One of the common ailments of the colon is colitis. The disease causes inflammatory-dystrophic changes in this organ. In newborns, pathology leads to damage to the small intestine. The symptoms of colitis in children cause a lot of discomfort. This usually consists of problems with stools, abdominal pain, and malaise. The symptoms and treatment of intestinal colitis in children are described in the article.
Concept
Colitis is called inflammation of the large intestine, which gradually causes degeneration of the mucous layer. This is dangerous due to organ dysfunction. Usually, the disease is diagnosed in people of the middle and older age categories, but the risk of its occurrence remains high in infants and preschool children.
The disease has no specific symptoms. All the symptoms of colitis in children can also occur with other gastrointestinal ailments. But usually with the disease there are violationsbowel movements and pain deep in the abdomen.
Reasons
Considering the topic of symptoms of colitis in children, you should familiarize yourself with the factors that provoke the onset of the disease. There are various sources of intestinal inflammation. Acute colitis appears from causative agents of infections of the digestive tract:
- salmonella;
- retrovirus;
- rotavirus;
- escherichia;
- shigella.
Another acute form of the disease appears due to gastritis, enteritis, gastroenteritis. The chronic form of the disease is associated with dysentery, ascariasis, giardiasis, pancreatic dysfunction, poisoning with toxic substances.
Other reasons
Colitis appears from:
- long-term use of anti-inflammatory, laxative, antibacterial drugs;
- severe food poisoning;
- malnutrition;
- early introduction of complementary foods;
- intestinal parasitic infections;
- allergies;
- private stresses;
- autoimmune disease;
- burdened heredity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- bad habits of the mother during pregnancy;
- congenital anomalies in the structure of the intestine;
- unclear bowel dysfunction.
The symptoms and treatment of colitis in children are interrelated. To prescribe effective therapy, the doctor must conduct a diagnosis to identify the cause.
Views
According to morphological features, colitis is atrophic, catarrhal, ulcerative-erosive. If atake into account the nature of the course, then the disease can be mild, moderate, severe. By type, it is divided into monotonous, latent, progressive and recurrent. According to the broadest classification, colitis is:
- primary;
- drug;
- non-specific;
- parasitic;
- neurotic;
- alimentary;
- allergic;
- toxic;
- post-infectious;
- beam;
- spastic.
Symptoms, treatment of ulcerative colitis in children is almost the same as in other forms. At a young age, an acute, chronic, non-specific form of the disease is often detected. The symptoms of spastic colitis in a child are just as painful as those of other types.
There is another classification of the disease. Since the large intestine includes several sections, colitis can have different localizations. According to this criterion, it stands out:
- tiflit;
- transverse;
- sigmoiditis;
- pancolitis;
- proctosigmoiditis;
- angulitis;
- proctitis;
- thyphlocolitis.
With any kind of colitis in children, the symptoms are painful. If they appear, do not hesitate to visit a doctor. Timely treatment will improve well-being in a short time.
Symptoms
In acute intestinal colitis, the child's symptoms are accompanied by signs of intoxication. Occurs:
- hyperthermia;
- weakness;
- chill;
- vomit.
For a reasonintestinal spasms occur tenesmus - a false urge to defecate. There are also painful sensations in the iliac region of the abdomen. The stool frequency is 5-15 times a day. Symptoms of intestinal colitis in a child include the presence of:
- greenish, watery stools with foam;
- impurities of mucus and blood in the feces;
- rectal prolapse;
- nausea;
- decrease in tissue turgor;
- dry skin;
- sharpening facial features.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis of the intestine in a child are manifested in the form of constipation, diarrhea, or their alternation. With the passage of solid feces, cracks may appear on the anus. When defecating, scarlet blood comes out.
Other manifestations
In chronic colitis, symptoms in children under one year of age are undulating: after remission, an exacerbation occurs. There is pain in the navel, iliac region. It appears after eating and has a aching character. In chronic colitis in a child of 3 years, the symptoms appear as:
- loss of appetite;
- bloating;
- rumbling in the intestines;
- fatigue;
- irritability;
- headache;
- sleep disorders;
- delays in weight gain and growth.
At the baby
A clear symptom of ulcerative colitis in children and other forms of the disease is a change in stool. It can be liquid or solid. There are streaks of blood in the feces. Also, the disease manifests itself in the form:
- loss of appetite;
- bad sleep;
- highexcitability;
- frequent regurgitation;
- vomit;
- dryness and pallor of the skin;
- temperature increase;
- capriciousness;
- refusing food;
- often crying.
Complications
In infants with allergic colitis, there is a delay in growth and weight gain. This applies to other forms of intestinal inflammation as well. In older children, complications may appear in the form of:
- hypovitaminosis;
- anemia;
- anal fissures;
- intestinal perforation;
- peritonitis;
- anemia;
- perforated ulcer;
- sphincter weakness;
- vascular thrombosis;
- intestinal obstruction;
- paraproctitis;
- intestinal abscesses.
All negative consequences can be avoided if colitis is treated in a timely manner. The main thing is that the therapy is carried out under the supervision of a doctor and in compliance with all his recommendations.
Diagnosis
A gastroenterologist can detect an illness in children. First, he performs an external examination and palpation of the abdomen. This is required to establish visual signs of illness and soreness in the abdominal region. Additionally, studies are prescribed by the doctor:
- Colonoscopy. In this procedure, a coloscope with a micro-camera at the end is inserted through the anus. Also, air is supplied to the intestines to expand its walls. This procedure is required to detect latent bleeding, diverticulum, inflammation, tumors.
- Sigmoscopy. Unlikepast procedure, this technique is considered sparing. When diagnosing, a flexible long sigmoscope is inserted into the anus, which is connected to a video camera and monitor. This is necessary to assess the condition of the mucous membrane of the large intestine.
- Endoscopic biopsy. In the procedure, an endoscope is inserted into the intestine through the rectum. The tool studies the gastrointestinal tract. During endoscopy, biopsy material is taken from a suspicious area to determine the nature of the altered tissues and differentiation of the type of colitis.
- Blood test. Manipulation determines anemia, decreased electrolyte levels and hypoalbunemia. These symptoms indicate the presence of inflammatory processes.
- Scatology of feces. The study is to study the color, smell, consistency, amount of bowel movements.
- Irrigography. The colon is filled with contrast material and then an x-ray is taken. Such radiography evaluates the contours, location, dimensions of the organ being checked.
- Rectoscopy. The procedure examines the rectum and the lower part of the sigmoid. When a special tube is inserted into the anus, the doctor detects the presence of erosive, tumor, infectious or inflammatory processes.
Treatment
The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the cause of the disease and restore bowel function. If a pseudomembranous form is detected, it is urgent to stop the drug that led to inflammation.
With helminthic invasion, the child is prescribed antiparasitic drugs, for example,"Metronidazole". Other forms of colitis are treated by other means:
- For non-specific ulcerative form, antibiotics, immunomodulators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are needed.
- If the course of the disease is acute, special treatment is required: you need a warm, plentiful drink, rest, taking "Festal", "Almagel" or activated charcoal.
- If chronic colitis, antispasmodics ("No-shpa") with adsorbents ("Phosphalugel") are needed. Additionally, a diet is prescribed, in which fried, spicy, fatty, canned foods are excluded.
- Spastic type of colitis is treated with "Trimedat", which normalizes intestinal motility. Buscopan is also prescribed, which eliminates pain. Diarrhea can be cured with Loperamide.
What else is prescribed?
Drug treatment is the use of several drugs at the same time. To get rid of the unpleasant manifestations of the disease, drugs with an astringent and enveloping effect are often prescribed. This action has bismuth, infusions of chamomile or St. John's wort. With an allergic disease, antihistamines are prescribed:
- "Suprastin".
- "Diazolin".
- Fenistil.
The basis of therapy is usually antibiotics. They can only be prescribed by a doctor when the results of the analysis are obtained to identify the causative agent of the disease. Broad antibacterial effect have:
- Mexaform.
- Sulfasalazine.
- Erythromycin.
Colitis treatment is not limited toantibacterial therapy. It will be possible to alleviate the condition with drugs:
- Probiotics - "Bifikol", "Intestopan", "Bifidumbacterin". With antibiotic therapy, these drugs ensure the restoration of disturbed intestinal microflora.
- Analgesics - "Novocaine", "Platifillin", "Metacin". Eliminate severe pain.
- Enzyme - "Mezim", "Digestal", "Abomin". They improve digestion.
Physiotherapy is effective only when the disease is in remission. A heating pad is applied to the place of the epigastrium. Supplements therapy ozokerite, paraffin therapy, diathermy. For most children, this treatment regimen works great.
If there are no results from conservative treatment, the doctor may recommend surgery. It is based on resection of the problematic section of the colon, after which the straight segment is fused with the ileum.
Diet
During the treatment it is necessary to adhere to a special diet. During therapy, children are forbidden to give fried foods, rich soups. Products need to be baked, boiled or steamed. If the baby is breastfed, then his mother should not eat aggressive foods that can lead to allergies.
The food of a nursing woman should be well digestible. During lactation, it is useful to eat mashed potatoes, low-fat soups, grated cereals, chicken broths. Avoid fresh vegetables and fruits. Specific diet differs by type of colitis:
- With nonspecific and ulcerative colitis, the use of berries, lean meat, boiled eggs, mucous cereals,cheese liver. Food should be eaten warm. Products are steamed or boiled. You should eat small meals every 3 hours. Dinner should be no later than 8 pm.
- If spastic colitis, eat legumes, bread with bran, fruits, vegetables, steam fish, puree soups, jelly. If there is no pain, you can use cereals, juices, diluted with water. But this cannot be done during an aggravation.
- During an exacerbation of inflammation, wheat bran, weak tea, rosehip decoctions, mucous porridges, kissels are useful. Products should be chewed thoroughly. Do not eat too hot or cold food.
- During remission, dairy products, baked fruits, tea, lean meat, stewed vegetables are needed. Warm meals are needed. You should drink at least 1.5-2 liters. Don't overeat.
- If you have constipation, it is useful to eat wholemeal bread, lean pastries, dry biscuits, honey, prunes. Food should be boiled or baked.
- For diarrhea use dried white bread, pasta, low-fat cottage cheese, buckwheat, green tea. You need to eat at least 5 times a day.
Prevention
The main condition for prevention is diet. The menu should be selected based on the age of the child. Colitis in newborns appears when the mother does not eat properly, so the woman should follow the diet prescribed by the doctor.
In addition to restoring the child's diet, it is necessary to visit the pediatrician regularly, which will allow timely identification of the disease. It is important to avoid harmfulhabits (adolescents). Antibiotics and other medicines should not be given without a doctor's prescription. Timely treatment of helminthic invasions, dysbacteriosis and intestinal infections is also required. Compliance with the rules of prevention will prevent such an unpleasant disease as colitis.
