Enteritis in children is often diagnosed. This is a very common disease, which is accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the small intestine. The development of such an ailment is associated either with the activity of pathogenic microorganisms, or with other diseases of the digestive tract. In any case, the child needs therapy.
Of course, many parents are interested in additional information about the pathology. Why does enteritis develop in children? Symptoms and treatment, causes and possible complications are important information that is worth exploring.
The main causes of the development of the disease in children
Many parents are interested in information about the symptoms and treatment of enteritis in children. Of course, this is important information, but first you need to understand the reasons for the development of pathology.
- Quite often, the disease develops against the background of the penetration of various viruses into the body (for example, rotavirus enteritis in children is often diagnosed). You can catch the infection by contact with the patient. In addition, viral pathogens are spread through the household.
- Inflammation can be the result of the activity of bacterial and even fungal microorganisms.
- The list of causes also includes the ingestion of toxins, in particular, certain types of mushrooms (poisonous), salts of heavy metals, etc.
- Enteritis in children sometimes develops against the background of an infestation of worms.
- Physical inflammation, such as radiation exposure, can also lead to inflammation.
- The disease sometimes develops while taking certain medications, in particular sulfanilamides, as well as drugs that contain iodine.
- Allergic reactions can also lead to inflammation in the small intestine.
- There are also nutritional factors. For example, the risk of developing inflammation increases if the child eats the wrong food, eating too much or too little, or eating too cold or hot foods.
- In addition, somatic diseases, as well as pathologies of the digestive system, in particular celiac disease, pancreatitis and enzymatic deficiency, are attributed to the causes.
There are also some predisposing factors. In particular, the risk of developing an ailment increases against a background of vitamin deficiency, severe hypothermia or overheating of the child's body. Dysbacteriosis is also potentially dangerous.
Enteritis in children: acute symptoms
This disease is accompanied by inflammation of the intestine, so the first symptoms resemble indigestion. As the disease progresses, the condition of the small patient worsens significantly. Viral enteritis in children (as well as its other types) is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- diarrhea, in which bowel movement occurs 20 times a day, and sometimes more;
- feces are not solid, porridge-like, and sometimes you can notice quite large remnants of undigested food in them;
- if we are talking about babies, then their stools are watery;
- flatulence, bloating, as well as rumbling in the abdomen, which increases with palpation;
- sometimes small patients suffer from nausea, and its attacks often end in vomiting;
- after eating, pain appears in the navel (they can be dull, sharp, cramping).
In the presence of such symptoms it is extremely important to show the child to the doctor. The sooner treatment is started, the less likely it is to develop complications.
Other features of the clinical picture
Inflammation of the small intestine affects digestion and, accordingly, metabolism. In addition, dehydration occurs. All this provokes the appearance of other symptoms that at first glance are not connected with the intestines. Their list includes the following:
- dry skin;
- the appearance of edema;
- muscle pain, weakness;
- rapid weight loss;
- fatigue;
- decreased appetite;
- problems with sleep (the child often wakes up, suffers from drowsiness in the daytime, but cannot fall asleep despite being tired);
- dryness, brittleness and hair loss;
- the appearance of bruises on the skin;
- recurring headaches;
- weak nails that crumble and exfoliate;
- seizures in the corners of the mouth;
- constant irritability, mood swings.
Of course, you should not ignore such symptoms in any case - you need to urgently show the child to the doctor and pass the necessary tests.
Features of chronic enteritis in children
Unfortunately, this disease often turns into a chronic form. In this case, a constantly progressing inflammatory process leads to a gradual degeneration and atrophy of the intestinal walls.
As in the acute form, the patient has frequent stools, and the amount of feces increases. During defecation, abdominal pain, palpitations, weakness, trembling in the extremities appear. There is increased gas formation in the intestines, as well as rumbling in the abdomen. Dystrophic changes in the intestinal wall lead to serious metabolic disorders.
Possible complications of enteritis
Mild enteritis in children is relatively well treatable. Nevertheless, there is always a chance of developing certain complications. You should definitely familiarize yourself with their list.
- As already mentioned, acute enteritis in children is accompanied by diarrhea. The body rapidly loses fluid, which ultimately leads to dehydration, which is extremely dangerous for the child’s body.
- Inflammation of the small intestine is associated with a violation of the digestive processes. In addition, there is always a risk of intestinal bleeding. Enteritis in young patients (especially when it comes to a chronic form of the disease) often leads to iron deficiency anemia.
- In the most severe cases, against the background of inflammation, perforation in the small intestine occurs, which is accompanied by the ingress of the contents of the digestive tract into the abdominal cavity. This condition is extremely dangerous, as it can lead to various systemic lesions, including sepsis.
- In some patients, enteritis develops anemia associated with a deficiency of vitamin B12.
Diagnostic measures
In the presence of diarrhea and other symptoms, you need to urgently show the baby to the pediatrician. First, the doctor will conduct a general examination and collect information about the symptoms that appear in a small patient. Enteritis in a child can be accurately diagnosed using laboratory tests.
First, you need laboratory tests of blood and urine. A coprogram is also mandatory - when studying feces, attention is paid to the consistency and color, as well as the presence of certain chemicals and helminth eggs. In addition, feces are used for bacteriological culture - this way you can identify the pathogen (if it is fungi or bacteria), and also check the degree of its sensitivity to certain drugs.
The scheme of treatment of the disease
Therapy for such a disease must necessarily be comprehensive. Moreover, the choice of the drug depends on the causes of the development of the disease, as well as on the general condition of the child.
As a rule, first of all, rehydration is carried out, because the baby's body loses a lot of water. For this purpose, special solutions, for example, "Rehydron", are administered intravenously to a small patient. If the cause of enteritis is a bacterial infection, then antibiotics are prescribed for patients, and for fungal infections, antifungal drugs. Vitamins are also included in the treatment regimen (the entire spectrum of B vitamins must be present in the preparations). Probiotics are also needed to treat or prevent dysbiosis. Antidiarrheals are not included in the treatment regimen of children.
Proper nutrition
Treatment of enteritis in children necessarily includes proper nutrition. In the process of therapy, it is important to provide the body of a sick child with the necessary amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, while simultaneously removing the load from the intestines.
If we are talking about a small child, then it is necessary to include sour-milk mixtures in his diet, as well as special milk porridges with probiotics - this will help restore normal microflora.
As for older children, their diet should be as gentle as possible. The menu can include mashed potatoes from boiled vegetables, soups (also in the form of mashed potatoes), rice broth, mashed cereals. Carbohydrates, fiber and coarse fibers, milk should be temporarily excluded from the diet.
Relapse prevention
Unfortunately, there are no preventative drugs to prevent the development of a disease such as enteritis in children. Therefore, doctors recommend only avoiding risk factors, adhering to personal hygiene rules (parents should carefully monitor this).
In addition, children with various food allergies, functional disorders of the intestines and dysbiosis should be registered with a doctor and periodically undergo medical examinations. Babies who have had acute intestinal diseases also periodically undergo tests.
After enteritis, as well as in the presence of risk factors, small patients undergo anti-relapse therapy, which includes proper nutrition, intake of enzymes and vitamin complexes. A child prone to relapse is shown a periodic spa treatment (not earlier than three months after the extinction of the inflammatory process).