Green poop, doctor says it's a virus

My poor DS has had soft poops that are green for the past four days. He hasn't been eating anything unusual except for I started him on Yo Baby yogurt about two weeks ago. I took him to the ped today and he said that Wil has an intestinal virus. They weren't for sure, but he has small red bumps all over his chest too. The doc said that they weren't bumps from an allergy because they were all over. Allergy bumps are usually under arms and knees I guess. My son does have eczema, but this is different. But I'm totally confused about what's causing the unusual poops. They are totally green and tarry like they are when babies are first born. And frequent. The doc said to wait it out and that he would take a stool sample in a few days if it continues. He told me that there are like 30 viruses out there and that it's not uncommon for them to pick up from contact with other children. So strange.

Any ideas?? He seems happy. Eating fine. But he is sleeping a bit more than usual. I think he may be dehydrated a bit, so maybe that's why he's sleeping more. Poor little guy. His tushy is sooooooo red!

No ideas but just wanted to send Get Well Vibes to the little guy.

Hope it clears up soon.

Sounds similar to rotovirus. That is pretty smelly too though. The little ones get dehydrated so fast that it is important to keep fluids in them. Even if he doesn't eat have him drink even little sips at a time. Popsicles & gatorade are always ways to get the liquid in!!

Sending get well vibes.

The rash is a viral rash if it is all over. My daughter usually gets one whenever she gets sick like that. There is nothing to really help clear it up but time. For his but you may want to try balmex and aquaphor. I found these work better than any diaper cream out there.

Hope he gets well soon!!!! It's never fun when they are sick.

If it does persist though, don't abandon the possibility of an allergy (pediatricians aren't that good at identifying allergies, I've found). If the poop is mucusy/slimy that could definitely be allergy poop, and rashes can indeed be generalized with allergies. Daniel has food allergies, and it's true that the rashes tend to be concentrated. The fact that you introduced a new food, though, and one that contains a very common allergen (milk protein), is significant. If it's a virus it should clear up, and if not---discontinue yogurt and see if it helps. I hope it clears up soon!

If it persists beyond a few weeks, insist on a stool culture. My dd just recovered from an extremely virulent intestional virus, and her poop was pretty green and nasty. She, unlike your child, was visibly sick and ate almost nothing for a week. Maybe your child has a milder version.

Thanks for all the good vibes! Plus the good info on your experiences with this. The green poop is still going. I discontinued the yogurt several days ago so I think that's not it. He is definitely not himself. His naps are much longer and he just looks a little sad. The doctor said to bring in a stool sample by Monday if it still persists. I'll let you know...poor little guy. His bum is sooooo red.

Green poop is still going...not sure what to do!! It's been about a week now.

How's he been acting? Eating?

Hope it clears up soon!!

Sorry to keep going on about this...but we still have green poop today. It's been a week and two days now. He's acting okay. His nap schedule is totally off though and when he does nap, he crashes pretty hard. He's taking formula fine and eating rice cereal and bananas. I've also given him Pedialyte, maybe two ounces 2-3 times a day. I stopped the yogurt a long time ago. I can't figure it out!! Could it be an allergy to the formula?? He's been on Similac Regular for about four months now, so it can't possibly suddenly have a reaction?? Can it? Could it be I'm not sterilizing his bottles well enough and he has a bug or parasite of some kind? We have a dog in the house and sometimes he licks Wil's hands. I try and catch it and wash them off. The doctor didn't seem to be concerned when I told him that. Only if we had exotic pets would he worry.

The poops are now dark dark green. Okay this is gross, but almost like a very bruised avocado. Black and pasty. I don't detect blood, but they are tarry.

I'm taking him in again tomorrow. But what the heck do I do in the meantime? He's eating fine. And still no fever.

Gosh I would get the sample in right away - in the morning, I don't know what to think it is but it would sure be good to get a test done for sure!!!

SOrry......hugs to WIL

Is he possibly getting too much iron? I hope you will find out soon what is going on. Let us know what the doc says.

I was thinking that maybe it had something to do with the multi vitamin I give him every morning. I give him Polyvisol drops which are dark in color. What about that?? I'm taking him in this afternoon...I'll let ya'll know. Thanks!

Sounds like it's dietary. Is he on iron fortified formula? If so, is there also iron in the vitamin drops and in his cereal? It certainly sounds like the kind of poop associated with too much iron. I was anemic during one of my pgs, was put on iron supplements, and wound up with the same symptoms. That would be my guess, particulary if he isn't acting sick or uncomfortable in any other way.

You may be right about the iron. I AM SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW! I just got back from the ped to find out that the ped thinks it's just normal for babies to have green soft poop. I said "doc, he's had it for over a week now and this is the third time I've been in, and NOW you tell me it's normal, last week you said it was possibly an intestinal virus and to bring in a sample if it doesn't go away by Monday. So here I am" I AM SO ANGRY!!!! Not that money matters when it comes to our kids, but I pay a $20 copay each time I go in and it kills me to hear that "it's just normal". WHAT????? The doc said that as long as it's not black or white poop, he's not concerned. And then he had the friggin nerve to say "I don't know why you American moms get so scared about strange colored poop. English women don't seem to think twice". I DON'T CARE MAN!!!! I like my pediatrician and I know that they are only human, but what's the deal to one day say it's a virus to another day say it's totally normal (and making fun of me at the same time). He took a stool sample and no sign of blood. I showed him the Polyvisol drops and he thought he was genius to say "that must be it". He said that I shouldn't give him the drops anymore. I suppose Wil only needed the Vit D while I was BF. BUT, how could the drops be causing it when I've been giving him the drops for about four months now and this problem only started a little over a week ago!! I'm sorry to vent.

I'm going to stop the drops and see what happens. The drops are dark in color (and sorta green), so YEAH that must be it. But it really doesn't make all that much sense to me if he's been on them for a long time and his poops were normal before.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Frustrating

I have to say, I think I'd be finding another dr. I agree, $$ is nothing when it comes to health but when he's acting like you should come in if it hasn't improved and then turns around and makes fun of you for bringing him in......and the whole American women comment....totally unprofessional. I can't believe he said that.

It is attitudes like that that make moms question calling or bringing their kids in when they are worried. What an idiot!

I would be switching pediatricians. Even if it is the drops, which I doubt, he had no reason to make the comments he did. I have taken Jayme to the doctors for what turns out to be nothing but have never been told it was silly, etc.

A good pediatrician listens and understands as a parent you are concerned about your own child.

Good Luck. Hope he gets better soon

Maybe you want to switch to a low iron formula and/or unfortified cereal (which you'd probably need to get at a health food store) and see if that helps (if the drops aren't the answer).
The fact of the matter is- if the child isn't sick, drs don't get too excited. Should be some kind of back handed comfort to you, I guess, but it is frustrating to not be taken seriously by your child's dr.

Jeanne, I'm going to try what you say because it does make sense that maybe he's getting too much iron. I suppose I thought too much iron did the opposite though and made you constipated, but we'll try it and see. I took him off the drops and this morning he has not had a "bad" bm. My ped is a group, so I actually like MY doctor. This guy was just one of the doctors that could see my son right away. I'm going to call our real doc today and get her second opinion. It is comforting to hear that it isn't something to worry about, but it's awfully frustrating to be told to come back on Monday to have him tell me it's nothing. I felt like I wasted his time and mine.

THANKS everyone for your advice. I'm still a bit worried, but I'm happy that Wil is in good spirits and eating/drinking just fine. THANKS!

Please keep us posted!