Hiccups in infants are common. It's no secret that this process is a reduction in the diaphragm. As for the mechanism of occurrence of such a reflex and its causes, here scientists have not yet come to a consensus. In some cases, hiccups are natural, while sometimes they can signal a number of diseases and abnormalities.
Hiccups in infants and their causes
Such a reflex can occur for various reasons. Here are just the most common ones:
- Quite often, this process is the result of swallowing air. In this case, the walls of the stomach are stretched and press on the ends of the vagus nerve, which in turn leads to contractions of the diaphragm. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor that during feeding the baby does not swallow air. Doctors advise you to learn how to properly place the baby on the chest, and if he is breast-fed, then choose the appropriate nipples.
- In some cases, hiccups in infants may indicate a strong thirst and drying out of the mucous membranes.
- Often, such reflex activity begins due to emotional overstrain. For example, a baby may be afraid of a sharp loud sound, intense light, etc.
- Hiccups can also arise from hypothermia.
Hiccups in infants: when to worry?
Unfortunately, such a process is not always so harmless. Often attacks of reflex activity can indicate various diseases. So what symptoms are worth paying attention to?
- Normally, hiccups pass through 10 to 15 minutes. If the seizures last more than an hour, then you should worry.
- Show the child to the doctor if seizures occur several times a day, and for no apparent reason.
- Pay attention to how the child behaves. If the baby is anxious, sleeps poorly, often cries, then this may indicate a violation in the body.
Of course, the presence of the above symptoms does not always indicate the presence of the disease. But a visit to the pediatrician is unlikely to hurt.
Hiccups in infants and possible complications
Long attacks can indicate a mass of diseases. For example, quite often they are a sign of damage to the central nervous system, which is common among children with hypoxia and other intrauterine pathologies.
Often, hiccups are the result of diseases of various parts of the digestive system, including the intestines, pancreas, and liver. Often this sign signals parasitic diseases, although this is rare in the first months of life.
In some cases, hiccups in infants appear against the background of pneumonia or inflammation of the diaphragm caused by a viral or bacterial infection. In any case, in order to determine the cause, the baby will have to undergo a series of diagnostic studies. If as a result of the examination any disease is detected, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
And, of course, do not forget about safety precautions - make sure that the newborn baby eats properly, maintain optimal temperature in the room and do not forget that the baby needs to drink, even if he is breast-fed.