The baby in the womb is in a sterile environment. In the process of birth, millions of bacteria enter its mucous membranes, intestines and stomach. It is they who form the microflora of the child. The healthier it is, the stronger the immunity. In addition, the intestinal microflora takes an active part in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It normalizes digestive activity, protects the body from harmful bacteria.
However, often a phenomenon such as dysbiosis occurs. This is a kind of malfunction in the ratio of harmful and beneficial microorganisms. What are the symptoms of dysbiosis and how is such a malady treated in children?
The role of intestinal microflora
Before considering the signs of dysbiosis in a child, it is worth highlighting the main functions of the intestinal microflora. It not only maintains balance, but also forms immunity. Beneficial bacteria play an important role in other processes:
- Synthesize enzymes, as well as hormone-positive substances that improve digestion.
- They contribute to the accelerated assimilation of many trace elements useful for the human body, for example, copper, magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, and also vitamin D.
- They take part in the synthesis of vitamins B 12 , B 6 , B 5 , B 9 , B 2 , B 1 and K.
- They protect the body from the effects of infectious agents: dysentery bacilli, fungi, salmonella, etc. Useful bacteria, when dangerous bacteria and spores enter the intestines, produce substances that can block the process of reproduction and growth of pathogenic microflora.
- Improves intestinal motility, as well as the formation of feces.
- They neutralize the action of salts of various heavy metals, chemicals, nitrates and toxins. Bacteria bind them and then naturally excreted from the body.
What bacteria does the intestinal microflora consist of?
To understand the methods of treating dysbiosis in children, you need to know which bacteria are useful:
- Bifidobacteria. These microorganisms make up 90% of the microflora and are considered the most necessary.
- Lactobacillus. Their intestinal microflora contains no more than 8%. Such microorganisms synthesize lactic acid and also maintain a normal pH level.
- Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. These "inhabitants" of the intestine make up about 2% of the microflora. Until a certain point, they do not threaten human health. Conditionally pathogenic flora is activated only in case of poisoning, digestive disorders, as a result of taking antibiotics. With these factors, microorganisms begin to multiply rapidly. As a result of this, dysbiosis in a child begins (up to a year or older). This group of bacteria includes enterobacteria, E. coli, staphylococci, as well as yeast-like fungi.
From the above it follows that dysbiosis cannot be considered a separate disease. Such a violation develops as a result of the occurrence of pathological processes in the body. Let's see what provokes the development of dysbiosis.
The main causes of dysbiosis in infants
Microflora begins to be colonized in the intestines of the baby after birth. It is for this reason that the first attachment of the baby to the chest is so important. Indeed, in the mother's colostrum contains bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, vitamins, trace elements and antibodies. All these components allow you to lay the "foundation" of strong immunity. It is necessary to attach the baby to the breast within two hours after birth. Among the causes of dysbiosis in children (from birth to 1 year) are:
- Late attachment to the chest. This can happen due to difficult births, the unstable state of the mother or the child himself.
- The introduction of the baby or his mother drugs with antibacterial action.
- Improper nutrition of a woman during lactation. Dysbacteriosis occurs in cases when the diet of a young mother is dominated by products that can enhance gas formation in the intestines, as well as allergens.
- Mixed or artificial feeding of the baby.
- Food poisoning or the occurrence of intestinal infection.
- Frequent change of milk formula for a child who is breast-fed. If the product was selected correctly and suitable for the baby, then you can’t change it for the sake of economy or if you wish.
- Atopic dermatitis in a newborn.
Causes of dysbiosis in children (older than 1 year)
Before starting treatment for dysbiosis in children, it is worth identifying the cause of the violation. If the child is more than a year old, then such a pathology may occur due to:
- Unbalanced diet. Such a problem arises if such foods as sweets, dairy products, pasta, pastries, flour products, etc. prevail in the child’s diet.
- Chronic diseases affecting the digestive tract. These include the bend of the gallbladder, gastritis, dyspepsia, etc.
- Weak immunity and frequent colds.
- Abuse of drugs, in particular antibiotics.
- An allergic reaction.
- Helminthic infestations.
- Hormonal disorders. Often, such pathologies occur while taking various hormonal drugs, as well as during puberty of the child and with violations in the thyroid gland, pituitary, pancreas and other organs that synthesize hormones.
- Surgery related to violations in the work of the digestive tract.
- Stress and adverse conditions.
Signs of pathology
To recognize the pathology, you need to know the symptoms of dysbiosis. In children of the first year of life, malaise has the following symptoms:
- rumbling in the tummy;
- gas escaping and bloating;
- crying due to discomfort and abdominal pain;
- plentiful and frequent spitting up (fountain);
- intestinal colic, attacks of which are worse in the evening and at night;
- loose and frequent stools (up to 15 times a day) containing lumps of undigested food and a large amount of foam.
Dysbacteriosis in older children manifests itself in a slightly different way:
- Constipation or diarrhea. In this case, particles of undigested food may be present in the feces. The chair may have a pronounced unpleasant odor.
- Rumbling in the stomach.
- Flatulence and bloating.
- Pain in the abdomen after eating.
- Weak immunity, as well as frequent viral infections.
- In most cases, lactose intolerance is observed.
- Allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes.
It is worth noting that in children, due to dysbiosis, a sharp weight loss or poor weight gain can be observed (in babies up to a year). This is due to a violation of the digestive processes. As a result of this, the body absorbs an insufficient amount of the beneficial components that come with food.
Very often, children with this pathology become moody, often cry and sleep poorly. This is due to a feeling of discomfort and pain in the abdomen. The temperature with dysbiosis in children rises extremely rarely.
How is the diagnosis carried out?
The doctor can make a diagnosis based on the complaints of the mother. However, to confirm it, it is necessary to conduct additional studies. This allows not only to prescribe the correct treatment of dysbiosis in children, but also to identify or exclude concomitant diseases. To do this, appoint:
- Ultrasound of all organs of the digestive tract. Such a study allows you to identify all the disorders associated with the functioning of the digestive system, as well as to determine congenital malformations in the structure and functional changes due to which food is poorly absorbed.
- Tests for dysbiosis. Children take feces for coprograms. This study allows us to determine the presence of undigested food particles in the feces.
- Bacteriological research. This analysis allows you to determine which bacteria are present in the intestine. Thanks to this study of feces, the doctor can prescribe adequate therapy, which will be effective against the causative agent of the disease.
In addition, the pediatrician may recommend contacting a pediatric gastroenterologist for advice. In some cases, FGDS and other diagnostic methods are prescribed.
Principles of Therapy
Treatment of dysbiosis in children should be carried out only by a doctor. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, as the condition of the child may worsen. At the same time, therapy eliminates not only unpleasant symptoms of the pathology, but also the underlying disease that provoked it. As a rule, the treatment of dysbiosis in children includes:
- symptomatic therapy;
- the use of medications;
- dieting.
Diet for pathology
For therapy to be effective, certain nutritional rules must be followed. Diet with dysbiosis in children plays an important role. In the first year of life, children are recommended to give breast milk. After all, this product allows you to restore the intestinal microflora. If the child is on artificial feeding, then you should give him an adapted mixture. However, you should not often change the main product of the baby’s diet, as this can aggravate his condition and cause complications.
For older children who eat on their own, it is recommended to introduce sour-milk products into the diet:
- kefir;
- sour cream;
- natural yogurts, but without sugar;
- yogurt;
- fermented baked milk;
- cottage cheese, the fat content of which is less than 5%.
In addition, it is recommended to limit sweets, chocolate, fatty and fried foods, pastries, and sugar in the child’s diet. Spices, sausages and smoked products, pork should be completely eliminated. Such products disrupt the digestive processes, and are also unsafe for the child's body.
Children over the age of one should give boiled and grated vegetables. This allows, without irritating the intestines, to gently cleanse it. It is temporarily worth excluding fruits, especially sour ones. The child can be given bananas in small quantities.
If the diet has not shown its effectiveness, then the doctor may prescribe medications that can eliminate the symptoms of pathology.
Drug treatment
The main objective of drugs for dysbiosis for children is:
- In the elimination or suppression of pathogenic microflora in the intestine. For this, the doctor can prescribe a course of antibiotics, probiotics, bacteriophages.
- In carrying out replacement therapy. In this case, the intestines are colonized with beneficial dairy bacteria.
It is worth noting that antibiotics are prescribed for children only in those cases when the pathology is provoked by an infection. This is confirmed by clinical analyzes. It is forbidden to independently carry out antibacterial therapy.
What to give the child from dysbiosis?
Any drug should be prescribed by a doctor. Most often prescribed:
- "Bifiform" containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, vitamins of group B. It can be given to children from the first days of life.
- "Acipol" containing kefir fungus and lactobacilli. This drug can also be used for the treatment and prevention of dysbiosis in newborns.
- Linex, containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, components that improve the absorption of nutrients and digestion. Can be given to newborns.
- "Bifidumbacterin" is a drug that suppresses the activity and growth of opportunistic bacteria. For useful microflora, it creates ideal conditions. This leads to the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria.
- "Enterol" - improves intestinal microflora.
The following medicines are used to combat symptoms:
- Sorbents. They remove salts of heavy metals and toxins from the body, reducing the level of intoxication. Especially relevant for food poisoning, prolonged loose stool and during antibiotic therapy.
- Enzymes. Improve digestion, eliminate rumbling and bloating. The dosage is determined by the doctor. Giving enzymes to a child is recommended when eating food.
Prevention
To avoid dysbiosis, it is recommended:
- Do not carry out antibiotic therapy without a doctor’s prescription.
- Do not abuse laxatives. If you have problems with stool, then you should change the diet. If this does not help, then the doctor may prescribe funds containing lactulose.
Remember that dysbiosis is a disease that is common enough. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor the condition of the child and not ignore his complaints or crying. If you do not deal with pathology, then the child may have digestive diseases, and immunity will also decrease.