One of the most dangerous diseases is enterocolitis in a child. As a rule, its symptoms and treatment are established by a pediatrician or gastroenterologist. If not treated promptly, the disease can be fatal. When contacting a specialist in time, you can achieve a complete recovery of your child.
Description of the disease
Enterocolitis in a child is characterized by the development of inflammation and swelling of the intestinal mucosa. This disrupts its normal functioning. This disease is the most common among the pathologies of the inflammatory nature of the digestive tract. Intestinal enterocolitis in children is more difficult than in adults.
If untreated, there may be complications that are dangerous to he alth: intestinal perforation, peritonitis. Enterocolitis is most severe in children under one year of age. To eliminate the symptoms that give the child discomfort, it is necessary to diagnose the disease and prescribe medications.
Causes of disease and risk factors
As a rule, factors are divided intoinfectious and non-infectious types. The former include viruses, helminths, protozoa and pathogenic bacteria. The second type is an allergic reaction, taking antibiotics, concomitant diseases of the stomach and eating disorders.
In addition, poor ecology, infection of the fetus in utero, diathesis may be related to the development of the disease.
How does intestinal inflammation manifest itself in newborns?
Severe enterocolitis in a child is due to the fact that at this moment the digestive organs are not yet adapted to other living conditions, there are often malfunctions in the digestive tract.
The causative agent of this disease in newborns is usually staphylococcus aureus. It enters the body of the child, if you do not follow the rules of hygiene. Another cause may be intrauterine infection of the fetus.
How the disease will proceed depends on the causative agent of the infection and the factors that aggravate the inflammation. Enterocolitis in premature babies is very unfavorable. The treatment is very complicated and long.
Intestinal enterocolitis: symptoms in children
These characteristics of the disease depend on the course and type. Often, enterocolitis in a child is similar to ordinary colic, that is, it manifests itself as cramping pains in the tummy. For this reason, most moms and dads are waiting for everything to pass by itself. But in the case when other signs appear along with colic, an immediate appeal to a specialist is necessary. It will help to exclude orconfirm the diagnosis.
The main symptoms of enterocolitis in children are:
- cutting or cramping pain in the abdomen;
- frequent loose stools up to 9 times in 12 hours, which may alternate with constipation;
- stools mixed with greens or blood;
- increase in body temperature to 39 degrees;
- vomiting, nausea, or regurgitation;
- weakness and lethargy of the child;
- joint pain;
- headache;
- heartburn or flatulence.
These signs indicate the development of inflammation in the intestines. You should contact a specialist or seek emergency medical attention. In the chronic form of the disease, the symptoms are the same as in acute enterocolitis in children. It must be remembered that the timely appointment of therapy will help the baby recover faster and return to the normal pace of life.
What complications can the disease have?
Necrotizing enterocolitis in children is one of the consequences of this disease with untimely treatment. It is characterized by the acquisition of an ulcerative form, which provokes the development of tissue necrosis. Usually in this case, surgical intervention is used. Patients with this diagnosis are babies whose birth weight was less than two kilograms. Other reasons are considered severe hypoxia of the child and congenital malformations. This inflammation leads to intestinal ischemia. This condition is characterized by impaired circulation in the intestinal wall.
This onediseases, such stages of development are distinguished as prodromal (usual enterocolitis), clinical manifestations of NEC (regurgitation of milk mixed with bile by the baby, weight loss, dysbacteriosis), preperforation (the child's condition deteriorates sharply, dehydration, bleeding from the rectum), perforative peritonitis (painful shock, drop in body temperature). In the last stage: the sooner the operation is performed, the greater the chance that the baby will live.
Treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis is carried out in the same way as with ordinary inflammation of the intestine, both chronic and acute. A prerequisite is taking antibiotics, vitamins and other medicines, dieting.
Treatment of enterocolitis in children
Where the child will be when diagnosing this disease: in the hospital or at home, depends on the condition of the baby and the reasons. In case of food poisoning, immediate gastric lavage is necessary. Treatment of enterocolitis is carried out in a complex manner. Medications, a strict diet and bed rest are prescribed. Folk remedies can also be used. But a mandatory consultation with a specialist is necessary. When diagnosing enterocolitis in children, the symptoms of which are very dangerous, you can not be treated on your own. This can adversely affect the he alth of the child and lead to disastrous consequences.
Drugs for intestinal inflammation
Drugs to be taken in case of illness are prescribed by a specialist. Antibiotics are used to correct the causeantiviral drugs. They are needed only if the inflammation of the intestine is of an infected nature. To normalize the functions of the stomach, you should take enterosorbents and enzymes, as well as probiotics.
Both the elimination of symptoms of enterocolitis and treatment in children is carried out by prescribing antipyretics and antiemetics. If diarrhea occurs, the child should be given antidiarrheal medicine. In order for cramping pain in the abdomen to stop, antispasmodics are prescribed. They relieve discomfort after a certain short time.
If dehydration does occur, fluid therapy should be performed immediately.
Treatment with folk remedies
They are used, as a rule, as additional elements in general therapy. Medicinal plants such as chamomile and mint, fennel seeds and calendula are used. They make decoctions. For cooking, you will need one large spoonful of one of the plants, then it is poured with one cup of boiling water and allowed to brew for half an hour. Should be taken immediately before meals in small portions.
An infusion of herbs of fennel, chamomile, calamus root and valerian root helps well against diarrhea. They are taken in the required proportions and poured with a cup of boiled water. Then put on fire and boil for 20 minutes. This mixture should be infused for about 3.5 hours. Should be taken three times a day.
The anti-inflammatory effect is inherent in carrot juice. AtIn the absence of individual intolerance to the product, children take one tablespoon twice a day.
Sea buckthorn oil has the same property. It should be drunk one teaspoon three times a day for two weeks. It is prescribed for chronic enterocolitis. Do not use this remedy for diarrhea.
Propolis tincture improves the functioning of the immune system and regenerates damaged intestinal mucosa. It must be taken after dissolving in a small amount of water. Milk in this case is not suitable. The number of drops of propolis tincture should be taken according to the age of the patient. The course lasts two weeks.
What diet should I follow for enteritis?
In parallel with taking medication, the main requirement for enterocolitis in a child is to follow certain rules in the diet. All this is called a diet. If you do not comply with it, take only medicines, then it is impossible to recover. There will be complications later. So, the diet for this disease includes the use of foods such as:
- low-fat meats, fish (serve them preferably in the form of mashed potatoes);
- steamed dishes;
- low-fat broth soups with rice;
- porridge cooked in water, you can eat buckwheat, rice and oatmeal;
- steamed omelets;
- jelly, green tea or compote, you can also drink a decoction of rose hips for a child.
In case of acute enterocolitis in children, it is recommended not to give him any water or tea for the first five hours. All thisdone to unload the intestines.
For newborn babies, the amount of breast milk consumed should be reduced. Mom also needs to follow a special diet during this time.
Babies on artificial nutrition will need a therapeutic mixture. At first, the volume of its consumption is small with enterocolitis in children. Symptoms of this disease should gradually disappear. But this does not mean a quick cure for the disease.
It is strictly forbidden to eat fried, s alty and spicy food.
Disease prevention
Compliance with some rules does not guarantee that your child will not get sick, but will reduce the risks. Prevention must be applied not only to children, but also to mothers. Everyone, without exception, should observe hygiene. Unsanitary conditions attract harmful microorganisms that are carriers of most infectious diseases. Therefore, taking a few minutes a day to clean up the house and clean your hands, of course, is worth it.
In addition, you should eat right. Compliance with the daily routine is an integral part of a he althy human body.
Before you eat anything, the product must be properly processed. Namely, the fruits should be thoroughly washed under running water, and the meat should be thoroughly cooked. Then you can be sure that infections will bypass you.
Do not put off diseases of the gastrointestinal tract until later. They should be treated promptly. non-compliancedoctor's prescriptions can lead to complications of the functioning of the stomach. Take care of your own he alth.
Prevention and treatment of parasitic diseases is also one of the recommendations in order to warn the child from intestinal inflammation.
What parents need to know about enteritis?
Moms and dads should understand that enterocolitis in a child is not a simple bowel disease. This is a very serious infectious disease that is accompanied by inflammation of the intestines.
Immediately, after the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, you need to contact a specialist. In 20% of cases, when parents do not seek help, there are severe complications in children, which can be fatal. No need to neglect the he alth of your child and refer to "maybe it will pass." Since it is the timely appeal to a specialist that will increase the chances of a complete recovery of the baby.
