3. Food poisoning. It is considered the most common cause of change in the color of stool. Intoxication of the body is caused by bacteria and viruses that enter the body with stale, dirty or poorly prepared foods. Poisoning occurs with signs of nausea or vomiting, stool upset, and headache.
4. Bleeding in the digestive tract caused by complications of peptic ulcer disease. In this situation, the patient’s general well-being suddenly deteriorates, severe vomiting occurs, and the consistency and color of the stool changes. This condition is dangerous and can lead to death.
5. Intestinal diverticulosis. Occurs with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the organ. Small protrusions called diverticula appear on the intestinal walls. Outwardly, they resemble a hernia. The main reasons for the formation of diverticulosis are constant problems with bowel movements or weakness of its muscles. The disease usually manifests itself acutely, with a change in the color of stool, a rise in temperature, and an increase in gas formation. In addition, the patient has no appetite, general health worsens, and attacks of nausea and vomiting appear.
6. Colitis. It usually occurs as a result of a bacterial infection, severe stress, hereditary factors or chemical poisoning. The disease occurs with inflammation of the colon. Manifestations of colitis are a regular urge to defecate, dark brown stool, fever and pain in the abdomen. Often the stool becomes liquid and contains blood.
7. Malignant neoplasms of the large intestine.

The color of stool can be affected by the consumption of certain foods. For example, if a large amount of prunes, red grapes or beets enters the intestines, the stool may become very dark, almost black. After eliminating these foods, the color of the stool returns to normal within a few days. The color of feces may also change after eating raspberries, currants or strawberries.

In addition, the use of certain medications may be the cause of dark stool. These may be iron-containing medications, activated carbon or bismuth preparations. However, a change in the color of feces is not a contraindication to the use of these medications; the doctor can simply change the dosage.

Darkening of the stool provokes the use of subsequent non-steroidal medications aimed at relieving inflammatory processes:

• Ibuprofen;
• Aspirin;
• Acetaminophen.

Excessive consumption of drinks containing alcohol also causes dark stools.

Signs accompanying dark stools

Typically, when the stool turns dark brown, the following symptoms are observed::

• painful sensations in the abdomen;
• dyspeptic disorders such as bloating, nausea with vomiting;
• neurological disorders, such as weakness and fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances or dizziness;
• a significant increase in temperature, in certain situations, fever;
• hemorrhagic signs such as bleeding from the intestine.

In addition, vomiting with blood may occur.

If darkening of the feces is accompanied by an increase in temperature, persistent red vomiting and weakness, then the possible cause of this condition is internal bleeding, which requires emergency care. Before the ambulance arrives, it is recommended to apply a cold heating pad to your stomach.

Causes of dark stools during pregnancy

Darkening of the stool can also occur in pregnant women.

The most common causes of this condition are:

1. Iron deficiency anemia. The color of feces changes not as a result of pathology, but due to the intake of iron supplements.
2. Pathologies of the liver. During pregnancy, the liver is subject to additional stress. This is caused by an expanded diet and taking certain medications. Manifestations of the pathology are dull pain in the side, fatigue, drowsiness, dark stools, and a bitter taste in the mouth.

To determine the root cause of dark stool, pregnant women are prescribed a general and biochemical blood test. In case of peptic ulcer, it is recommended to donate stool for occult blood testing.

If darkening of the feces is accompanied by bleeding, the appearance of cold sweat, liquid stool, or paleness of the skin of the pregnant woman, you should immediately consult a doctor. The occurrence of black stool in pregnant women may indicate the development of a dangerous disease.

Expectant mothers are advised to adjust their hemoglobin level during pregnancy planning, as well as undergo a full medical examination in order to recover from concomitant pathologies, including normalizing liver function.

Treatment of pathology

To choose a treatment regimen, the doctor must make an accurate diagnosis, determining the root cause of the change in the color of feces.

The main causes of dark stools and methods of their treatment are listed in the table:

Causes of darkening of stools	Treatment of pathology
Poisoning	Medications are prescribed to reduce the negative effects of toxins. If poisoning occurs, it is recommended to drink Smecta and Activated Charcoal
	Adsorbents, anti-spasm agents, and antibacterial agents are prescribed for treatment.
Bleeding in the digestive tract	Drug therapy in this condition is not effective. To stop bleeding, the digestive organs are sanitized or the gastric perforation is sutured
	For treatment, ointments, suppositories are prescribed, or surgery is performed.

Treatment of diverticulosis or peptic ulcer disease requires medical care, since these conditions are dangerous due to their complications.

If the color of feces is caused by the use of vitamins or medications, then no special treatment is carried out. When a child’s stool becomes dark, his diet should be reviewed several days in advance.

Dark stools are a warning about the possible development of pathology. For this reason, you should not ignore this phenomenon and consult a doctor to find out the root cause of this condition and begin treatment if necessary. After all, diseases in the early stages are easier to treat than in advanced forms.