Enlarged abdomen in children: What are the physiology and pathology?

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Enlarged belly in newborns can be in 2 cases: this is a normal process of the baby's development or this can also be a dangerous sign related to digestive pathologies. So when detecting that the baby has signs of a big belly, how should parents handle it?

1. What is a big belly?

How is a big belly defined? To date, there is no precise definition of an enlarged belly in children. Some noted definitions may include:
- An increase in the actual size of the abdomen.
- Measurable change in abdominal circumference.
- A relatively clear definition of the sign of an enlarged abdomen: When the abdominal wall lies on a plane higher than the sternal process, the infant is lying supine on a flat surface.
Gastroenteritis in children can be related to normal physiological causes or to a variety of health conditions, especially digestive disorders.

2. When is a big belly physiological?

Enlarged abdomen in children is a natural phenomenon when, in addition to this sign, the child has no other abnormal signs and develops healthy and normally, gaining weight appropriate for age, does not fuss, and has a glut of appetite. Have a meal, sleep well...
Some of the following physiological causes can lead to a big belly in children.

2.1 Because the baby is full

Abdominal enlargement in young children, especially infants, is often a normal physiological phenomenon: most babies have an enlarged abdomen after a full feed. However, between feedings, you will feel your baby's belly is quite soft, not tight.

2.2 Because the child's intestinal structure is too big for the body

Besides the cause of overeating, the cause of the intestinal structure in children also causes the child to have signs of a large belly. Normally, children's intestines are quite long compared to the size of the abdomen, along with the abdominal wall muscles of the baby not yet fully developed. Therefore, the baby's belly will protrude more than the body size.
If the cause is physiological, parents do not need to worry too much about this situation because over time, the growth of the child's height will progress faster than the growth of the intestine, so, the abdomen will return to its normal size.

3. How to recognize a large belly in children is due to physiology

Abdominal enlargement in newborns is due to physiology when digestive activity in babies takes place normally. You can tell this is normal by observing your baby's poop. The stool of infants under 6 months of age is often influenced by the milk regimen in which the baby is being cared for:
- For breastfed babies, the baby's stools are usually liquid, viscous, lilac or mustard green. . On average, children will have a bowel movement about 3-4 times / day.
- For babies who are fed formula / canned milk (which does not have all the beneficial bacteria necessary for their digestion), they often have solid stools and a low frequency of bowel movements, on average the baby has a bowel movement every 1 day. - 2 days / time.
If the child has the above digestive signs and there are no abnormal phenomena such as crying, anorexia, fullness, etc., parents do not need to worry much about the baby's belly bloat.

4. When is a big belly due to a disease?

However, an enlarged belly is not always a natural phenomenon. Some abdominal conditions in children can be signs of digestive problems. In order to know if the baby's big belly is a disease or not, parents need to pay attention to some of the following issues.

4.1 Are there additional digestive symptoms?

Repetitive nausea is an emergency indicating intestinal disturbances with regurgitation until another cause is found. In this case, the child should be examined by a doctor to determine if the abdomen is firm or tender and if there are bowel sounds.
Usually, if the abdomen is distended, tender and accompanied by intestinal sounds, it is benign. In contrast, a firm abdomen, no bowel sounds, tight skin, and discoloration are more worrisome and likely to require immediate intervention.

4.2 Are there systemic symptoms involved?

If an enlarged abdomen is accompanied by tachycardia, tachypnea, apnea, and unstable body temperature, the cause of the abdominal distension is likely to be related to infection, and evaluation should include examination. Check for infection in addition to further evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) system.

4.3 How is the baby's stool?

If your child hasn't had a bowel movement in 12 to 24 hours, think about constipation. If the infant is a few days old and has never had a bowel movement, intestinal obstruction should be considered. If stools have been present recently, the stool quality and presence of blood in the stool should be evaluated.

5. Some common medical causes of big belly

When a child's big belly is a disease, the baby may be experiencing one of the following diseases:
- Abdominal bloating, abdominal distension, indigestion: Common signs: loss of appetite, irritability, vomiting, Enlarged abdomen, loose stools,...
- Colic disease in newborns : Signs: baby's abdomen is tight, 24 hours after birth without seeing the baby pass meconium
- Other causes: Food allergies products, Hirschsprung's disease, liver tumors, WILMS tumors (nephroblastoma).
It can be said that the large belly in children, especially infants under 6 months of age, is mostly a natural phenomenon during the baby's growth. However, if the baby has other abnormal signs besides the big belly, parents need to pay attention to take the baby to see a doctor soon to get the right treatment.
When a child shows abnormal signs of health, parents can take the child to Vinmec Health system for timely examination and treatment.

As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health System, Pediatrics Department - Vinmec International General Hospital always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts thanks to the following advantages:
gathers a team of leading doctors and doctors in Pediatrics: including leading experts, with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, having worked in different hospitals. big hospitals like Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, have a heart - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics 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 Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood 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 to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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