Some mothers are faced with the fact that children who are breastfed often act up after eating. Despite the fact that a woman eats properly and fully, and the child receives a sufficient amount of breast milk, he does not gain weight. The causes of these symptoms may vary. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes certain studies, including biochemical ones. An analysis of feces for carbohydrates in infants helps to identify various disorders in the intestines. Such problems in children under one year old are quite common and require special attention.
Study feces for carbohydrates
An experienced pediatrician with certain symptoms can quickly make a preliminary diagnosis. To confirm it and determine the course of the disease, specific tests are prescribed. Determining the content of carbohydrates in the feces of an infant is a biochemical study of fecal masses, which makes it possible to identify the abilityintestines to digest and absorb sugars.
To make a conclusion, the test can be used both independently and in combination with other studies: coprogram, intestinal dysbacteriosis, hemotest for lactose intolerance.
Carbohydrates in feces are in the form of milk sugar. This disaccharide in the small intestine is broken down into glucose and galactose by the action of lactase (an enzyme involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates found in milk). Part of the lactose is not broken down and remains in the intestinal lumen. This leads to the development of increased gas formation, diarrhea, colic in the abdomen. In babies, there is a decrease in lactase activity, lactase deficiency develops. Most often, pathology is observed in premature newborns.
With the help of a test for the determination of carbohydrates in feces, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and hypolactosia are detected. The study is widely used in pediatrics and gastroenterology.
In what cases is a stool analysis for carbohydrates prescribed in infants
The main indication for the study is the suspicion of the formation of lactase deficiency in a child. A provisional diagnosis is based on the following symptoms:
- Child underweight with normal diet.
- Lagging behind in physical and mental development.
- Infant colic, bloating.
- Frequent loose and frothy stools.
- Regular regurgitation.
- Nausea.
- Short light sleep.
- Frequent night cryingfor no apparent reason.
Also indications for the test are:
- Diseases of the small intestine: enteritis, celiac disease.
- Pathologies of the pancreas: pancreatitis.
- Congenital fermentopathy.
- Poorly treatable iron deficiency anemia.
Contraindication for the study of feces for carbohydrates in infants is the age of the baby up to 3 months. During this period, enzymatic processes are formed in the intestines (enzymes are formed), so the results may not be informative.
Preparing for the study
The reliability of the analysis for carbohydrates in the feces of the baby depends on the correct preparation for the test. No special actions are required for this, you just need to follow some rules:
- Baby nutrition should remain the same. For 1-2 days, it is worth delaying the introduction of new complementary foods.
- If the baby is formula-fed, formula should not be changed until results are obtained.
- Results may be affected by the mental state of the child. It is necessary to try to ensure a he althy sleep for the baby.
- Container, diaper or oilcloth should be prepared in advance.
How to properly collect biomaterial
Food intake for carbohydrates in infants is carried out in the morning. The child is placed on an oilcloth or napkin and they are waiting for the bowel movement to occur. Defecation should be natural. The use of laxatives (candles, enemas) is unacceptable, as thisdistorts the result. Also, you can not collect feces from the diaper. The special lubricant on its top layer affects the information content of the results.
Biomaterial is collected in a container with a special spatula in the amount of about two spoons. The biomaterial must be taken to the laboratory within 4-5 hours after sampling. It is allowed to store feces for no more than 8 hours in the refrigerator at a temperature of +2 to +8 degrees Celsius.
How the test is done
The Benedict method is used to determine the carbohydrate content in feces. The test reflects the body's ability to absorb glucose and carbohydrates. The principle of analysis is to identify the ability of sugars to act as a catalyst. They can, with the help of impurities and additives, restore copper from the oxidation state 2+ to 1+.
A certain amount of distilled water is added to the biomaterial and centrifuged. A chemical substance, the so-called Benedict's reagent, is added to the resulting sample. It consists of a mixture of water, copper sulfate, sodium carbonate and sodium citrate. After the addition, an oxidative reaction is observed in which the coloring process occurs. Data is interpreted as follows:
- Blue color - carbohydrate concentration less than 0.05%.
- Turquoise color - 0-0.05%.
- Green –0.6-1%.
- Light green - 1, 1-1, 5%.
- Yellow - 1, 6-2, 5%.
- Orange - 2, 5-3, 5%.
- Red - the content of carbohydrates in the baby's feces - 4, 0%.
Normal values
Research determines more than just carbohydrate content. The degree of acidity of feces, the concentration of protein, aliphatic omega acids, and leukocytes are also detected. Test results can usually be obtained 1-2 days after the biomaterial is submitted for research. Normally, in infants, carbohydrates in feces should not exceed 0.25%. The preliminary diagnosis depends on how much the result is exceeded:
- Deviations from 0.3 to 0.5% are considered small and do not warrant therapy.
- At values from 0, 6, observation is carried out. If symptoms worsen, a second analysis is prescribed. The condition of the child is assessed jointly by the mother and the pediatrician.
- If the rate is more than 1%, an additional set of examinations is prescribed to identify the cause and prescribe therapy.
Increased performance
The content of carbohydrates in the feces of a baby 0, 2-0, 4 is considered a minor deviation. Even with such an excess, the pediatrician can make adjustments to his diet, and, if necessary, prescribe certain medications.
Causes of increased carbohydrates in feces in infants are various violations of the functionality of the intestine. These include:
- Imbalance of intestinal microflora.
- Enzymatic insufficiency of the pancreas, characterized by impaired absorption and breakdown of carbohydrates.
- Congenital disaccharide intolerance.
- Transient lactase deficiency, in which the production of the enzyme is reduced (due toenterocyte damage). It is this form of lactose disaccharide intolerance that most often causes an increase in carbohydrates in the stool in children under one year old. Pathology develops due to exposure to rotavirus.
What affects performance
If the carbohydrates in the baby's feces are elevated, do not immediately panic. Pathology is easily treatable, despite serious clinical manifestations. In some cases (rarely) the result is false positive. There are several reasons for this:
- Incorrect sampling of biomaterial: feces taken from a diaper, non-compliance with storage rules.
- On the eve of the test, the child was fed a low-lactase formula.
- Use during the test of antibacterial drugs.
Additional tests
The conclusion that the child has lactase deficiency, doctors do not put on the basis of clinical manifestations and the results of one analysis. To confirm the pathology and prescribe adequate therapy, the pediatrician prescribes a comprehensive examination:
- Coprogram. The analysis evaluates the ability to digest food and the enzymatic activity of the digestive organs.
- Biopsy of the colon mucosa. With the help of a biopsy, samples of biomaterial are obtained for further histological examination.
- Analysis for dysbacteriosis. Various pathogenic organisms can interfere with the normal absorption of lactose.
- Clinical blood test. Elevated levels of ESR and leukocytes suggestthe presence of an inflammatory process.
- Blood for biochemistry (glucose level, bilirubin).
- IgE test.
- Analysis of feces for helminthiasis.
Treatment of abnormalities
According to the results of the tests, the pediatrician prescribes treatment. At the age of up to a year, this specialist is the main one for the child. A gastroenterologist can only give additional advice, but the pediatrician determines the therapy. Self-treatment at this age can pose a threat not only to he alth, but also to the life of the child.
If carbohydrates in the feces of infants are increased due to lactase deficiency, then treatment is prescribed. Therapy at an early age has its own characteristics:
- The foundation is he alth food. It consists in the almost complete exclusion of products containing lactose. In some cases, it is even necessary to abandon natural breastfeeding and switch to lactose-free formulas.
- The use of drugs containing the lactase enzyme: Lactazar, Maxilat, Tylactase.
- Dairy-free cereals are introduced during complementary foods. Minimal consumption of fermented milk products is allowed.
Dietary control is carried out using the analysis of the content of carbohydrates in feces.
Lactase deficiency monitoring
Children with congenital lactose intolerance are forced to follow a diet and take drugs containing the enzyme for lifelactase. With a transient form of the disease, the prognosis for recovery is favorable. Most babies return to breastfeeding and tolerate foods containing milk sugar.
The sufficient effectiveness of treatment is judged by the weight gain of the child, the disappearance of dyspeptic symptoms, the normal pace of mental and physical development. After the end of the course, the doctor prescribes a second analysis for carbohydrates.
When a baby develops the first symptoms of lactase deficiency, you should immediately contact a pediatrician. Poor digestibility of sugars can be the result of serious pathologies. Delay with treatment contributes to the transition of the disease into a chronic form that is difficult to treat.
