After birth, the baby has absolutely sterile intestines. Gradually, with the first sips of breast milk, the microflora undergoes changes (within two to three years) and becomes almost the same as in an adult.
The formation of microflora is affected by the food consumed, the use of drugs and digestive processes. With the slightest imbalance in the balance of microorganisms, there is a risk of intestinal diseases (in infants up to seven years old).
Acute intestinal infections are different, among their pathogens the following are distinguished:
- dysenteric sticks (shigella, salmonella)
- E. coli (staphylococci, Proteus, Escherichia, Yersinia, Klebsiella, typhoid bacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. cholera vibrio)
- various viruses (coronaviruses, rotaviruses, enteroviruses).
Even at home, a child can catch acute infectious infections. This happens if he does not observe personal hygiene, if he plays with dirty toys. The cause of the disease can be unwashed vegetables and fruits. Walking in the yard, he can get sick by contact with infected sand in the sandbox or just the ground. Feces on the street can also cause illness. But, mainly, acute intestinal infections are transmitted from a sick person.
The disease can occur with varying complexity. Depending on the pathogen and the age of the baby. Of great importance is the stage at which the disease is determined, on which, accordingly, the timeliness of therapeutic measures depends.
All acute intestinal diseases go through four main stages:
- incubation period
- initial period
- the height of the disease
- recovery.
The smaller the child’s age, the more difficult the disease is, it develops rapidly and leads to poor health just as quickly. This is accompanied by:
- temperature (often high)
- vomiting (regular)
- diarrhea.
Children's intestinal infections increase the risk of dehydration, which leads to the loss of substances useful for the body (minerals, salts).
Beginning with a sharp temperature drop, headache, diarrhea and vomiting, the disease goes into a more serious stage: stool (usually liquid) with mucus and blood streaks, and the process of bowel movement causes pain.
With such infectious diseases , it is impossible to treat a child on their own with any means. But the necessary first aid measures must be taken. They depend on how old your baby is.
- Gastric lavage.
- Fractional feeding.
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Taking medications (Polyphepan, activated carbon , etc.).
- Acute intestinal infections are afraid of salt solution. It is necessary to dissolve in a liter of water (boiled) a teaspoon of salt (table), four tsp. sugar and a half tea boats soda (food grade). Give the baby three tsp. every five minutes (no more than 300 ml per hour).
- A baby should be breast-fed, as before. If there are difficulties with feeding, you should drink it with expressed milk (30 ml) every two hours. In the period between feedings, give the drug "Rehydron".
- In no case do not give your child foods that cause the formation of gases and contain coarse fiber.
- Call a doctor right away, because antibiotic use without medical supervision is unacceptable.
With a significant loss of fluid, which is a consequence of vomiting and diarrhea, it is necessary to replenish it. In this case, the volume of replenished fluid depends on the degree of dehydration. Usually, saline or Regidron and Glucosalan, Galactin and Tstroglyukosalan medicines are used inside.
The fight against diarrhea is also an important factor. To eliminate loose stool, sorbents are used: Karbolong, Karbolen, Smecta, activated carbon and Poltpefon.
The main factors in the recovery of the baby are:
- temperature stabilization
- significant improvement in general condition
- stable stool (for three days after treatment).
Parents, remember that acute intestinal infections in children are a serious disease in which the help of doctors is needed!