This article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
There are many causes of big belly in children. It can be a normal development feature due to the abdominal wall not being fully developed, but it can also be caused by some diseases. It is important for parents to distinguish these cases in order to have timely interventions if the child has health problems.
1. A big belly in a normal child
Babies are born with a physiological characteristic of a big belly. The reason is that the structure of the intestines in children is longer than the size of the abdomen. In addition, the abdominal wall muscles are not fully developed, so children often have a tense belly, which is a normal physiological phenomenon.
As the child grows up, the growth in height and the perfection of the abdominal wall muscles will help the belly slim down. A big belly in children is considered normal if the child is active, eats well, does not cry, gains weight steadily, and sleeps well.
Parents can recognize the health of their child's digestive system by observing their stool. In the first 6 months, depending on whether the child is exclusively breastfed or formula-fed, the stool can be light yellow or dark yellow. Normally, during this period, the child's stool is often loose and thick, with a mustard yellow color. On average, the child defecates about 3-4 times a day. If the child's stool is normal, parents can be completely assured about the child's big belly.
Trắc nghiệm: Sự phát triển tinh thần, vận động của bé thế nào là đúng chuẩn?
Khi nào bé biết nói, biết hóng chuyện hay biết cầm cốc là "đúng chuẩn"? Điểm xem bạn biết được bao nhiêu mốc phát triển tinh thần, vận động "đúng chuẩn" của bé nhé!The following content is prepared under supervision of Thạc sĩ, Bác sĩ y khoa, Ma Văn Thấm , Nhi , Phòng khám Đa khoa Quốc tế Vinmec Dương Đông(Phú Quốc)
2. Pathologically enlarged abdomen in children
A large abdomen in children can also be caused by a number of diseases. Symptoms of a large abdomen due to a disease include:
- Children with poor appetite
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Pale skin, jaundice
- Frustration
Some common diseases that cause a large abdomen in children are: Hepatoblastoma, Hepatocellular carcinoma, kidney tumor... Each disease is caused by a different cause. In addition, a child with a large abdomen may be due to intestinal obstruction. This is an acute cause, the child often has symptoms of severe pain, fussiness, vomiting a lot, and can see the intestines moving like a snake crawling in the abdomen.
3. Bloating due to gas
In addition to the above pathological causes. Bloating in children can also occur due to bloating or common digestive diseases.
Children are often prone to bloating because they swallow a lot of air while eating, especially for bottle-fed children. Children also cry a lot, accidentally causing air to enter the abdomen, creating a lot of gas.
In older children, bloating can be caused by eating a lot of fried foods, foods containing a lot of fat. Children with bloating will feel sluggish and full, so they often lose their appetite, refuse to eat, refuse to breastfeed, feel uncomfortable, and cry. If not intervened promptly, it can cause the child to lose weight, not gain weight, and be malnourished
Signs of a large belly due to bloating include:
- A full belly after eating for about 1 - 2 hours
- Patting the belly makes a sound like a drum
- There is a rumbling sound in the stomach
- The child burps after eating
- Loss of appetite
- Frustration
- Constipation or loose stools
- No farting
When the child is bloated, parents should:
Massage the child's belly, the mother should gently use her fingers to rotate clockwise from the navel to the baby's belly, and can use massage oil to make the child feel comfortable
Pat the child to burp after eating
Pay attention to the child's feeding position to avoid air entering the stomach
Clean the child's cooking utensils and milk bottles
If the child has any unusual signs of a large belly, you should take the child to a reputable medical facility for examination and timely detection of the disease.
As a key area of the Vinmec Healthcare system, the Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by experts in the industry with:
Gathering a team of pediatricians: including experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctors, masters), rich experience, having worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors are all well-trained, professional, dedicated, knowledgeable about children's psychology. In addition to domestic pediatricians, the Pediatrics Department also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens.
Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatrics and Vaccines,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their children's health from birth to adulthood.
Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to help treat difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effectively: neurosurgery - skull, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment.
Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them play comfortably and get used to the hospital environment, cooperate in treatment, and improve the effectiveness of medical examination and treatment.
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