Question
Recently, a five-month-old girl baby has been observed to have green stool, with an increasing frequency of bowel movements from once two days ago to three times today. The stool appears green and is thinner in texture. Since the baby had diarrhea one month ago, the parents are worried whether it is a recurrence or other health issues. What could be the possible causes of this situation, and how should it be handled?
Answer
Green stool is not uncommon in infants fed with formula milk, as it may be due to the baby’s undigested iron not being fully absorbed in the body, which is then excreted and reacts with air to form a dark green color. This condition usually does not require special treatment. Additionally, dyspepsia should also be considered. It is recommended that parents take the baby for a stool test to determine if it is dyspepsia. If the test results are normal, most cases are considered normal.