Virtual Pediatric Hospital: CQQA: Cough

Virtual Pediatric Hospital(tm) : A digital library of pediatric information

Home | About Us | FAQ | Reviews | Search

Additional pediatric resources: GeneralPediatrics.com | PediatricEducation.org | SearchingPediatrics.com

Pediatrics Common Questions, Quick Answers

Stool and Urine Color Changes

Donna D'Alessandro, M.D.
Susan Kinzer, M.P.H.
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed
Creation Date: July 2003
Last Revision Date: July 2003

Common Questions, Quick Answers

What can cause it?
Who can get it?
What are the signs and symptoms?
Is it contagious?
How is it treated?
How long does it last?
When should I call the doctor?

What causes color changes of stool or urine??

Most stool and urine color changes are harmless
Eating particular foods or taking drugs causes most color changes.
Dyes in foods or kid's art supplies also are common causes.
- Examples:
  - Brightly colored breakfast cereals
  - Non-toxic dyes in crayons, markers, etc.
Sometimes infections or other medical problems cause changes.

	Stool	Urine

	Black Stool	Black/Brown Urine
Body/Cell Contents	Blood, iron	Old blood, homogentisic urine, melanin, myoglobin, hemosiderin
Diseases		Tyrosinosis, melanosis
Drugs	Pepto-Bismol	Quinine, nitrofurantoin, metronidazole, cascara, senna
Foods	Black licorice, blueberries, green-leafy vegetables	Rhubarb
Other	Lead, charcoal, coal, dirt


	Green/Greenish Gold Stool	Green/Blue Urine
Body/Cell Contents		Biliverdin
Diseases		Hypercalcemia, blue diaper syndrome
Drugs		Amitriptyline, triamterene, prochlorperazine, doxorubicin, indomethacin
Foods	Normal in fully breastfed babies
Infections	Stomach infection	Psuedomonas infection
Other		Indigo blue, methylene blue, copper clasp on a diaper holder


	Red/Pink Stool	Red/Burgundy Urine
Body/Cell Contents	Blood	Old urine, hemoglobin, red blood cells, urates
Drugs	Diazepam syrup, ampicillin, viprynium (for threadworms), Phenolphthalein in teething powder	Phenolphthalein in laxatives
Foods	Red Jell-O, dioralyte oral rehydration solution	Beets, blackberries, food coloring
Infections		Serratia marcescens infection
Other


	Yellow Stool	Yellow Urine
Foods	Normal in formula-fed babies
Other		Dehydration


		Deep Yellow/Yellow Brown Urine
Body/Cell Contents		Bile, bilirubin
Drugs		Anti-malarial drugs, cascara, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, sulfasalazine
Foods		Riboflavin, carotene-containing foods, orange or yellow vegetables
Other		B-complex vitamins


	White/Clay Colored Stool
Diseases	Malabsorption (not absorbing certain foods), blockage in liver/biliary system of the gut
Other	Barium, aluminum hydroxide


		Orange Urine
Body/Cell Contents		Bile, urates
Drugs		Warfarin, rifampin, rifabutin, phenazopyridine
Other		Congo red dye

Who can get it?

Anyone

What are the signs and symptoms?

Most color changes are harmless. They are only seen one or a few times.
There are often no other signs or symptoms.

Is it contagious?

It is generally not contagious. (See Table)

How is it treated?

If a food or dye causes it, avoid it.
If a drug causes it, it will stop when your child stops the medicine.

How long does it last?

It usually lasts a short period of time.

When should I call the doctor?

Call your doctor if any stool or urine changes persist.
Call your doctor if your child also has fever, pain, or other problems.
Call your doctor if you have any questions about your child's condition.

Quick Answers

Most stool and urine color changes are harmless.
Eating particular foods or taking drugs causes most color changes.
Dyes in foods or kid's art supplies also are common causes.
- Examples:
  - Brightly colored breakfast cereals.
  - Non-toxic dyes in crayons, markers, etc.
Sometimes infections or other medical problems cause changes.

References

Illingworth, R.S. (1988). Common Symptoms of Disease in Children. Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford.
Schiff, Donald., and Shelov, Steven P. (1997). American Academy of Pediatrics. The Official, Complete Home Reference: Guide to Your Child's Symptoms. Villard: New York.
Sheldon, Stephen H., and Levy, Howard, B. (1985). Pediatric Differential Diagnosis, Second Edition. Raven Press: New York.
Siberry, George K., and Iannone, Robert. (2000). The Harriet Lane Handbook: A Manuel for Pediatric House Officers, Fifteenth Edition. Mosby Publications: St. Louis.
Stockman, James A. III., Corden, Timothy E., Kim, Julie J. The Pediatric Book of Lists: A Primer of Differential Diagnosis in Pediatrics.

Home | About Us | FAQ | Reviews | Search

Additional pediatric resources: GeneralPediatrics.com | PediatricEducation.org | SearchingPediatrics.com

Virtual Pediatric Hospital is curated by Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and by Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.

Please send us comments by filling out our Comment Form.

"Virtual Pediatric Hospital", the Virtual Pediatric Hospital logo, and "A digital library of pediatric information" are all Trademarks of Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.

Virtual Pediatric Hospital is funded in whole by Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D. Advertising is not accepted.

Your personal information remains confidential and is not sold, leased, or given to any third party be they reliable or not.

The information contained in Virtual Pediatric Hospital is not a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

URL: http://www.virtualpediatrichospital.org/