Immediately after the birth of almost all systems and organs of the child are in the ripening stage. Therefore, they are susceptible to various diseases caused by opportunistic flora. These include bacteria that live on the mucous membranes and human skin. However, under the influence of certain factors, they begin to harm the body. Klebsiella is among these. In today's article, we will examine in more detail what symptoms accompany its activity, what needs to be taken as a therapeutic measure.
Klebsiella in a baby in feces - what does it mean?
Klebsiella is a gram-negative bacterium that looks like a stick. Her description was first introduced by a German pathologist Edwin Klebs. The microbe belongs to the category of anaerobic, that is, it multiplies exclusively in an oxygen-free environment. However, in air, Klebsiella for a long time can remain viable. When boiling, it dies.
There are 8 types of bacteria. In young children, only two of them are predominantly found: Klebsiella pneumonia and Klebsiella oxytoca. They live in the intestines and feces, on the skin and mucous membranes. While the immune system is fully functioning, the bacterium is not dangerous. With the weakening of the protective system, the conditionally pathogenic flora begins to actively develop, poisoning the body. In young children, immunity is in the process of formation, and the mucous membranes are almost sterile. Therefore, infection with Klebsiella can lead to serious diseases.
Main reasons
Many parents are frightened by the detection of Klebsiella in infants in feces. What is this bacterium, we told a little higher. For what reasons can it appear?
Conventionally, all causes are usually divided into two groups: external and internal. The first category includes:
- contact of the infant with an infected adult;
- the spread of bacteria through dirty water, toys or sick animals;
- eating contaminated foods.
Penetrating into the body, Klebsiella is not always dangerous even for a small organism. Often, it enters into a kind of symbiosis with the host microflora and begins to participate in the basic processes of life. The ability to provoke the development of inflammatory diseases occurs with the rapid growth of bacteria.
Among the internal causes can be identified:
- weakened immunity;
- imbalance of the intestinal microflora;
- allergic to certain foods;
- lack of "beneficial" bacteria on the background of antibiotic therapy;
- the presence in the intestines of pathogenic flora, which destroys healthy.
Quite often, Klebsiella is detected with staphylococcus. These bacteria exist together. As soon as staphylococci complete the destruction of beneficial microorganisms, the Klebsiella take their place in their colonies.
Clinical picture
Klebsiella pneumonia in preschool children is rare. The most common is its intestinal variety. However, it is difficult for parents to identify it on their own. Due to the insufficiently formed intestinal microflora in newborns, dysbiosis often develops, for which Klebsiella infection is often perceived. Therefore, if you suspect an ailment, you can not do without medical assistance.
The main symptoms of Klebsiella in feces in infants are the following:
- bloating and gas in the abdomen;
- colic
- frequent and abundant regurgitation "fountain";
- fever and hyperthermia;
- diarrhea with impurities of mucus;
- sour smell from feces.
Active reproduction of bacteria can lead to dehydration.
Symptoms of Klebsiella pneumonia in infants are similar to those with SARS. The temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, a strong dry cough appears. After a few days, it becomes wet, sputum with streaks of blood and an unpleasant odor can be released. In this case, the child becomes moody and lethargic, refuses food.
The appearance of these symptoms requires immediate contact with a pediatrician. The doctor should schedule an examination to identify pathogens.
Diagnostic Methods
If symptoms of Klebsiella in the baby occur, treatment and diagnosis should be carried out by a pediatrician or gastroenterologist. The diagnosis is established according to the results of laboratory tests. For analysis, a fence is performed:
- feces;
- urine
- blood
- sputum;
- detachable from the nasal or oral cavity.
A complete blood count and coprogram may be required to obtain a complete clinical picture.
Since bacterial activity in the body is not accompanied by specific symptoms, during a comprehensive examination of a small patient, it is necessary to exclude diseases with similar manifestations. Klebsiella is differentiated from staphylococcus and various gastrointestinal pathologies.
The results of the survey can cause concern only if the standard values for the number of bacteria in a gram of biomaterial are exceeded. Ideally, this indicator should not be more than 10 6 .
When the tests performed confirm and there are symptoms of Klebsiella in infants in the feces, Klebsiella gastroenteritis is diagnosed. The number of bacteria in a gram of biological material is 10 8 . If the concentration in sputum is more than 10 6 per gram, the doctor makes a conclusion about Klebsiella pneumonia.
Treatment principles
The main danger of bacteria is the presence of a strong capsule, which protects it from the action of the active substances of medicines. Therefore, its detection in the analyzes is accompanied by long-term therapy, which is most often performed in a hospital. At the same time, it pursues several goals: the destruction of directly pathogenic agents, the restoration of the balance of intestinal microflora. For the entire period of treatment, an additional diet is required from the mother, if the baby is breast-feeding, or the baby.
Breasts are usually tried to protect against the use of antibiotics. If the infectious pathology is mixed in nature, and its signs do not disappear for a long time, you can not refuse to use antibacterial agents.
The famous pediatrician Komarovsky has his own opinion on this issue. He believes that even with symptoms of Klebsiella in infants in feces, treatment of a specific nature is not required. Medicines practically do not affect the activity of bacteria. In his opinion, it is enough to establish a diet for mother and child, normalize stool, and strengthen immunity with available methods. Over time, the baby’s immune system will grow stronger, and the bacteria themselves will continue to coexist peacefully in his body along with beneficial ones.
Antibiotic use
Treatment of Klebsiella in infants with antibiotics is indicated in the following cases:
- a complicated form of pathology, when its course is accompanied by staphylococcus or other bacteriological lesions;
- lack of effectiveness from alternative therapy;
- high risk of complications.
In these cases, a small patient is prescribed cephalosporins of 3-4 generations (Ceftriaxone, Suprax). It is worth noting that the bacterium is resistant to antibiotics of the penicillin and oxacillin groups.
All medicines are selected individually. Initially, Klebsiella "taken" from the urine or feces of the child in the laboratory is attacked by several antimicrobial agents. The drug that manages to kill her will be selected as the main one for therapy. It is given in conjunction with immunomodulators to increase the child’s ability to resist immunity. The whole process usually takes from 7 to 21 days. It necessarily proceeds under medical supervision to prevent the spread of infection to other organs. In addition, with low resistance, the initially selected antibiotic is replaced by another.
After completing the course of taking drugs, it is necessary to restore the balance of microflora. Since their use also kills beneficial bacteria, not just Klebsiella in infants.
Bacteriophage treatment
If a small patient feels well after confirming the diagnosis, the use of bacteriophages is considered an ideal option for reducing the number of bacterial colonies in the intestine. These are specially created viruses that act exclusively on the source of the disease. They do not harm other microorganisms, do not upset the balance of beneficial microflora in the digestive tract. The course of treatment is usually up to 3 weeks.
The need for rehydration
The body of an adult is about 75% water, and a newborn is 90%. Therefore, it is so important to replenish fluid reserves in a timely manner. In case of intestinal infection, the child quickly loses weight, dehydration occurs. Subsequently, it is rather difficult to carry out rehydration - replenishment of water in the body, therefore critical values cannot be allowed.
Symptoms of Klebsiella in infants are manifested in the form of vomiting and loose stools. Along with feces and vomit, water and mineral reserves are released. When the first symptoms of the disorder appear, the child should begin to solder off.
Doctors recommend the popular Regidron drug for this purpose. This is a powder packaged in sachets. The contents of one of them must be diluted in a liter of water, given to the baby. The resulting solution contains the necessary salts and minerals. However, its significant drawback is a rather unpleasant taste.
Especially for babies were developed analogues of "Regidron" with various flavors. For example, Humana Electrolyte and Touring. They additionally contain fennel, which is responsible for relieving cramping and bloating.
When there are no special preparations for rehydration in your home medicine cabinet, you can use mineral water or prepare it yourself. You will need to mix 18 g of sugar and 3 g of salt in a liter of water. The basic rule of rehydration is to drink in small sips. Depending on the age of the patient, a single dose is 1-2 teaspoons. Otherwise, the fluid entering the body will provoke another release of vomiting. In especially serious cases, when the symptoms of Klebsiella in a baby do not go away for a long time, a similar procedure is carried out in a hospital and using droppers.
The use of probiotics
The main indications for the appointment of probiotics are the following cases:
- Self-treatment for the elimination of Klebsiella. We are talking about weak forms of the disease, when the child does not bother anything.
- One of the measures of rehabilitation treatment. After a course of therapy, especially with the use of antibiotics, it is necessary to colonize the intestines with beneficial microflora.
For this purpose, to eliminate the symptoms of Klebsiella in infants and treatment, Bifiform baby, Bifidus, and Primadofilus Baby are used. The drugs are available in powder form. They are conveniently added to water or milk. Probiotics allow you to quickly restore the digestive tract, save the child from problems with stools.
Possible hazards and consequences
The choice of a method for eliminating the symptoms of Klebsiella in an infant is always up to the doctor. The prognosis for recovery and the duration of therapy are largely determined by the timeliness of the visit to the pediatrician by the parents. That is why it is important not to self-medicate. Even ordinary vomiting and diarrhea can be the cause of Klebsiella. If these signs appear, call a doctor.
If the clinical picture worsens, when the temperature rises rapidly and severe diarrhea is present, the risk of dehydration increases against this background, you should call an ambulance. You should not be afraid of an infectious hospital. In a medical facility, the child will be provided with the necessary assistance, competent treatment is prescribed.
It is worth noting that the symptoms of Klebsiella in the intestines of the baby are not limited to stool disorders. In a neglected and aggressive form, the disease can lead to meningitis, adversely affect the condition of the joints, cause bacterial systemic sepsis. Despite the fact that the likelihood of such complications is small, it is not worth risking the life of the child.
Parent reviews
According to reviews, the pediatrician should deal with the symptoms and treatment of Klebsiella in infants in feces or urine. Independent attempts at therapy in this case are not only not effective, but can provoke the development of complications.
Most parents whose children have had to deal with this bacterium warn of long-term therapy. However, you should not be afraid of antibiotics. Modern drugs prescribed by doctors to treat children help to cope with Klebsiella with virtually no consequences. It is important only to follow all the recommendations of the pediatrician, not to neglect probiotics and bacteriophages at the recovery stage.
Prevention Methods
Symptoms of Klebsiella in infants, according to parents, are almost always manifested by vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment only in some cases dispenses with the use of antibiotics. Therefore, parents wish by any means to warn their child against this bacterium.
Prevention is reduced primarily to strengthening immunity, and not to creating sterile cleanliness at home. To do this, even a newborn baby should spend enough time in the fresh air. In his diet must be present the necessary vitamins and minerals, ensuring the full functioning of the whole organism.
When the first signs of any disease appear, you should not give the baby immediately syrups and tablets. The thing is that a variety of viruses and bacteria literally train the immune system, which gradually forms antibodies to various pathogens. In attempts to strengthen immunity, some parents begin to give immunomodulators and immunostimulants. For preventive purposes, their use is not recommended. The exception is confirmed cases of immunodeficiencies, when a doctor prescribes such drugs as the main therapy.
Concomitant prevention of symptoms of Klebsiella in infants is based on compliance with basic rules and hygiene standards. Adults often do not even realize that they are carriers of this bacterium. Therefore, they should wash their hands with soap every time after the toilet. The child himself also needs to wash his hands with soap, especially after contact with animals, walks.
Only one type of bacteria is transmitted by airborne droplets - Klebsiella pneumonia. It is quite difficult to prevent its penetration into the body. You can only avoid crowded places.
The parents of an already infected child can reduce the incidence rate. After confirming the diagnosis by analysis, they should limit the baby’s communication with peers, sharing toys and bedding until they recover completely.