If the stool foams. Diarrhea with foam in an adult. causes of diarrhea with foam in an adult

- this is not a separate disease, but a symptomatic manifestation of disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the treatment of diarrhea begins with a set of examinations and finding out the kind of reasons that caused the liquefaction of the stool. The normal duration of the disease is considered to be fourteen to twenty days (acute diarrhea), if recovery does not occur, then we are talking about a chronic character.

Etiology of broken stool:

  • dangerous products with violations of the shelf life, violation of the norms of heat treatment of products during cooking;
  • mild food intoxication;
  • individual intolerance to certain types of products or their components (allergy);
  • stressful conditions, changes in stool due to a change in the climatic zone and changes in the diet (exotic dishes).

If diarrhea associated with these causes disappears after 2-4 days of illness, then there is no cause for concern. However, irritable bowel syndrome also occurs due to a number of other factors:

  • entry into the body of pathogens of infectious diseases (shigellosis; intestinal infection caused by salmonella; rotavirus disease);
  • the course of inflammatory processes in the digestive organs: changes in the gastric mucosa (gastritis), ulcers on the colon mucosa;
  • enzymatic deficiency (lactase, lipase, etc.);
  • chemical poisoning.

If diarrhea is caused by serious reasons, qualified help from a gastroenterologist and examination in a hospital are required.

Pay attention to changes in the color of the secreted intestinal contents, this will help establish the correct diagnosis and carry out adequate treatment measures. Foamy stools are the first signal of the presence of dangerous disorders in the work of the digestive sections of the intestine. It is advisable to immediately contact the clinic.

Yellow and green stool

Diarrhea with foam is formed when pathogenic microorganisms enter the intestinal cavity. Accompanied by a temperature above 38 degrees, weakness, pain in the abdomen, vomiting. Green-colored liquid stools and a sour smell are the hallmarks of an intestinal infection. At home, treatment will not give positive results. Occurs with microbial imbalance (intestinal dysbacteriosis), which negatively affects the functioning of the intestine. As a result of a long course of antibiotic therapy. With the rapid development of dysbiosis - a yellow tint of discharge and foam in liquid feces. An adult performs treatment to restore the balance of bacteria. The course takes 14-21 days.

With white coloring of foamy secretions:

  • Inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract (ulcerative colitis, impaired microflora, congenital deficiency of digestive enzymes).
  • With helminthic invasion, it appears with a foamy component.
  • Lactase deficiency (infancy). Runs without heat. It also occurs in adults as a result of pancreatic disorders.

The appearance of foam and mucus:

  • Individual intolerance to specific products (allergic reaction).
  • Improper diet (fatty foods, unusual dishes). With the wrong treatment, complications arise.

Treatment Methods

Seek help from a medical facility. The following measures will help reduce the occurrence of violations of this kind.

Drink: herbal decoctions - brewed oak bark; chamomile tea; drink from dried apricots and bird cherry; rice water; water containing minerals without gases. Restore the balance of minerals and salts in the body, protect against dehydration, promote the elimination of toxic substances.

Therapeutic nutrition: exclude dairy products from the diet; sweet pastries; fried foods; fruits other than bananas; foods and vegetables containing fiber; spicy food, sauces (mayonnaise and ketchup); seasonings.

Medications: The treatment of bowel dysfunctions distinguishes four groups of drugs that improve the patient's condition with disorders of the intestinal tract.

  • Probiotic and prebiotic. Restore the balance of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacterin, Bifidin).
  • Enterosorbent drugs (charcoal, Polisorb, Karbopekt). Absorb and subsequently remove toxins.
  • Decreasing peristalsis in IBS (Stoperan, Lopedium). Calm the contraction of the walls of the stomach and intestines, reduce the frequency of diarrhea.
  • Antibacterial. They are taken to suppress pathogenic microbes and bacteria that cause disorders of the intestinal cavity (Enterofuril, Metronidazole).

Liquid stools in childhood

The phenomenon is a problem that parents often encounter, because from birth to 3 years the gastrointestinal tract is intermittent and unstable.

Diarrhea at 3 years old

Pathogenic microbes that enter the body through unwashed hands or with improperly processed food, when eating expired food, provoke stool disorders in babies. There is no need to panic if the child scolds, but urgently alleviate the symptoms of the disease and begin treatment. Be sure to consult a pediatrician, it is impossible to treat with folk remedies. At preschool age, it is not the disease itself that is dangerous, but the consequences of diarrhea, if timely treatment is not started.

If liquefied stool is associated with a number of other factors:

  • mucous components;
  • bleeding; liquid stool with foam.

The manifestation of these symptoms is a reason to urgently contact a medical institution. Before the examination is carried out and medications are prescribed, it is important for adults to prevent dehydration of the body (dehydration). To do this, let the child drink boiled water, at intervals in time. The volume of liquid is 10 milliliters per kilogram of weight.

Causes of broken stool:

  • neurotic disorders;
  • obtained with the help of alimentary routes of transmission of infection (through the mouth, when contaminated water enters, by airborne droplets and household transmission of infection);
  • secretory disorders of the digestive organs;
  • toxic poisoning.

If it continues continuously, this indicates serious diseases of the intestinal cavity (enteritis, colitis).

Preschoolers are susceptible - symptoms of manifestation:

  • the consistency is mushy or watery, and 70% of the intestinal secretion is liquid;
  • not accompanied by pain in the abdomen;
  • discharge of liquid fecal fluids from 3 times a day.

With functional diarrhea, the physical growth of the patient is normal, and this kind of disease can only be detected in laboratory studies. The leading cause of IBS in three-year-olds is occupied by viral infections that enter the digestive tract along with dirty hands. Together with contaminated water and food, Shigella bacteria enter the intestinal cavity of the child, and infection with dysentery occurs. In this case, the appropriate treatment is prescribed by a gastroenterologist or an infectious disease doctor.

Changed color and foam in liquid secretions in children

Yellow color indicates serious problems of the intestinal tract, but not in all cases. In the case when a light or green tint appears, mucus impurities or bloody blotches and against this background the body temperature rises and the small child feels worse - parents are immediately advised to consult a doctor. In addition to color changes in the baby's stool, pay attention to the foam in the diarrhea. This is due to a number of reasons:

In what cases to show concern: with mucus, temperature, anabolism (vomiting), acute pain in the abdomen. The consistency of the diarrhea is watery and it is bright yellow in color, there is frothiness. If there are these signs, it indicates danger. If left untreated, diarrhea in children is fatal.

With a mild version of diarrhea: without impurities and discoloration of the stool, without temperature - it is recommended to observe the drinking regimen, diet food (table No. 1). To prevent dehydration (Regidron) and drugs that restore the intestinal microflora (Laktofiltrum).

It is believed that the act of defecation, or stool, is the body's natural daily form of clearing processed foods. Normally, an adult can have up to three stools, but at least once a day. With proper rational nutrition, the absence of chronic intestinal and other diseases, in the absence of pregnancy in a woman and if there have been no recent surgical operations, the chair should not cause any difficulties and discomfort. Therefore, when deviations and abnormalities appear in the stool, special attention should be paid to this.

What should be a normal chair?

A normal stool, subject to full compliance with a healthy lifestyle and diet, has the following characteristics:

  • has practically no
  • uniform in structure
  • comes out in one or two doses, without straining,
  • has the shape of a sausage
  • color ranges from light brown to dark brown,
  • the act of defecation is performed daily at the same time.

What does foamy stool look like?

Frequent frothy stools in an adult is the main symptom of fermentative dyspepsia. Such a chair has, in addition to a liquid consistency, a characteristic sour smell. In this case, the patient notes a rumbling in his stomach in the absence of pain or a slight weak pain. There may be discomfort in the intestines. The color of the stool is pale, almost without pigmentation. The stools themselves have many gas bubbles, starchy grains, a lot of fiber, there are also iodophilic microbes and organic acids.

Foamy stool - causes

When deviating from the norm, the stool may look different. Feces can acquire a different color - white, yellow, black, green. The stool may be blood or mucus, or both. Feces can be liquid or foamy. In all such cases, the presence of pathology in the digestive system can be assumed.

Foamy stools are usually loose. The reason for the appearance of such a chair is functional dyspepsia. - a term meaning a violation of the digestive process of a functional nature. Such disorders occur, as a rule, in the absence of a sufficient amount of digestive enzymes, as well as with malnutrition. In some cases, functional dyspepsia appears due to a bacterial infection.

Most often, fermentative dyspepsia is caused by irrational nutrition for a long time. Usually this is the abuse of carbohydrate foods - sugar, honey, fruits, legumes, cabbage, flour products, as well as fermentation drinks - (kvass, for example). As a result, favorable conditions are created for the emergence of fermentative flora.

What threatens fermentative dyspepsia?

Any diarrhea leads to dehydration, and prolonged diarrhea may well result in the appearance of intestinal disease. Foamy diarrhea sometimes leads to depletion of the body, which negatively affects the overall health of a person.

Treatment of foamy fatigue in adults

Basic treatment It's about proper nutrition. At the beginning of treatment, it is best to refuse food altogether or “sit” on a mono-diet without the use of fatty, dairy. Also, don't eat too much fiber. Activated charcoal or Polyphepan will help to cope with toxins. Next, you need to follow a diet, which should be based on a balanced set of foods containing carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and fiber.

Diarrhea with foam is an alarming symptom that requires immediate action. It is characteristic of severe disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and is dangerous for both the child and the adult patient. In order for the treatment to be successful, you first need to find out the cause of the ailment.

10 Causes of Foamy Diarrhea in Adults

With the appearance of diarrhea with foam in an adult, the causes are usually clarified after laboratory analysis. The most common diseases that cause this symptom include:

  1. Acute intestinal infections of bacterial or viral etiology. Symptoms of diseases can be different, depending on the type of pathogen. Among the common signs of the disease are fever, nausea and vomiting, epigastric pain, loss of strength and apathy. Possible disorders of the nervous system due to the action of enterotoxins - loss of coordination, spasms and muscle cramps.
  2. Allergic reaction. Foamy diarrhea in an adult is characteristic of food allergies caused by eating certain foods. Clinical manifestations include skin rash, edema; fever is rarely observed.
  3. Dysbacteriosis is a violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora. It develops as a complication after infectious diseases, long-term medication, food poisoning and impaired immunity. Accompanied by loss of appetite, general weakness and loss of strength.
  4. Helminthiases. As a rule, foamy diarrhea of ​​yellow or light green color is characteristic of the acute stage of the disease, and is accompanied by allergic reactions - skin rash, swelling, urticaria. Dyspeptic manifestations (flatulence, heartburn, bloating), as well as abdominal pain, are possible. After the transition of the disease to the chronic stage, these symptoms become less pronounced.
  5. Inflammatory processes in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. They are characteristic of diseases such as colitis, gastritis, enterocolitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. White frothy diarrhea is accompanied by intense pain localized in the epigastric region, the presence of blood streaks in the feces or lumps of desquamated endothelium.
  6. Side effects of drugs. If safe dosages are observed, it is rare, but it may be the result of taking vitamin-mineral complexes and excessive self-medication.
  7. Consumption of certain foods. Foamy diarrhea can appear as an individual reaction with gluten intolerance, incomplete breakdown of the gluten structure of cereals, or celiac disease.
  8. Hormonal disorders in the body caused by pregnancy. Foamy diarrhea is often observed in the early stages of gestation as a manifestation of toxicosis. The appearance of a symptom in the last trimester is not excluded.
  9. Chronic alcohol abuse. The symptom is typical for the late stages of alcohol dependence, which causes severe systemic disorders. In addition, frothy diarrhea can be caused by the use of low-quality alcoholic beverages and surrogates.
  10. Strong psycho-emotional stress. Nervous breakdown can lead to short-term indigestion. However, there are no other physiological manifestations.

5 causes of frothy diarrhea in a child

In a small child, frothy diarrhea is most often due to such reasons:

  1. Violation of the diet of a nursing mother. If a woman consumes sour, smoked, fatty and fried foods during breastfeeding, this can cause serious digestive disorders in the baby. In this case, the frequency of diarrhea can exceed 12 times a day, which is dangerous for the baby and requires immediate treatment.
  2. Insufficient production of the enzyme lactase. With this pathology, the baby's digestive tract is not able to cope with milk mixtures and breast milk. Usually in this case, the doctor selects special lactose-free mixtures.
  3. Violation of the diet of a child under the age of 12 months. At this point, the child can already absorb some foods, but his gastrointestinal tract is not yet fully formed. Mucous diarrhea indicates the presence in the diet of heavy foods, processed foods, artificial colors and preservatives.
  4. Food poisoning caused by the use of low-quality or stale foods. In this case, signs of malaise appear abruptly: severe nausea, vomiting, and pain develop. Diarrhea not only foams, but also contains mucus interspersed, which indicates damage to endothelial cells.
  5. Viral or bacterial infections. Unlike adult patients, babies suffer this type of disease severely. Due to the small weight of the child, diarrhea and vomiting quickly lead to dehydration, and the concentration of enterotoxins causes various systemic disorders. The provoking factors are violations of the rules of personal hygiene, being in a place of mass congestion of children - schools, kindergartens, as well as weak immunity at this age.

How to treat diarrhea with foam

It is necessary to treat diarrhea with foam, taking into account the cause of the ailment. Taking antidiarrheal drugs is most often inappropriate: they will lead to intoxication of the body and deterioration of well-being.

Preparations for adult patients

Diarrhea with foam in an adult is treated with the following medicines:

  1. With a single appearance of a symptom, it is enough to take any enterosorbent - activated carbon, Polysorb MP, Smecta. They absorb excess digestive enzymes and reduce the severity of the symptom. It is advisable to use sorbents based on lignin, which have an enveloping effect on the mucous membrane.
  2. With repeated diarrhea, measures must be taken to prevent dehydration. For this, pharmaceutical powders are used for the preparation of water-salt solutions - Regidron, Trisol.
  3. If the cause of diarrhea is dysbacteriosis, pro- and prebiotic preparations are prescribed. They normalize the composition of the intestinal microflora and restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The most popular means are Lineks, Atsilakt, Bifidumbacterin.
  4. If an allergic reaction is suspected, the patient is prescribed antihistamines - Fexofast, Ksizal, Lordestin. It is recommended to accurately identify the cause of the allergy and avoid the use of this drug in the future.
  5. If signs of an intestinal infection or food poisoning appear, symptomatic treatment is not enough. Epiotropic therapy is necessary - the use of medicines with antiviral or antibacterial action. But only a doctor can prescribe them, so seeking medical help is mandatory.

After eliminating the cause of the ailment, you can speed up the process of normalizing the stool with the help of enzymes - Pancreatin, Panzinorm and Festal.

Preparations for the treatment of a child

Treatment of a child allows the use of such means:

Antidiarrheal drugs are used only if symptoms of dehydration appear. With the permission of the doctor, you can use Loperamide and Imodium.

If diarrhea with foam in a child does not go away within a day, an ambulance call is necessary. Unauthorized use of antibiotics or other potent drugs is prohibited, and is fraught with serious complications.

Folk remedies

Treatment of the disease at home is allowed only after an accurate diagnosis. Traditional medicine recommends decoctions of medicinal plants with astringent properties to normalize digestion:

  • oak bark;
  • erect cinquefoil (galangal root);
  • plantain;
  • knotweed;
  • shepherd's bag;
  • bird mountaineer;
  • marsh calamus;
  • cherry leaves.

They are used both in an independent form and as part of medical fees. If the use of decoctions will be combined with drug therapy, you need to notify the doctor about this.

Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. But it must be consumed in small quantities, otherwise you can cause repeated loosening of the stool.

Diet treatment

A single occurrence of foamy diarrhea indicates a mild form of gastrointestinal upset. You can eliminate its consequences with the help of a diet. For 3-4 days, the patient is advised to avoid heavy and fatty foods, fresh vegetables and fruits, bakery and confectionery products. The use of alcohol, sugary carbonated drinks and whole milk is prohibited until the final recovery.

Mucous porridges are useful, especially from crushed grains - rice, oatmeal. To fortify the diet, you can add bananas and baked apples of sour varieties to it. To restore intestinal function, it is recommended to take decoctions of dried apricots and pomegranate peels, fruit and berry jelly, homemade jelly.

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Diarrhea manifests itself in many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes loose stools can be frothy. A sign can signal diseases that are dangerous to health and life. The causes of yellow foamy diarrhea in adults and children should be eliminated as soon as possible, since an acute disease of the digestive organs may be present. According to statistics, diarrhea is the most common reason for visiting a doctor. You can’t figure out on your own what to do with diarrhea with foam in a child or adult. The symptom can be potentially life-threatening and cause dehydration. Sometimes foamy diarrhea is the result of eating excessively fatty and unhealthy foods. Fecal matter may contain impurities - the remains of undigested food, mucus or blood.


Diarrhea can be a symptom of a life-threatening illness

In this article you will learn:

Additional symptoms

Diarrhea with blisters in an adult and a child is not an independent disease. Diarrhea is a manifestation of the underlying disease. The symptomatology directly depends on the existing pathology, and the treatment is selected on an individual basis.

The main signs that accompany foamy diarrhea include:

  • rumbling in the digestive organ, regardless of meals;
  • fetid sour smell of fecal masses;
  • the presence in the fecal masses of undigested food or starch grains;
  • pain during bowel movements in rare cases.

Unreasonable rumbling of the abdomen is an additional symptom of the disease

Yellow diarrhea with foam in an adult or child may signal the presence of an infectious lesion. In this case, the patient complains about:

  • general malaise;
  • pain in the stomach of an acute nature;
  • significant loss of strength.

The patient's appearance may worsen due to a violation of the water-salt balance. The skin becomes dry and pale, there are rashes and peeling on the skin.

Yellow and white foamy diarrhea in a child and an adult is present up to 10 times a day. Fecal masses have a fetid odor. The process of bowel movement can cause significant discomfort.

The video tells what loose stools can indicate:

Causes of the symptom

The causes of liquid foamy stools in an adult or a child are varied and require a comprehensive diagnosis. The provoking factors are described in the table.

Often, diarrhea with foam in an adult without fever is the only manifestation of intestinal dysfunction at an early stage. If left untreated, the patient's condition will worsen. The patient will complain about:

  • urge to vomit and constant nausea;
  • the presence of foreign impurities in the fecal masses;
  • increase in body temperature;
  • painful sensation in the digestive organ;
  • skin rashes.

The causes and treatment of diarrhea with foam in an adult are individual. If there is a symptom, it is important to immediately consult a doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis. Otherwise, the risk of dehydration is high. Possible complications.


In case of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to diarrhea, vomiting may occur

Diarrhea with foam during pregnancy is due to the active restructuring of the body. The most common symptom occurs in the first trimester. The condition is characterized by elevated levels of progesterone.

Presence of a symptom in children

Diarrhea with foam in a breastfed baby is a consequence of an imbalance between the back and fore milk. They differ significantly in texture and composition. The symptom is due to improper feeding, when a woman often changes breasts.

A symptom in a baby is also due to an incompletely formed organism. If left untreated, it can cause secondary lactose intolerance. The degree of neglect of the condition is determined by the condition of the child and the results of laboratory tests.


Diarrhea with foam in a child may indicate completely different problems.

Diarrhea with foam in a 2-year-old child without fever may be due to an improper diet. Parents often give their children foods that can trigger the fermentation process. These include:

  • chocolate;
  • smoked meats;
  • fatty and fried;
  • confectionery.

In a child, diarrhea with foam and fever are common signs of helminthic invasion. In addition, the baby may complain of unbearable itching in the anus. The condition is rapidly deteriorating.


An increase in temperature with diarrhea is an additional diagnostic sign

Methods for eliminating the symptom

It is possible to eliminate loose stools with foam in a child or an adult only after establishing the root cause of the pathology. Treatment is selected on an individual basis. With diarrhea, the body loses a huge amount of fluid. The patient must make up for the deficiency. It is recommended to drink:

  • strong and slightly sweetened teas;
  • various herbal tinctures in the absence of individual intolerance;
  • special solutions;
  • dried fruit compotes;
  • as much ordinary boiled water as possible.

One of the recommendations to eliminate diarrhea is to drink strong tea.

Medications can only be selected by a doctor, taking into account the characteristics of the body.

Every day the human body must be cleansed of food processed in the digestive tract. They are excreted by defecation up to three times a day, which is considered the norm. When the body is healthy, the chair does not cause any difficulties or discomfort. But if there are any deviations or problems, a person is forced to pay attention to them. After all, they significantly disrupt the usual rhythm of life.

One of the possible troubles is the appearance of foamy stools.

Why a foamy stool appeared: reasons

The appearance of a foamy stool most often indicates the so-called fermentative dyspepsia. This term refers to functional digestive disorders. The development of dyspepsia is facilitated by a violation of the motility of the digestive tract, which makes it difficult for the normal digestion of food. It is accompanied by flatulence and significant gas, rumbling in the abdomen and frothy stools. Stools are thin and frequent. They are slightly colored, contain a large number of gas bubbles. The odor of the stool is sour and pungent.

Causes that provoke the appearance of fermentative dyspepsia:

  • insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes by the body;
  • prolonged malnutrition.

New Year's video recipe:

Lack of digestive enzymes causes such ailments:

  • Dysbacteriosis (in the intestines)- the normal mobile balance of the microflora living in the intestine is disturbed. A change in the composition of microbial associations, both qualitative and quantitative, causes an unpleasant taste in the mouth, flatulence in a person. Lethargy develops, symptoms of complete intoxication of the body appear: vomiting and foamy diarrhea.
  • Intestinal infection, flowing in the form:
    • gastritis;
    • gastroenteritis and enteritis;
    • enterocolitis.

    Each of these ailments is accompanied by diarrhea (often frothy), vomiting, pain in various areas of the abdominal cavity. The most serious consequence of intestinal infections is a significant loss of water. This can lead to kidney failure and even lead to dehydration shock.

    A serious factor that gives rise to the presence of a foamy stool is malnutrition, which lasted a long time.

    As a rule, a person is too fond of food containing a significant amount of carbohydrates. His diet is dominated by white bread, cookies, cakes, cakes, sweet fruits, legumes, cabbage. A significant place is given to sugar and honey, beer or kvass. Such a menu helps to create favorable conditions in the intestines for digestive disorders. Contributes to this and eating hastily, and snacking on sandwiches, and insufficient chewing of food.

    Foamy stool treatment

    Foamy stools can be an episodic and short-term phenomenon: a person has eaten some kind of stale product, and the body has rejected it. Then the problem is solved without the intervention of doctors. Just in case, it is enough to drink activated charcoal and starve. Do not forget to replenish the body with water.

    You need to rush to see a doctor if:

    • the temperature rises;
    • toilet visits are too frequent;
    • spasms and persistent pain appear;
    • weakness intensifies.

    Since any changes in fecal masses are primarily associated with the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, the doctor will definitely prescribe the following:

    • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
    • coprograms;
    • general analysis of blood and urine.

    Treatment established after diagnosis can be carried out on an outpatient basis, and in severe cases - inpatient. As a rule, it includes taking drugs orally and by intravenous and intramuscular injections. It is also possible to administer medications with the help of droppers.

    A strict diet is prescribed, which will help normalize the intestinal microflora. Quite effective is the use of rice boiled in water without salt and fat. It can be supplemented with rye bread and bananas.

    You need to drink a lot. First of all - clean water, the amount of which should be at least two liters per day. You need to supplement it with herbal teas: chamomile, linden, raspberries and currants.

    To prevent a relapse, you need to avoid fatty and spicy foods and very carefully return to your normal diet.

    If serious pathologies of the internal organs, in particular the gastrointestinal tract, are not identified, and diarrhea with foam does not go away, you can turn to proven folk remedies. Here is one of them.

    Chop approximately 400 grams of walnuts and remove the inner partitions. Put them in a deep bowl and pour half a liter of alcohol. Partitions are saturated with alcohol for several days. After that, alcohol tincture should be taken three times a day, ten drops.

    It is possible to prevent trouble with a chair if you take your diet seriously. You can do without drugs, adhering to the rules of proper nutrition.