Parents know how much trouble and worries small children bring. Especially when it comes to he alth. If the child suffers from constipation, then it is impossible not to react to this. Perhaps the reason is malnutrition (the diet has a lot of starchy foods, sweets, lack of fluid). Another cause of constipation may be dolichosigma in children.
What is this?
This disease is not uncommon, and may be a variant of the norm, if it does not cause discomfort. Dolichosigma of the intestine in children - what is it? This definition refers to an abnormally increased length of the mesentery, the gut of the sigmoid colon. The important point is that the thickness and diameter of the intestinal walls remain unchanged.
Such a deviation can be both congenital and acquired. Dolichosigma in children often causes gastrointestinal motility disorders and, as a result, colon emptying.
The elongated sigmoid colon is characterized by the fact that it basically has greater mobility, and this leads to a violation of the movement of feces through the intestines. A congenital anomaly of the intestine may have the form of a loop or a different shape. The shape of the intestine, its length and the presence or absence of loops affect the possible symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of intestinal dolichosigma in a child are as follows:
- Constipation frequent or chronic.
- Bloating, colic and flatulence, which may be permanent.
- Presence of abdominal pain.
Causes of occurrence
As already noted, this anomaly can be congenital or acquired. The cause of congenital dolichosigma in children may be an intrauterine disorder, heredity.
As for the acquired form, this ailment is provoked by indigestion. This form mostly affects adults. The reason may be the impact of drugs, chemicals, poor ecology, improper human nutrition.
Stages of disease progression:
- The first stage is the compensation stage. This is the initial stage, the child is in good he alth, there are no worries. 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. Most of these symptoms appear after eating. chronic formget constipation. Sports and diet become ineffective assistants. To alleviate the condition, parents give cleansing enemas and use laxatives
- The third stage is the stage of decompensation. The most severe degree of the disease. Abdominal pain will be permanent. Feeling much worse, constipation lasts for weeks. Intestinal obstruction is possible, appetite and sleep disturbances 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 passing feces is painful, it has an unpleasant odor and a dense texture.
- Pain on the left side of the abdomen, which is mostly aching.
- Dry, pale skin. This is due to the fact that the body lacks nutrients.
- Increased volume of the abdomen. During palpation, pain is noted on the left, where the sigmoid colon is located.
- Baby has constant gas production along with a feeling of fullness.
It should be noted that all these symptoms indicate not only the presence of dolichosigma. Similar symptoms can also occur with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of neoplasms, and may also indicate other abnormalities.in the work of the intestines. In this regard, if such signs are found, it is necessary to go for a consultation with a doctor, as the child's life may be in danger.
Treatment of disease
Children suffering from this disease are subject to constant dynamic supervision of a pediatrician and surgeon. Immediately after establishing an accurate diagnosis, the child must be registered with a dispensary, where the clinical stage of the disease should be determined as soon as possible.
In the compensated stage, the child is examined in the clinic once a year, they give recommendations on proper nutrition, compliance with the water regime, and physiotherapy exercises. At the subcompensated stage, the use of medications is added to the treatment and examined 2 times a year. In the decompensated stage, the patient is examined and treated inpatiently 3 times a year.
In cases where there are no 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 the disease is to follow a specialized diet and exercise. In each case, everything depends on many factors: the stage of the disease, the age of the child, and additional research data. According to reviews, in the treatment of intestinal dolichosigma in children under 3 years of age, 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 mayuse the operational method. This method consists in the fact that the surgeon performs manipulations that restore normal regular stools in the child. But it is used only if the conservative method does not work.
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 foods have a fixing effect, which is extremely contraindicated in this disease.
According to medical and parental reviews, a child with dolichosigma can successfully cope on his own with the symptoms of the disease in mild forms of the disease. Parents need to fully ensure proper food intake and physical activity for 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 ignore this ailment. Vitamins C, B6, B12 and E are especially important for children's bodies. They improve the process of food processing and facilitate the natural process of defecation.
Prescribing and taking painkillers, antispasmodics for severe pain should be done by the attending physician on an individual basis. Most often, with dolichosigma in a child at the age of 3, doctors prescribe Platifillin and Drotaverin. It is also necessary to take medicines that promote gas removal.("Espumizan"), especially if it is a small child.
Relieve spasms and pain helps with dolichosigma in children, abdominal massage, physiotherapy exercises. These procedures are not only stimulating, but also help to strengthen muscle structures, which has a positive effect on the treatment and prevention of constipation.
Medication method
In the medical method of treatment, the following drugs are distinguished that improve the general condition:
- herbal enemas;
- means that help reduce the amount of fecal deposits;
- prokinetics;
- laxatives (syrups, suppositories, tablets).
Physiotherapy treatments have a great effect:
- acupuncture;
- laser therapy;
- electrical stimulation of the intestines by rectal and external influences.
Operative method
With severe symptoms, the treatment of intestinal dolichosigma in a child is carried out by an operative method. This method is used in the following cases:
- intoxication is growing in the body, which is threatening;
- treatment in a conservative way does not bring the desired results;
- appearance of intestinal obstruction;
- twisted loops and kinks in the sigmoid colon;
- development of intussusception - part of the intestine is inserted into another.
Diagnosis of disease
A pediatrician should be wary if parents complain about the systematic retention of stool in a child. Diagnosis of dolichosigma in children is carried out taking into account the descriptionsymptoms and the results of an additional examination. In a small child, pathology can manifest itself from the moment we introduce complementary foods.
The doctor himself must also, by palpation, identify loops filled with feces in the intestines. 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 abdominal ultrasound, which will show the presence or absence of additional intestinal loops.
When this pathology is detected, it should be understood that it is a feature of the anatomical structure and will not go away on its own with the age of the child. Children with identified symptoms of intestinal dolichosigmoid must be registered with a gastroenterologist without fail. In some cases, it is recommended to take x-rays of the abdominal cavity, which accurately determine the presence and degree of pathology.
Irrigography is widely used in the diagnosis of dolichosigma in children. This is, in principle, the same x-ray, but during this procedure, the patient is injected with a special substance, which makes it possible to more clearly consider the clinical picture and make an accurate diagnosis, as well as determine the presence of extra loops in the intestine. You should know that newborn children do not undergo such studies, since in their body it is still impossible to distinguish between the norm and pathology.
The colonoscopy method is also used. Using a camera located on the hose, the doctor examines the condition of the intestines: extraloops, neoplasms, etc. If necessary, a tissue biopsy is taken. Sigmoidoscopy is another method for assessing the condition of the intestinal mucosa using an endoscope.
Additionally, the patient takes a number of laboratory tests that complement the overall picture of the disease:
- biochemical and general blood tests;
- fecal analysis (the presence or absence of blood clots must be checked);
- with the help of special studies, various disturbances in the microflora and the presence of undigested products in the feces are also detected.
Diet for sickness
In the diet should be systematically present foods that contain large amounts of pectin. It stimulates the bowels well. Pectin is found in baked pears, apples, pumpkin dishes, zucchini and fresh vegetables. Vegetables must be offered to the child in the form in which he likes or it is more convenient for him to use them.
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, fresh fermented milk products must be added 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 clean non-carbonated water should be carried out in the required volume; dried fruit compotes are also allowed as a drink. When choosing cereals, it is better to stop at millet, buckwheat, oatmeal.
Daily, the child needs to drink plenty of fluids (up to 3 liters). An excellent drink is ordinary water with lemon. Lemon tends to create an acidic environment that thins the stool. One of the main foodstuffs should be fish, it can be consumed in any quantity. Banned - strong coffee and tea.
Sometimes chocolate can be offered to a child, but it is important to know the rules for its use and stick to them. Chocolate is contraindicated to combine with other products. The child should be offered this treat only one hour before or after meals. Eating chocolate with other foods will cause constipation.
Folk remedies
What is it - intestinal dolichosigma in children, you already know. Can it be cured with folk remedies? Unconventional treatments are available for this ailment, but they should not be an alternative to doctor's prescriptions.
When a child is diagnosed with dolichosigma, parents' reviews of traditional medicine as an auxiliary method of treatment are positive.
Recipes:
- Tincture based on celandine and sugar. These ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, put on a gauze bandage and tied in a knot. Next, you need to put everything in a container with serum for 14 days. The tincture should be taken 100 grams per day.
- Vegetable oil helps to relieve symptoms in the treatment of dolichosigma in children. Regular sunflower and linseed oils will do. They have a laxative effect. Must be used according to2.5 ml before meals. It is advisable to sterilize the oil in a water bath.
- A decoction of buckthorn and prunes also have a beneficial effect on the treatment of constipation. Prunes must be filled with water in an amount 6-7 times greater than its volume. Next, you need to bring the mixture to a boil and let it boil over low heat 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 put the pot with the mixture back on the fire, bring to a boil and simmer for another half an hour. The decoction is taken daily in 100 ml.
- Flax seeds also contribute to a mild laxative effect. Seeds are poured with cold boiled water and infused for 1 hour, shaking occasionally. The liquid is drunk in any quantity on an empty stomach. You can also give your child flaxseed powder (0.5 teaspoon once a day).
- Sprouted wheat is indispensable for normalizing metabolism and improving intestinal motility. Sprouted grains must be soaked for 12 hours in water. Then they should be moved in an even layer on a damp cloth. A day later, the product is ready for use. It can be added to various dishes (cereals, soups, kefir).
- Cabbage juice also has many useful properties. The main one is the prevention and elimination of constipation. Cabbage juice is offered to the child daily, 80 ml for two weeks.
Consequences and possible complications
Symptoms and treatmentdolichosigma in children require urgent action from parents and doctors. Otherwise, the state of he alth deteriorates sharply, various complications develop:
- significant weight loss, wasting;
- development of anemia, changes in blood composition;
- purulent lesions on the skin;
- hardening of fecal deposits and, as a result, the formation of stones from feces that cannot leave the body on their own;
- obstruction in the intestines;
- toxic poisoning of the body - fecal intoxication.
Doctors still do not agree on whether this disease is pathological. It is important to control and monitor the patient, especially if it concerns the child's body.
When treating dolichosigma in children, the prognosis and condition of the child depend entirely on how seriously the parents take this disease. It is necessary to systematically visit a doctor, undergo medical tests, ultrasound, take tests, follow a diet, drink regimen and exercise therapy.
When symptoms of this disease appear, it is necessary to react in time to prevent extremely unpleasant consequences and complications.
