This article reviews what different experts say about dark green vomit in children. It pulls information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Sears, the British Medical Journal, and others. (See our full source list below.)
The main takeaway: Dark green vomit can signal the presence of a large amount of bile in your child’s stomach. If your child is under one year old, it can be the sign of an intestinal obstruction, a serious problem requiring immediate medical attention. For children older than one, dark green vomit is less concerning and can be caused by a variety of factors, but it can still be worth contacting your healthcare provider.
Read on where we will cover what dark green vomit means in children under one and older children, signs of an intestinal obstruction, what else can lead to green vomit, and what treatments can help.
Dark Green Vomiting From Children Under One Year Old
Dark green vomit is a cause for serious concern for children under one year old. Bile is an important digestive fluid that is dark green and is stored in the gallbladder. And in young children, green vomit can signify that there is a lot of bile in the stomach, a common symptom at that age of an intestinal blockage that requires immediate medical attention and often surgery. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends calling your doctor right away if your baby has bile in their vomit.
One common cause of an intestinal blockage in a child under one year of age is “malrotation.” Malrotation happens when the digestive system doesn’t form normally while your baby is still developing in the womb. About one-third of children who have this obstruction will develop symptoms in infancy, while 20% will develop symptoms in childhood or adolescence.
Dark Green Vomiting From Older Children
When it comes to this color of vomit, age matters. That’s because older children might be eating things that are of a dark green color versus children under the age of one.
Dark green vomit in older kids can also be a sign of blockage in the digestive tract, but pediatrician Dr. Sears says: “DON’T PANIC.” Sears says this is the least common cause in older kids, and the key symptom is dark green vomit accompanied with severe abdominal pain. He says it usually (but not always) presents as projectile vomiting, and the child will be pale and sweaty, with no bowel movements. Your child’s condition will be getting worse over time, as opposed to staying the same or improving.
Sears also makes the point that vomit signifying an intestinal blockage is *very* green. In other words, it is not the yellow-green mucus that can contain bile in older kids and adults who are vomiting on an empty stomach, especially if your child has vomited several times already.
A gastrointestinal practice in New York City has a similar take, saying that green or yellow vomit “may indicate that you are bringing up bile from the stomach” and is not always a cause for concern, especially when the stomach is empty. They also note that green vomit can be caused by foods or drinks that are green in color (like kale or spinach) that didn’t agree with your stomach or were caused by food poisoning or a tummy bug.
They also offer a tip if it is hard to tell if your child has black vomit or if it actually dark green in color: Smear a little bit of the vomit onto a white paper towel, which should help you see if it is really dark green or a true black. (If the vomit is black or a coffee grounds color, that could be a sign of old blood making its way up through the digestive system, and they recommend getting that checked out with a healthcare provider. And of course, if your child has red bloody vomit, also get in touch with a healthcare provider)
Other Causes of Vomit + Treatment
So if it’s not a serious condition like an intestinal blockage, what can it be? The answer: Probably a stomach bug. But here are a few common causes of vomiting in children:
- Stomach flu (gastroenteritis): This is the most common cause of vomiting in children and adolescents, and it is usually caused by a virus. Vomiting begins quickly but typically ends quickly as well, and it can be accompanied with diarrhea.
- Strep throat, ear infections, and urinary tract infections: While vomiting often isn’t the primary symptom with any of these conditions, vomiting is a known symptom, especially in young children.
- Food allergies: If your child ingests something they are allergic to, it can cause anaphylaxis, which leads to stomach symptoms like nausea, vomiting (sometimes a stringy mucus) and diarrhea. The symptoms usually start quickly, just a few minutes to up to two hours after they eat or drank the substance they have a food allergy to.
- Motion sickness: Its somewhat self-explanatory, but vomiting is a symptom that can accompany motion sickness. The top recommendation is to not read or look at a screen while riding in a car or moving vehicle.
If your child is not experiencing an emergency like an intestinal blockage, the most important thing you can do to help them recover from vomiting episodes is make sure they are not dehydrated. You can use an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, to make sure they are getting proper electrolytes, or clear fluids like water. But health experts caution against giving your child fruit juice, which contains a lot of sugar and can upset the stomach (remember: clear liquids!).
Start with very small amounts of liquids and work up from there. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth and not urinating, so keep an eye on your child’s trips to the bathroom or wet diapers. Expert advice says to avoid solid foods until your child is able to keep liquids down and is only vomiting 2-4 times per day. See more from Dr. Sears here.
Sources
Vomit Color– Green, Yellow, Brown, Black, Clear – Manhattan Gastroenterology
Vomiting in Children | Ask Dr Sears