Flatulence is a disease characterized by diffuse overflow of small and large intestines with gases. This is due to increased fermentation processes and their difficult excretion due to impaired intestinal motor and secretory function. Most often, intestinal flatulence occurs with inflammation of the large and small intestines, as well as heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver and increased pressure in the portal vein. The main sources of gas formation in the intestines are
- gases entering with swallowed air;
- gases that are formed during digestion;
- gases diffusing from the bloodstream.
Bowel flatulence: etiology of the disease
The etiology of the disease is associated with the use of products that are easily fermented. Such diseases as gastritis, catarrhal enteritis, colitis, pancreatitis, enterocolitis, and dysbiosis contribute to the development of flatulence. Flatulence of the intestine manifests itself in the form belching, bloating, discomfort in the abdominal cavity.
The problem of bloating concerns not only adults, but also children, especially newborns. Therefore, almost every mother faced such a problem as flatulence in newborns. During bloating, the child turns red, frowns, very often bends its legs and cries. Often this phenomenon is observed at the end of feeding or after it. Flatulence in a newborn is most often detected in babies under the age of three months. The main causes of this ailment are the imperfection of the digestive system of the newborn and the ill-conceived diet of the mother. Therefore, every nursing mother should be very careful about the choice of the products she uses, since the substances that can cause colic in the baby are transported by name breast milk .
Since the basis the pathogenesis of the disease is a bowel spasm, which complicates the release of gases, flatulence treatment is aimed at removing the main signs of the disease. For this, different groups of enterosorbents are used, which actively adsorb gases and toxic compounds. Such therapy is aimed at improving the interaction of biologically active substances of drugs with intestinal enterocytes.
In practice, enterosorbents of animal, plant or synthetic origin are used (enterosgel, phosphalugel, polyphepan, caopectate, attapulgite, activated carbon).
Recently, flatulence of the intestine is treated using silicones (dimethicone, simethicone or espumisan). These compounds are obtained from minerals (silicon), which are chemically inert surfactants. Thanks to silicones, the surface tension of the resulting gas bubbles is reduced, that is, they are effective antifoam agents. Silicones have virtually no side effects, they can be prescribed during pregnancy and lactation.
Enzyme therapy (lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes) is prescribed to optimize enzymatic processes. Often, doctors prefer to use the festival, panzinorm, peppyphus, etc. Alternative medicine (fennel, dill, caraway, chamomile) can be used to treat flatulence, but they are less effective compared to modern drugs.
Probiotics inhibit the development of pathogenic forms of microorganisms and contribute to the development of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.
To prevent flatulence, one should eat rationally, chew food thoroughly, and minimize the amount of foods that are easily amenable to the fermentation process (beans, cabbage, peaches, apples, carbonated drinks, cottage cheese, ice cream). It is advisable to carry out annual sanitation of the oral cavity, especially for those who have dentures.