Parents know how much trouble and worries little children bring. Especially when it comes to health. If the child suffers from constipation, then you can not respond to this. Perhaps the reason is poor nutrition (there is a lot of flour, sweet, and a lack of fluid in the diet). Another cause of constipation may be dolichosigma in children.
What it is?
This disease is not uncommon, and may be a variant of the norm, if it does not cause discomfort. Bowel dolichosigma in children - what is it? By this definition is meant an abnormally increased length of the mesentery, intestine of the sigmoid colon. An important point is that the thickness and diameter of the intestinal walls remain unchanged.
Such a deviation can be either congenital or acquired. Dolichosigma in children often causes violations of the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, emptying of the colon.
An elongated sigmoid colon is characterized by the fact that it mainly has greater mobility, and this leads to a disruption in the movement of feces in the intestine. Congenital malformation of the intestine may take the form of a loop or another shape. The shape of the intestine, its length and the presence or absence of loops affect the possible symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of dolichosigma of the intestine in a child are as follows:
- Constipation is frequent or chronic.
- Bloating, colic and flatulence, which may be permanent.
- The presence of abdominal pain.
Causes of occurrence
As already noted, this anomaly can be congenital or acquired. The cause of congenital dolichosigma in children can be an intrauterine disorder, heredity.
As for the acquired form, this ailment is provoked by a digestive disorder. This form is mainly affected by adults. The reason may be the impact of drugs, chemicals, poor ecology, improper human nutrition.
Stages of the development of the disease:
- The first stage is the compensation stage. This is an initial degree, the child feels well, there is no concern. With a small frequency, he develops constipation, which is easily eliminated by taking mild medications, physical activity, and a specialized diet.
- The second stage is the stage of subcompensation. The child has pain in the abdomen, colic. Basically, these symptoms appear after eating. Chronic form of constipation. Sports and diet are becoming ineffective helpers. To alleviate the condition, parents make cleansing enemas and use laxatives
- The third stage is the decompensation stage. The most severe degree of the disease. Abdominal pain will be permanent. Well-being is much worse, constipation lasts for weeks. Bowel obstruction is possible, appetite and sleep disorders are noted, signs of intoxication are expressed.
Signs of the development of pathology
Symptoms and treatment of dolichosigma in children are directly related. The following signs of the presence of pathology are noted:
- Long constipation up to 10 days. It happens that because of this, a person has an unexpected bowel movement, almost uncontrollable.
- The process of discharge of feces is painful, it has an unpleasant odor and a dense texture.
- Pain on the left abdomen, which is mainly aching in nature.
- Dry, pale skin. This is due to the fact that the body lacks nutrients.
- Enlarged abdomen. During palpation, pain is noted on the left, where the sigmoid colon is located.
- The child has constant gas formation along with a feeling of fullness.
It should be noted that all these symptoms indicate not only the presence of dolichosigma. Similar symptoms can occur in inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of neoplasms, and may also indicate other deviations in the work of the intestine. In this regard, if such signs are found, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as the life of the child may be in danger.
Disease treatment
Children suffering from this disease are subject to constant dynamic monitoring by a pediatric doctor and surgeon. Immediately after establishing an accurate diagnosis of the child, it is necessary to put on a dispensary record, where they should determine the clinical stage of the disease as soon as possible.
At the compensated stage, the child is examined at the clinic once a year, and recommendations are given on proper nutrition, compliance with the water regimen, and physiotherapy exercises. At a subcompensated stage, the use of medications is added to the treatment and examined 2 times a year. At the decompensated stage, the patient is examined and treated inpatiently 3 times a year.
In the absence of clinical symptoms for 2, sometimes 4 years after the treatment, the child is considered recovered and removed from the dispensary.
The main way to treat an ailment is to follow a specialized diet and exercise. In each case, it all depends on many factors: the stage of the disease, the age of the child, data from additional studies. According to reviews, in the treatment of intestinal dolichosigma in children under 3 years old, it will be effective to conduct a course of special massage, as well as the use of laxative suppositories.
If the disease is moderate or severe, the doctor may resort to an operative method. This method consists in the fact that the surgeon performs manipulations that restore the child to normal regular stools. But it is used only if the conservative method does not give results.
The diet menu for dolichosigma in children should not include rice, pasta, red meat, semolina, white bread. This is due to the fact that these food products have a fixing effect, which is extremely contraindicated in this disease.
According to medical and parental reviews, a child with dolichosigma can successfully cope independently with the symptoms of the disease in mild forms of the disease. Parents need to fully ensure the proper eating and physical activity of their child.
Due to the fact that the body has limitations in the nutrition system, it is necessary to support it with drugs that strengthen the immune system, vitamin complexes. Parents need to know how to treat dolichosigma in children, and not to disregard this ailment. It is especially important for the child’s body to fully receive vitamins C, B6, B12 and E. They improve the processing of foods and facilitate the natural process of defecation.
The appointment and administration of painkillers, antispasmodics for severe pain should be done by the attending physician individually. Most often, with dolichosigma in a child at 3 years old, doctors prescribe "Platifillin" and "Drotaverin." It is also necessary to take medicines that promote gas removal (Espumisan), especially if it is a small child.
With dolichosigma in children, abdominal massage and physiotherapy exercises help relieve cramps and pain. These procedures are not only stimulating in nature, but also contribute to the strengthening of muscle structures, which favorably affects the treatment and prevention of constipation.
Medication method
In the medication method of treatment, the following drugs are isolated that contribute to the improvement of the general condition:
- herbal enemas;
- agents to reduce fecal deposits;
- prokinetics;
- laxatives (syrups, suppositories, tablets).
Physiotherapeutic procedures have a great effect:
- acupuncture;
- laser therapy;
- intestinal electrical stimulation by rectal and external exposure.
Operational way
With severe symptoms, treatment of dolichosigma of the intestine in a child is carried out by the surgical method. This method is used in the following cases:
- intoxication is increasing in the body, which is threatening in nature;
- conservative treatment does not bring the necessary results;
- the appearance of intestinal obstruction;
- twisted loops and excesses in the sigmoid colon;
- the development of intussusception - part of the intestine is inserted into another.
Diagnosis of the disease
The pediatrician should be wary if parents complain about the systematic retention of the stool in the child. Diagnosis of dolichosigma in children is carried out taking into account the description of symptoms and the results of an additional examination. In a small child, pathology can manifest itself from the moment of feeding.
The doctor alone should also, by palpation, identify feces-filled loops in the intestine. When the first suspicions appear, in order to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor needs to conduct a digital rectal examination. If the rectum is empty, then the child is prescribed an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, which will show the presence or absence of additional intestinal loops.
If this pathology is detected, it should be understood that it is a feature of the anatomical structure and will not pass on its own with the age of the child. Children with identified symptoms of intestinal dolichosigma must be registered with a gastroenterologist. In some cases, it is recommended to take radiographic images of the abdominal cavity, which accurately determine the presence and degree of pathology.
In the diagnosis of dolichosigma in children, irrigography is widely used. This, in principle, is the same X-ray, but during this procedure the patient is injected with a special substance that makes it possible to more clearly examine the clinical picture and make an accurate diagnosis, as well as determine the presence of extra loops in the intestines. You should be aware that newborns do not conduct such studies, since in their body it is still impossible to distinguish between norm and pathology.
Colonoscopy is also used. With the help of a camera located on the hose, the doctor examines the condition of the intestine: extra loops, neoplasms, etc. If necessary, a tissue biopsy is taken. Sigmoidoscopy is another method for assessing the state of the intestinal mucosa using an endoscope.
Additionally, the patient undergoes a series of laboratory tests that complement the overall picture of the disease:
- biochemical and general blood tests;
- analysis of feces (check for the presence or absence of blood clots);
- with the help of special studies, various disturbances in the microflora and the presence of undigested foods in the feces are also detected.
Diet for the disease
In the diet should be systematically present foods that contain a large amount of pectin. It stimulates the intestines. Pectin is found in baked pears, apples, pumpkin dishes, zucchini and fresh vegetables. Vegetables should be offered to the child in the form in which he loves or is more convenient for him to eat.
Also, do not forget about the daily consumption of fruits, which will enrich the body with fiber. It has a beneficial effect on the intestines, preventing the appearance of constipation.
With dolichosigma in children, it is necessary to add fresh dairy products to the diet. When choosing meat dishes, it is better to give preference to poultry meat, as well as fish. It is important to monitor the water regime. The use of pure non-carbonated water should be carried out in the required volume, compotes from dried fruits are also allowed as a drink. When choosing cereals, it is better to stop at millet, buckwheat, oatmeal.
Every day, the child needs to drink plenty of fluids (up to 3 liters). Plain water with lemon is considered an excellent drink. Lemon has the property of creating an acidic environment that liquefies stool. One of the main foods should be fish, you can eat it in any quantity. Strong coffee and tea are prohibited.
From a sweet child, you can sometimes offer chocolate, but it is important to know the rules for its use and adhere to them. Chocolate is contraindicated in combining with other products. The child needs to be offered this treat only an hour before or after meals. If you eat chocolate with other foods, it will cause constipation.
Folk remedies
What is it - intestinal dolichosigma in children, you already know. Is it possible to cure it with folk remedies? Non-traditional methods of treatment take place with this ailment, but they should not be an alternative to doctor's prescriptions.
With a diagnosis of dolichosigma in a child, the parent's feedback on traditional medicine as an auxiliary treatment is positive.
Recipes:
- Tincture, the basis of which is celandine and sugar. In equal proportions, these ingredients are mixed, imposed on a gauze bandage and tied in a knot. Next, you need to put everything in a container with serum for 14 days. Tincture should be taken per day at 100 grams.
- Vegetable oil helps to relieve symptoms in the treatment of dolichosigma in children. Conventional sunflower and linseed oils are suitable. They have a laxative effect. It is necessary to consume 2.5 ml before meals. It is advisable to sterilize the oil in a water bath.
- A decoction of buckthorn and prunes also favorably affects the treatment of constipation. Prunes must be filled with water in an amount 6–7 times their volume. Next, you need to bring the mixture to a boil and let simmer for 25-30 minutes. The composition must be cooled naturally to room temperature and add buckthorn. Its volume is 1/10 of the volume of prunes. Then the pan with the mixture is again put on fire, brought to a boil and simmered for another half hour. The broth is taken daily in 100 ml.
- Flax seeds also contribute to a mild laxative effect. Seeds are poured with cold boiled water and insisted for 1 hour, shaking occasionally. The liquid is drunk in any quantity on an empty stomach. You can also give the child a powder of flaxseed (0.5 teaspoon 1 time per day).
- Germinated wheat is indispensable for normalizing metabolism and improving intestinal motility. Germinated grains must be soaked for 12 hours in water. Then they should be evenly moved to a damp cloth. After a day, the product is ready for use. It can be added to various dishes (cereals, soups, kefir).
- Cabbage juice also has many beneficial properties. The main one is the prevention and elimination of constipation. Cabbage juice is offered to the child daily at 80 ml for two weeks.
Consequences and possible complications
Symptoms and treatment of dolichosigma in children require urgent measures from parents and doctors. Otherwise, the state of health deteriorates sharply, various complications develop:
- significant weight loss, exhaustion;
- the development of anemia, a change in blood composition;
- purulent lesions on the skin;
- hardening of feces and, as a result, the formation of stones from feces, which alone can not leave the body;
- bowel obstruction;
- toxic poisoning of the body - fecal intoxication.
Doctors still did not agree on whether this disease is pathological. It is important to control and monitor the patient, especially if it concerns the children's body.
In the treatment of dolichosigma in children, the prognosis and condition of the child entirely depends on whether the parents are so serious about this disease. It is necessary to regularly visit a doctor, undergo medical tests, ultrasound, take tests, follow a diet, drink regimen and exercise physical therapy.
With the manifestation of the symptoms of this disease, it is necessary to react in time to prevent extremely unpleasant consequences and complications.