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Digestive disorders in infants and young children are one of the common symptoms, directly hindering the development of children. Parents need to understand the pathological manifestations of digestive disorders in children in order to promptly treat and prevent diseases for their children.
1. Common types of digestive disorders in children
Children's digestive system is not yet complete, so they are prone to some symptoms of digestive disorders if they change their diet suddenly. The pathological manifestations of children with digestive disorders include:
1.1 Vomiting Vomiting (gastroesophageal reflux) is a condition in which food after swallowing down the stomach has been pushed back into the mouth. Up to 70% of young children experience regurgitation in the first months of life due to their immature digestive tract (physiological regurgitation). As the structure of the baby's digestive system gradually matures and the diet becomes more solid, this condition will usually go away on its own. Only 5% of children continue to have reflux until 1 year of age (pathological regurgitation).
To identify a child with physiological or pathological regurgitation, parents need to base themselves on the following signs:
If the baby is under 6 months old, spits up several times a day but is still healthy, happy, gaining weight good, no recurrent wheezing,... it's usually due to physiological regurgitation many times, ... then the baby may have regurgitation disease. 1.2 gas, anorexia Children with digestive disorders often have bloating and gas. The baby's abdomen will show signs of distension, continuous belching. Because of gas, children fart more and have bad breath.
When having digestive disorders, children often show signs of anorexia, anorexia for the digestive system to work less efficiently. Many children only drink milk, refuse to eat porridge or rice.
1.3 Diarrhea The child has diarrhea with watery stools more than 3 times a day. When diarrhea is a lot, children easily lose water, lose electrolytes, even lead to death if not treated promptly.
1.4 Stomach bloating, passing raw stools This is a manifestation of intestinal dysbacteriosis, appearing when there is an imbalance between beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria in the intestine.
Normally, the intestinal tract in a healthy person has a symbiotic microflora, consisting of 85% good bacteria and 15% harmful bacteria. With a healthy digestive system, this ratio will be maintained, the intestinal tract is in balance, the process of digestion, absorption of nutrients and detoxification takes place normally. However, when the above balance is broken, the amount of beneficial bacteria will decrease, harmful bacteria have the opportunity to multiply, causing intestinal dysbacteriosis with the manifestation of bloating, raw stools, sometimes mixed stools. mucus. In the case of severe intestinal dysbiosis but without early and proper treatment, children may experience dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and malnutrition.
Rối loạn tiêu hóa có thể khiến trẻ đi ngoài phân sống
1.5 Constipation This is a symptom of many different diseases, common in young children because the baby's digestive system is not yet complete, and it is easy to have difficulty accepting difficult-to-digest foods (hard foods, solid foods, etc.). greasy, hot and indigestible proteins,...). In fact, when children are constipated, children often skip meals, anorexia, and for a long time, the body will not be able to absorb the nutrients and necessary minerals, so the baby will suffer from malnutrition, rickets and growth retardation. compared with other children.
2. Causes of digestive disorders in children
There are many causes of digestive disorders in children, namely:
Improper diet: Children often have bloating, indigestion or nausea after eating too much or eating too much. a certain type of food (fatty and protein-rich foods) Intestinal dysbacteriosis: Due to the weak resistance, the beneficial bacteria in the intestines are not strong enough to form a protective barrier, so children are easily confused Digestive disorders after drinking milk, eating unsanitary foods or after children have respiratory infections. Besides, improper eating, malnutrition, changes in weather, ... also cause intestinal dysbacteriosis in children. Effects of antibiotics: Intestinal dysbacteriosis can also occur after a child takes high-dose and long-term antibiotics to treat tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia,... Then, antibiotics kill them. pathogenic bacteria and destroy beneficial bacteria, causing an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, making it easy for children to have difficult-to-control bowel movements, poor absorption of nutrients; Food poisoning: Usually occurs after the baby eats unhygienic, rancid food, fresh food, contaminated water,... Manifestations are repeated diarrhea, vomiting, Abdominal pain, possible fever, mucus stools, possibly bloody. Sometimes diarrhea is mixed with constipation; Due to diseases of the body: Inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, gastritis, ...
Thuốc kháng sinh có thể khiến cho trẻ bị rối loạn tiêu hóa
3. What should be done when children have digestive disorders?
When children have digestive disorders, parents should pay attention to:
Prepare soft, easy-to-digest foods for babies to eat and absorb. days for easier digestion. Add foods that are good for digestion in your baby's diet: Yogurt, high-fiber foods such as green vegetables, fruits,...; Replenish water and electrolytes (oresol) when your baby has diarrhea. Note that oresol should be mixed in the correct ratio according to the instructions for use and given to the child to drink several times a day Monitor and take the child to the hospital if the child vomits a lot with fever, fatigue, convulsions, lethargy, .. You can consult a doctor to supplement with probiotics to support digestion (the type of yeast containing beneficial bacteria strains). If the digestive disorder persists for a long time, parents should take the child to a doctor immediately, do not arbitrarily give the child medication without a doctor's prescription.
In addition, to prevent gastrointestinal diseases that young children often suffer, parents should pay attention to nutrition to improve resistance for children. At the same time, add supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... snacks and less digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby? The role of zinc - A reasonable guide to zinc supplementation
