A child with black stool can lead parents to wonder if something is seriously wrong. Although black stools may look startling, they may not be the result of significant illness. Various factors can cause a black stool, and parents must consider their child's behavior and other physical symptoms to determine if the situation warrants a call to the doctor.
Food
Some foods that have high iron content may cause a child's stools to temporarily turn black. Examples include large amounts of spinach, beets or blueberries. Foods and candies that have black color added, such as black licorice, may also turn a child's stools black. This is not a dangerous condition and should resolve when all of the food has been digested and passed through the body.
Medications
Some medications or supplements may cause a child to have black stools. This is seen with the use of iron supplements or iron-fortified formula. The color change occurs from a reaction of the iron to the body's oxygen-rich hemoglobin and should not be a cause for concern. Certain types of antacids that contain bismuth subsalicylate react with substances in the digestive tract, also creating dark or black stools.
Bleeding
Black stool may be the result of bleeding in the upper portion of the digestive tract. The stool appears black because the blood has passed through a larger portion of the digestive process. The most common form of bleeding in this area is gastritis, or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. According to Johns Hopkins Children's Center, gastritis is commonly the result of irritating medications, such as ibuprofen, or an infection with the bacteria H. pylori. This type of bacteria can cause an ulcer in the digestive tract, and when it bleeds, it causes black stools. Children who have gastritis and black stools may have a combination of other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, bloating or heartburn.
