How is intestinal dysbiosis treated in young children? Signs and treatment of dysbacteriosis in children How dysbacteriosis manifests itself in children after a year.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis in children is much more common than in adults. Although children lead relatively healthy lifestyle life, move a lot, often go outside, do not abuse drugs, and parents try to feed them properly, there are a lot of factors around the child that can provoke violations intestinal microflora. This includes bad ecology, which "hit" the child's body more than the adult, and frequent infectious diseases requiring antibiotic treatment, and fast growth, which does not keep up the immune system etc. But the most important thing is that the baby’s organs and systems have not yet fully matured, and therefore are highly susceptible to negative influences from outside and inside the body.

A child is born into the world with a sterile intestine. This means that his digestive tract is not yet populated by microorganisms, and the future health of the baby will depend on how correctly the process of bacterial intervention goes.

The child receives the first portion of the microflora during childbirth. That is why the state of the mother's reproductive system is especially important: if a woman has vaginal dysbacteriosis, inflammatory processes, diseases, she is given a sanitation of the birth canal so that when passing through them, the fetus does not "pick up" pathogenic microbes, but, on the contrary, acquires the correct flora.

The next stage of settlement with microflora is the contact of the newborn with the skin of the mother. For this baby, even in the delivery room, they put the woman in labor on her stomach. At this moment, the child takes over the microorganisms living on the mother's body, and some of them enter the gastrointestinal tract.

The third, and most important stage of the primary colonization of the intestine, is the attachment of the baby to the breast. The first drops of breast contents - colostrum - is a concentrated mixture of milk fat, nutrients, vitamins, antibodies to various diseases and the accumulation of the right microflora. In fact, this is a real "vaccination" that will protect the child's body from external pathogens in the first weeks and months of life.

Mother's milk is an indispensable food for the baby. In addition to the fact that up to 6 months it completely replaces the child's food and drink, breast milk - main factor which contributes to the development normal microflora intestines. Lactose, the main carbohydrate contained in milk, is a breeding ground for bifidobacteria - decomposing this substance, microorganisms use it for their growth.

The product of lactose processing by beneficial bacteria is lactic acid, which provides a lowered pH of the intestinal environment, which has a detrimental effect on pathogenic microbes. That's why the kids who are on breastfeeding, are well protected from intestinal infections and suffer from them much less frequently than their artificial counterparts. None of the most modern and expensive mixture has the same effect as mother's milk. The intestines of a child receiving formula cannot independently maintain the optimal level of bifidobacteria and their correct ratio with other flora. As a result, the baby develops early dysbacteriosis.

For a child infancy dysbacteriosis can become a very dangerous condition. First, any healthy person opportunistic pathogens are present. In an infant with dysbacteriosis, the word “conditionally” can be safely removed from the name of this group of microorganisms.

Secondly, the intestines with dysbiosis are not capable of normal food processing and absorption of nutrients. As a result, this leads to, which "washes out" vitamins, minerals and nutrients from the body. And it already threatens unpleasant diseases like rickets, anemia and even retardation.

To prevent dysbacteriosis in a newborn, every mother is simply obliged to provide the baby with natural feeding for at least six months. If this is not possible, the mother, together with the pediatrician, needs to select special mixtures that meet all the requirements of functional nutrition. They should contain not only artificial milk, but also be enriched with prebiotics, all essential vitamins and trace elements, enzyme substances. Most often, these are fermented milk mixtures, such as Bifidok, Bifidolact, Laktofidus and a number of other items.

Secondary dysbacteriosis in children

In older children, dysbacteriosis is the result of any diseases or exposure to pathogenic factors. Moreover, it is not so easy to establish a violation of microflora in a child. In babies, the digestive tract itself is characterized by instability in work due to its immaturity. So, the baby may have diarrhea that seems to occur without apparent reason, but in fact, as a reaction to teeth, temperature, a new product or a change in the composition of water.

But if unpleasant symptoms persist enough long time, mom should remember the previous history. Did the child suffer from poisoning, did he have an illness that was treated with antibiotics, etc. So, as a cause of dysbacteriosis, one can suspect:

So, what signs and complaints in a child should alert parents:

  • recurring stool disorders (diarrhea, constipation, alternation of these disorders);
  • dyspeptic phenomena, such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, belching, vomiting, in young children - profuse regurgitation after each feeding, colic;
  • a change in the nature of the stool - most often it is liquid, watery, may be mixed with mucus, foam, with a pungent odor, light in color, a large number of undigested pieces are possible;
  • babies can quickly develop symptoms of dehydration, growth retardation, weight loss;
  • with prolonged dysbacteriosis, signs of hypovitaminosis appear (dry skin, brittle hair and nails, skin cracks, rickets) and malabsorption of nutrients (iron deficiency anemia).

Diagnosis of intestinal dysbacteriosis in children

On the basis of complaints only, no doctor can make a diagnosis. Testing, especially in young children, is mandatory, because clinical picture, characteristic of microflora disorders, also occurs in other diseases.

An examination that can help establish the presence of dysbacteriosis and differentiate it from other pathologies includes the following tests:

  1. Coprology - a general clinical study of feces for composition. According to this analysis, the doctor can see whether the food is digested well, and if it is bad, then in which department the failure occurs. According to coprology, one can judge the presence of inflammation, intestinal infections and the work of the child's enzymatic system.
  2. Analysis for eggs of worms and enterobiasis. These studies are prescribed for children from the age of 1.5 years. Symptoms of helminthic invasion often coincide with signs of dysbacteriosis. If worms are found, they are first removed, and then they evaluate whether there are improvements and whether it is necessary to restore the microflora.
  3. An analysis of feces for carbohydrates is prescribed for frequent diarrhea and swelling, poor coprogram. An increase in the level of carbohydrates in the stool may indicate lactase deficiency.
  4. An analysis for pathogenic bacteria reveals the presence of salmonellosis, dysentery and other intestinal infections, which can exist in a form with “erased” symptoms, similar in clinic to dysbacteriosis.
  5. Seeding for dysbacteriosis. This analysis is recommended to be taken last, since it cannot effectively assess the level of beneficial bacteria in the intestines: many microorganisms do not live in the air, so it is impossible to determine them in the culture. But this study will give an answer to the question of what and how many pathogenic microbes live in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Treatment of dysbacteriosis in children

Treatment of dysbacteriosis in a child consists of two equally important stages.

We list the most common drugs used in the treatment of dysbacteriosis in children:

  • Acipol - allowed from birth, has an extensive effect, restores intestinal immunity; newborns are given 5 doses per day, children older than six months - 10-15 doses, divided into 3 doses per day, before meals;
  • Lineks - restores the intestinal epithelium and promotes proper absorption of electrolytes; appoint a course reception for 5 - 7 days, 3 times a day, for babies - 1 capsule, for children over 2 years old - 2 capsules;
  • Bifidumbacterin - suppresses pathogens in the intestines, populates with bifidobacteria, enhances immune defense, is recommended for use in newborns;
  • Bifiform Malysh - contains bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, fortified with B vitamins, is available in different forms- for small ones in powder, for large ones in the form of chewable tablets.

Can be used to replenish intestinal flora non-pharmacological means. Live bacteria are also found in food products: Bifidok, Biolact, Aktimel, Activia and other fermented milk drinks. Important! Yoghurts and bioproducts with a long shelf life are useless in the treatment of dysbacteriosis: live bacteria die in the first few days after the production of the product. It is best if mom prepares such drinks on her own by buying a starter from a pharmacy. So at home there will always be delicious, fresh and healthy yoghurts and kefir for a child.

Since we have touched on nutrition, a few words about what kind of diet a child should have in the treatment of dysbacteriosis.

  1. First of all, no fast food, semi-finished products and "snacks". Pos a ban also any carbonated drinks, packaged juices, sweets.
  2. At the time of treatment, raw vegetables and fruits, coarse cereals are contraindicated.
  3. The children's diet should consist of boiled, baked, stewed vegetables, low-fat dietary meat (chicken, rabbit), mucous, enveloping cereals (rice, oatmeal from small flakes, semolina).
  4. Bananas and baked apples are allowed for dessert.
  5. As drinks, weak tea, compotes (without berries), jelly can be used.

After the inflammation in the intestines is eliminated, the child's diet must be balanced by introducing a large number of healthy foods, and removing those that contribute to digestive disorders and the growth of harmful flora.

  1. The basis of the diet is vegetables and fruits in any form.
  2. The protein components of the menu are lean meat and fish, not fried.
  3. Wholemeal bread.
  4. Drinks - weak tea, compotes, fresh juices, jelly.
  5. Be sure to use dairy products daily.
  6. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of whole milk, pastries and bread made from white flour, pasta, animal fats, canned food, ice cream and chocolate, industrial sweet yoghurts.

It is also important to create normal conditions for the child for physical, mental development, activities, hobbies and games, to protect him from overwork and stress. It does not hurt for each child to observe the daily routine, to be outdoors more often, to play sports, to eat on time. And most importantly - do not forget about the basic rules of hygiene.

Dysbacteriosis can appear at any age, but most often it affects young children. This disease begins its manifestation when the body ceases to cope with disorders in the digestive system. At the first stages of the development of dysbacteriosis, when the number of pathogenic microorganisms does not have such a strong negative effect on the microflora, and their number is slightly increased, the symptoms will be weak or completely absent, which sometimes makes it difficult to diagnose and prescribe timely treatment.

The manifestation of dysbacteriosis in both adults and children is not specific. Symptoms of dysbacteriosis may indicate other diseases digestive system for various reasons.

Symptoms of 2 years are the same as the symptoms of any disease associated with disruption of the digestive tract. From birth to 2 years of age and older, babies can suffer from abdominal pain, colic, constipation, diarrhea, and increased gas. Not always such manifestations indicate a violation of the intestinal microflora. However, if the child has dry skin there is irritation on the skin, general state skin and nails are worsened, appetite has become weak, then in this case it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Nails and hair can be subjected to peeling and dryness, since an imbalance of harmful and beneficial bacteria has occurred in the intestines, which disrupts the proper and complete absorption of nutrients and vitamins. In addition to useful trace elements, water absorption may be impaired, which leads to drying of the skin. Also, the child becomes lethargic and capricious, despite the lack of energy, he does not sleep well. Dyspeptic disorders may be observed.

Video: Dysbacteriosis and treatment in children

Another distinguishing characteristic of dysbacteriosis in children is an increase in the frequency of stools, even in the absence of diarrhea and constipation. Often parents observe that the child asks for a potty immediately after eating. Particles may be found in the stool undigested food, mucus and other fluids. A sour or putrid smell of feces may indicate the predominance of pathogenic microorganisms in the intestines. With the progression of the disease in the baby, the temperature may rise to subfebrile limits. Violation of the intestinal microflora may be associated with the presence of infections that require immediate treatment.

How does dysbacteriosis develop?

Dysbacteriosis can occur as a result of a previous disease or proceed in conjunction with the disease. Usually, a violation of the intestinal microflora can worsen the course of the underlying disease, so the root cause must first be eradicated. The causes of the disease can be conditionally divided into several groups depending on the age of the child.

Dysbacteriosis in newborns

Violation of the microflora in newborns may occur due to provocations of the following factors:

  • if during pregnancy the expectant mother suffered infectious diseases of the digestive tract;
  • trauma during childbirth;
  • if for some reason the child was not immediately attached to the breast;
  • stress experienced by the baby, including due to birth trauma.

Dysbacteriosis in children under 2-3 years old

This group includes babies who have had a disturbed intestinal microflora due to feeding. dysbacteriosis may develop in the presence of the following factors:

  • artificial feeding;
  • improperly selected mixtures;
  • with frequent changes of mixtures;
  • improper attachment of the baby to the chest, swallowing air;
  • intolerance by the child's body of mixtures or milk;
  • earlier introduction of complementary foods that are not appropriate for age: meat, fruit and vegetable puree, cereals, sweet compotes, etc.;
  • taking antibiotics during breastfeeding or direct treatment of the baby with them;
  • frequent infections and viral diseases;
  • reduced immunity.

Corrective treatment should be started as soon as possible, because at an older age the child may develop serious illness that are difficult to treat.

How to suspect dysbacteriosis?

As already mentioned, dysbacteriosis may be mild or not show itself at all, so parents should pay attention to any manifestations that may be associated with dysbacteriosis or any other gastrointestinal disease:

  • stomach ache;
  • the child presses the legs to the stomach;
  • frequent loose stools with a green tint;
  • frothy stools containing mucus or parts of undigested food;
  • putrid or sour smell of feces;
  • the occurrence of cuts and severe pain in the stomach a few hours after eating;
  • strong gas formation;
  • rumbling;
  • belching;
  • lack of appetite;
  • urge to defecate;
  • nausea, sometimes vomiting;
  • constipation;
  • flatulence;
  • rumbling;
  • lag in weight gain;
  • the occurrence of allergic rashes.

With a more severe course of the disease, the child may experience the development of thrush, tonsillitis, pneumonia and damage to the digestive tract. These diseases are often accompanied by the highest stage of dysbacteriosis, when pathogenic microorganisms are rapidly spreading throughout the body. Often, doctors observe a picture of the course of all diseases at the same time.

The main symptoms of dysbacteriosis in children 2 years old

All of these symptoms may apply to other diseases of the digestive tract. Doctors have identified several main symptoms that indicate that the child has dysbacteriosis:

  1. Dyspeptic manifestations. The child has frequent bowel movements, because the stool is liquid, in the area anus irritation may begin in the form of burning and itching due to cracks that have appeared. A putrid smell, and a frothy stool consistency is one indicator of the presence a large number pathogenic microorganisms in the intestine. From time to time, diarrhea can be replaced by constipation, bloating and lack of weight gain.
  2. Stomach ache. The nature of the pain may be different, the intensity and localization of it may decrease or even disappear after defecation or gas discharge. Usually the pain occurs in attacks a few hours after eating.
  3. Allergy. Due to the violation of the intestinal microflora, more than 90% of children develop allergic reactions, which manifest themselves in intolerance to certain foods, skin rashes may appear, bronchial asthma, itching and swelling.
  4. Violation of the absorption of nutrients. Due to the development of harmful bacteria in the intestine, the absorption of vitamins and fluids is disrupted, which leads to the development of anemia and hypovitaminosis. Parents may notice pale skin and bleeding gums.
  5. Intoxication. The waste products of microorganisms can have an intoxicating effect on the body, which is manifested by nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, insomnia and headaches - this can cause a lag in the physical development of the baby.
  6. Reduced immune system. Dysbacteriosis can cause frequent viral diseases, as well as fungal infections.

If you have one or more symptoms, you should consult a doctor, do not self-medicate.

Diagnosis and treatment

Symptoms of dysbacteriosis can greatly disturb the child, therefore, first of all, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the symptoms, while at the same time it is necessary to treat the root cause. To properly prescribe treatment, the doctor prescribes diagnostic examination, which includes:

After the examinations, the doctor prescribes an individual treatment, which should include:

  • nutritional adjustment, the exclusion of foods that can provoke allergic reaction, diarrhea or constipation;
  • prescribing drugs to normalize the intestinal microflora (probiotics): Hilak Forte, Laktofiltrum, Acipol, etc .;
  • appointment of bacteriophages;
  • prebiotics;
  • in some cases, the doctor may prescribe symbiotics.

Also, when treating dysbacteriosis in children 2 years old, doctors recommend giving the child sour-milk drinks enriched with bifido- and lactobacilli at the same time as treatment, these include: Bifidok, Bifilin, Aktimel, Activia. These products will not be able to replace the treatment, but they will become helpers for a faster recovery.

Also, do not forget about preventive measures, it is better to prevent the disease than to treat it for a long time and hard. If possible, even in infancy, breastfeeding is necessary - this is one of the first conditions that will later help the child grow and develop healthy.

Dysbacteriosis in children is a rather serious and common problem. Diagnosis of dysbacteriosis in children is especially difficult, since its symptoms are similar to a huge number of other gastrointestinal diseases.

And in this article, we would like to talk about how to treat intestinal dysbacteriosis in children, what tests to take to diagnose it, and how this disease generally manifests itself. In addition, the article will contain reviews on drugs for dysbacteriosis in children and recommendations on what to eat for children with dysbiosis.

Reasons for the development of dysbacteriosis in a child

Most often, the causes of dysbacteriosis in children are associated with malnutrition and long-term use of antibiotics. At the same time, dysbacteriosis after antibiotics in a child is a rather serious condition, in rare situations ending in the development serious illnesses(pseudomembranous enterocolitis, for example).

But far from in all cases it is possible to understand what kind of pathogenesis (causes) the developed dysbacteriosis has. Sometimes dysbiosis in a child develops without any apparent predisposing causes.

Pathogenic viruses and bacteria - common cause dysbiosis in children

Speaking of all possible causes of intestinal dysbiosis in children, then they are:

  1. Late attachment of the baby to the breast.
  2. Situations when a mother has to feed her baby artificially.
  3. Malnutrition of the child.
  4. Frequent constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
  5. Violation of the mechanism of absorption of trace elements in the intestine.
  6. Gastroduodenitis, peptic ulcers, colitis.
  7. Food allergies and atopic dermatitis.
  8. Intestinal infections, influenza.
  9. Exposure to high doses of radiation.
  10. Injuries of the gastrointestinal tract.
  11. Surgical interventions.
  12. Taking antibiotics.

It is important to remember that the severity this disease often directly related to the cause of its development. So the most severe is dysbacteriosis, which arose against the background of exposure to radiation, antibiotics, infection and after injuries of the gastrointestinal tract.

Risk groups: at what age do children most often get dysbacteriosis?

The peak incidence of dysbacteriosis in children falls on quite early age(at baby) and at the age of 5-10 years. And this is not surprising, in such young children the gastrointestinal tract does not work efficiently enough, as does the immune system.

Diagnostics children's dysbacteriosis intestines

As a result, it turns out that it is at this age that you should especially closely monitor your baby and treat any gastrointestinal diseases in him in a timely manner. Moreover, if the baby is often sick with the flu, then it makes sense to give him courses (for a month every six months) drugs to improve the intestinal microflora.

What is the danger of dysbacteriosis in a child?

In 70% of cases, dysbiosis in babies does not pose a particular danger and is easily treatable (in 50% of cases, it completely disappears on its own, without therapy). However, there are situations when the disease progresses, which is already a very dangerous condition.

So a baby against the background of 3-4 degree dysbiosis can develop such formidable complications as pseudomembranous enterocolitis or perforation of the intestinal wall. Such diseases can not only worsen the health of the baby, but in rare cases lead to his death.

That is why you should never ignore such diseases in children and expect their independent resolution. In all cases, even with mild symptoms, you should contact the baby with a pediatrician!

Symptoms of dysbacteriosis in a child

Childhood dysbacteriosis has a huge number clinical manifestations(symptoms). Generally symptoms of this disease in a child the following:

  • regurgitation in infants;
  • bad breath (sometimes even fetid);
  • temperature (often fever);
  • reducing the increase in body weight of the child;
  • rash on hands and face;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • rashes in the mouth (stomatitis);
  • constipation or diarrhea;
  • false urge to defecate;
  • frothy or mushy stools;
  • blood in the stool;
  • melena (black stool);
  • steatorrhea and flatulence;
  • intestinal colic;
  • intestinal dyskinesia;
  • belching;
  • decreased appetite.

Symptoms of intestinal dysbacteriosis in children

What is obvious, the signs of this disease are nonspecific and occur in a huge number of other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, vomiting, rashes, constipation or diarrhea - common symptoms food intolerance.

However, due to the lack of diagnosis, doctors often take these symptoms for manifestations of dysbacteriosis and treat the child for the wrong thing. Therefore, it is very important that the doctor reinforces his subjective opinion with the results of an analysis for dysbacteriosis in children.

Otherwise, a situation is possible when inadequate treatment is carried out (due to an error in diagnosis), and the disease, meanwhile, is rapidly progressing. As a result, the child begins to be treated already when the disease has taken a serious turn and aggressive treatment is required.

Analysis for dysbacteriosis in a child

Tests for dysbacteriosis in children should be done if the symptoms described above persist for three or more days. The analysis itself is carried out in order to determine the concentration and ratio of symbiotic (beneficial) bacteria in the child's body relative to conditionally pathogenic ones.

And it is better not to delay the diagnosis, since in children intestinal dysbiosis develops very quickly and reaches 3-4 degrees, the consequences of which often require hospitalization. Delay is especially dangerous in the case of children under the age of one year.

Before conducting the analysis, it is imperative to properly prepare. So children under one year old, three days before the procedure, it will be possible to give only the usual mixtures or breast milk. Children aged 1-16 years will not be given fatty, fried, smoked, spicy and starchy foods (so as not to provoke constipation or diarrhea).

Normal test results for dysbacteriosis in children

The test material itself (feces) can be donated in any suitable container. However, it is important to note that it is best and generally correct to donate feces in a special pharmacy vessel, if it is possible to purchase it. You need to do this because the pharmacy container is sterile, unlike household counterparts.

Preparations for the treatment of dysbacteriosis in children

In most cases, in order to cure a baby from intestinal dysbiosis, it is enough to give him analogues of those drugs that are used to treat adult patients. There are similar analogues in every pharmacy.

So, for example, the "Linex" remedy for the treatment of adult patients can easily be replaced with the children's remedy "Primadophilus". In general, "Primadophilus" is not much different from "Linex", which, by the way, is also confirmed by numerous reviews of mothers on the Internet.

Both Linex and Primadophilus restore such a fragile intestinal microflora, balancing it and significantly reducing (up to complete destruction) pathogenic microorganisms. It is possible to cure with the help of Primadophilus not only dysbacteriosis, but also other childhood diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, constipation, IBS, colitis, and so on).

It also makes sense to give children the drug "Lactusan" from dysbacteriosis, which not only restores the normal intestinal microflora, but also helps to absorb food from the gastrointestinal tract. But remember, despite the fact that you can give such a drug for dysbacteriosis to children on your own, it is better for a pediatrician to do this.

Preparations for the treatment of childhood dysbacteriosis

Also treatment regimen includes the following tactics of managing children with dysbacteriosis:

  1. Correction of nutrition and correction of eating habits (a ban on nightly meals for a baby, a ban on the frequent use of fast food by a baby, and so on).
  2. Local treatment of individual symptoms of dysbiosis (rash, discomfort, fever, bad breath).
  3. For 3 degrees of dysbiosis, intestinal motility stimulants are prescribed.
  4. Antibiotics are prescribed for 4 degrees of dysbiosis (only a doctor can prescribe them!).
  5. Further, if after therapy and relief of dysbiosis there are consequences, they are eliminated.
  6. At the very end, prevention of the recurrence of the disease is carried out (only a pediatrician should do this!).

Diet for a baby with dysbacteriosis

Very often, from dysbacteriosis, children are prescribed a nutritional correction. In the vast majority of cases, if it is a 1-2 degree dysbiosis, it can be treated exclusively with a diet.

A diet includes a strict restriction on the consumption of certain foods. Moreover, the baby will have to adhere to it for about 2-3 months (with severe dysbiosis 2-5 years), in order to avoid a possible relapse of the disease in case of a cure.

The power supply system itself is simple. Parents need to start with the introduction of a fractional baby nutrition system. So he needs to give food 5-8 times a day in small portions. In terms of restrictions: you can not give the baby the following foods:

  • fatty meats, and for children under 5 years old and meat products;
  • chocolate and cocoa;
  • sausages and sausages;
  • any fast food;
  • fatty and fried foods;
  • spices;
  • fatty milk.

Feedback on the drug "Primadophilus" for the treatment of dysbiosis in children

We repeat that only 1-2 degrees of dysbiosis can be treated with a diet (only an analysis can determine the specific degree), in other cases, the diet is one of the components of the treatment regimen, but not an independent treatment.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis in children (video)

Prevention: how to avoid dysbacteriosis in a baby?

Prevention of the appearance of intestinal dysbiosis or its recurrence after successful treatment lies in the proper nutrition of the baby and the timely treatment of all diseases of the baby's gastrointestinal tract. It is necessary to treat even the most “banal” diseases, such as gastritis and colic.

Also, prevention consists in feeding the baby with natural food rich in cereals and vitamins. That is, simply put, children should be given more vegetables and fruits, cereals and dairy products (store-bought yogurts are ineffective in this regard).

Dysbacteriosis is a very common phenomenon for childhood, this is not a disease, but rather a condition of the body that reflects recent events - taking antibiotics, an intestinal infection, prolonged proper nutrition, stress, as a result of which the number of beneficial lactobacteria and bifidobacteria in the intestines decreased and the reproduction of harmful, pathogenic bacteria increased. All this leads to an unpleasant clinic, a lack of vitamins, especially group B, and a deterioration in the condition of the skin, hair and nails. How less baby, the more often he has dysbacteriosis.

Symptoms of dysbacteriosis in children by age

Neonatal period. More often with bacteriosis, infants born by the method caesarean section(because in the first days of life they receive a mixture, antibiotics), and children who are bottle-fed.

The manifestations of dysbacteriosis in them are:

  • Anxiety and screams.
  • Bloating of the abdomen, accompanied by colic.
  • Heterogeneous stool, often liquid, with mucus, greens. The stool can be unstable in consistency - there are alternations of normal and liquid, there may be constipation.

In children of preschool and primary school age the clinic of dysbacteriosis usually occurs in the second half of the day and is manifested by the following symptoms:

  • A rumbling that can be easily heard by an outsider at a distance.
  • Spasmodic pains over the entire surface of the abdomen, the child cannot point to a specific area of ​​pain.
  • Dyspeptic phenomena: loss of appetite, belching.
  • From common symptoms: the temperature may rise intermittently to low numbers (37.0–37.2), irritability, drowsiness and insomnia, children gain weight worse, there may be a tendency to anemia.
  • Changes in the stool to liquid, the appearance of mucus, the alternation of normal and liquid stool are manifestations of more severe forms dysbacteriosis.

In children adolescence all the same symptoms are noted, but less pronounced, they usually seek help because of the instability of the stool and general fatigue.

If untreated dysbacteriosis drags on, then symptoms of vitamin deficiency appear: red tongue, increased saliva, dry skin and visible mucous membranes. Children become lethargic and tired. Food allergies may occur.

On a note! Fecal analysis may not confirm the condition of the intestine - dysbacteriosis, since feces must be examined in a warm fresh. But even when correct technique collection of analysis is a false negative result, because more often feces reflect the state of the intestinal flora in the lumen, but are not able to fully reflect the state in the intestinal wall.

Diet for dysbacteriosis

The most suitable food for an infant suffering from dysbacteriosis is mother's milk.

Infants should be strictly breastfed, if the mother has already completely interrupted breastfeeding, then the mixture should be chosen adapted. The most favorable for the intestinal microflora are Nutrilon Omneo, Frisovoy, Laktofidus, NAN with bifidobacteria, NAN Sour-milk, Humana, Baby acidophilus and other mixtures with the addition of probiotics; the nucleotides added to the mixture positively affect the intestinal flora.

For children older than six months, it is necessary to use subsequent mixtures with pre-, probiotics, from 8 months - dairy products based on adapted milk mixtures. Prepare gluten-free dairy-free cereals, introduce vegetable purees, juices into complementary foods.

When a little person is born, the body of a little man begins to rebuild and adapt to new living conditions. Many microbes create their own microflora in the intestines. If the process occurs correctly, then strong immunity is formed, but if the ratio of harmful and beneficial microorganisms is violated, intestinal dysbacteriosis occurs in children. In older children, this condition can be caused by environmental conditions, nutritional errors, medical preparations, physiological age-related changes.

Normally, the flora of the child's body consists of obligate microorganisms, representatives of the facultative environment may be present in a small amount. In total, there are three types of microflora, differing from each other in the presence of beneficial and harmful organisms:

  • The obligate form or conditional flora makes up the majority of the organism's microflora. It includes enterococci, escherichia, bacteroids, lacto and bifidobacteria. They are responsible for the stability of the digestive process and the stable functioning of intestinal motility.
  • Conditionally pathogenic or facultative flora contains staphylococci, Klebsiella, enterobacteria, clostridia. They control intestinal motility, take part in the breakdown of animal proteins. When the percentage of the optional form increases, bloating, belching, discomfort in the abdomen, rumbling.
  • Pathogenic or transient flora provokes the occurrence of various infectious diseases.

Features of the occurrence of dysbacteriosis in infants

At birth, the baby has a sterile intestine. That is, it lacks all types of flora. The microflora of the baby is formed gradually, starting from the period of childbirth. Passing through the birth canal, the fetus receives organisms from the microflora of the vagina, so gynecologists Special attention give to diseases of the reproductive system in the 3rd trimester. If a woman in labor has inflammatory processes, then the baby can become infected.

No less important is skin contact, it occurs immediately after childbirth, when the baby is laid out on the mother's stomach. The last step is to attach the baby to the breast. Together with colostrum, the baby gets a lot of nutrients and vitamins. Thanks to the antibodies in its composition, the child's immunity is formed. Mother's milk contains lactose, which acts as a building material for bifidobacteria. When lactose breaks down, it forms lactic acid, so the gut has a reduced pH, which prevents the growth of pathogenic flora.

There are times when you can not feed a child breast milk. It is these children who are most prone to the appearance of dysbacteriosis. Their, not yet formed organism, cannot organize such functionality, receiving an artificial mixture.

Causes of the disease

In older children, dysbacteriosis may occur under the influence of external factors. Unlike an adult, a child's body is susceptible to age-related changes and therefore even minor violations in the whole mechanism can affect the well-being of the baby. When the first symptoms appear, the events preceding this should be analyzed. The main factors that can cause this condition can be called:

  • Viruses and intestinal infections. These processes will change the composition of the conditional microflora, which leads to diarrhea and dehydration. With a rapidly released liquid, vitamins are washed out of the body, and the water-salt balance is disturbed.
  • Lack of enzymes. In this state, food is not completely digested, fermentation and decay of the remains begin. The resulting environment allows the reproduction of microorganisms of pathogenic flora.
  • Gastrointestinal diseases acquired in the course of life or in postoperative period. Violation of pH entails uncontrolled death of beneficial bacteria.
  • Taking antibiotics. This group medicines destroys both microorganisms of pathogenic and conditional flora.
  • The use of sedatives and spasmodics that disrupt the production of enzymes.
  • Allergic reactions, in particular to food.
  • Nutritional errors.
  • stressful situations. Sometimes such consequences have adaptation moments: moving, divorce of parents, enrollment in a kindergarten or school.
  • Rapid growth and hormonal changes in the body in the process of growing up.
  • Living in an ecologically unfavorable area.

Symptoms

With dysbacteriosis, the baby may be disturbed by:

  • Gas formation, bloating;
  • Constipation, diarrhea;
  • Decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting;
  • Pain in the navel and lower abdomen;
  • Specific smell of feces;
  • Weakness, apathy, decreased activity;
  • Bad breath.

Sometimes you can see pieces of undigested food in your baby's stool.

It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on symptoms alone, therefore only the decoding of the analysis is a reliable source of patient data.

Diagnostic measures

If there are characteristic complaints for more than three days, doctors advise to be tested for dysbacteriosis. This allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and exclude other diseases with similar symptoms. The collected material is examined for:

  • Coprogram. General analysis feces show the quality of the process of digestion of food and the work of the enzymatic system. It also helps to identify the presence inflammatory processes, intestinal infections.
  • Enterobiasis and eggs of worms. Their presence explains the presence of similar symptoms. Therefore, the child must be treated first for helminthic invasion, and only after that to restore the disturbed microflora.
  • Carbohydrate level. An increase in the indicator may indicate the development of lactose deficiency.
  • Predominance of harmful bacteria. Their growth can cause dysentery, salmonellosis and other gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Dysbacteriosis. This sowing is done last, after the exclusion of other problems.

Things to keep in mind before submitting material for research

The decoding of the analysis may carry false indications if the patient has not been prepared in advance. To get an accurate result you need:

  • Three days before the examination, exclude smoked meats, fatty, floury, fried and spicy dishes from the baby's diet;
  • Do not give the child any medications, if they cannot be removed, then it is worth informing the laboratory assistant;
  • Hand over the material in a sterile container.

Therapeutic measures

If, after a preliminary examination and testing, the diagnosis of intestinal dysbacteriosis in children is confirmed, treatment is prescribed depending on the severity and age of the patient. For babies up to a year on breastfeeding, therapy consists in observing the diet of his mother. When feeding the crumbs, it is necessary to ensure that the child receives both foremilk and hindmilk, which contains the enzyme lactulose. It is he who helps to normalize the work of the digestive tract and prevent colic and bloating.

In older children, treatment should include both the elimination of the consequences and the causes of the onset of the disease. To eliminate dysbacteriosis appoint:

  • Prebiotics. They create favorable conditions for the reproduction and assimilation of beneficial microorganisms.
  • Probiotics. They will populate the body with healthy microflora. For maximum effect, they should be taken regularly for 2-3 weeks.
  • Enzyme complexes. Indicated for digestive problems.
  • Antibiotics. Their use is justified only with a severe degree of the disease.
  • Bacteriophages. They have a narrow spectrum of action, unlike antibiotics, but do less harm.
  • Sorbents. Helps to absorb and remove harmful substances.
  • Therapeutic diet.

Depending on the complaints, they may additionally prescribe a laxative for constipation, immunostimulants for weakened immunity, antifungal drugs when detected in the analysis of Candida fungi. If the child vomits, then you should give him a solution of glucose and saline solutions to prevent dehydration.

Proper nutrition for dysbacteriosis

An integral component of treatment is a special diet for intestinal dysbacteriosis. At timely diagnosis if the disease is on early stage, proper nutrition may be the only doctor's prescription. In other cases, it acts as an auxiliary tool. Restrictions on the use of certain foods can last from 2 months to 4 years. The feeding regimen should include 3 main meals and 2-3 light snacks.

During this period, the following are prohibited:

  • Sausages;
  • Products containing cocoa or chocolate;
  • Semi-finished and instant products;
  • Fatty, spicy and fried foods;
  • Cow's milk, an exception may be pasteurized with a low percentage of fat content;
  • Meat products. Children from five years old can be offered rabbit or chicken fillets, but in small quantities.

The baby's menu should be dominated by:

  • Dairy products: kefir, cottage cheese, homemade yogurt;
  • Vegetable stew;
  • From cereals, you can offer oatmeal, millet, buckwheat;
  • Bread, it is better to choose bran.

Preventive measures

To prevent the occurrence of dysbacteriosis and exclude relapses, you should:

  • Spend more time outdoors playing outdoor games.
  • Provide proper nutrition during dysbacteriosis and after recovery.
  • Keep breastfeeding as long as possible.
  • Take antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor and not longer than the specified period. During this period, the baby needs to be given useful lacto complexes.
  • Watch for psychological state child, to warn him from emotional overload and stress.

Dysbacteriosis can be successfully treated, but it is important to notice its first signs and seek medical advice. medical care. In later stages, urgent hospitalization may be required.

With a qualitative violation of the intestinal microflora, intestinal dysbacteriosis develops in children. In its treatment, the main thing is to identify the symptoms in time and eliminate the causes of the disease.

Intestinal microflora

Microflora in dysbacteriosis is called microorganisms in the large intestine. They take part in digestion, synthesize vitamins and enzymes, help the intestines absorb various useful material(magnesium, zinc, iron, etc.), regulate metabolism and force the intestines to empty. Their main task is to protect the body from infectious agents. When fed, they produce substances that prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Due to such assistance, the human immunity is strengthened and better resists adverse environmental conditions.

The microflora is divided into:

  • home;
  • accompanying;
  • conditionally pathogenic.

The former are the basis of all microorganisms in the intestine (90%). The second - lactobacilli, enterococci and non-dangerous coli(approximately 9%).

Still others become pathogenic only under certain conditions, the rest of the time they are even useful to the body.

When the amount of normal microflora becomes much less pathogenic, intestinal dysbacteriosis develops in children.

Types of dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis is classified according to several criteria. Depending on the predominant conditionally pathogenic microflora, the disease is divided into staphylococcal, proteic, associated and candidal forms. In the course of the disease, dysbacteriosis can be latent, local and generalized.

But the most important division of the types of pathology is the degree. They are determined based on the number and variety of microflora.

  • 1 degree. There are no more than two species of opportunistic microflora with anaerobic predominance (102-104). Useful bifidobacteria at least 107 CFU per 1 g of feces.
  • 2 degree. Aerobic and anaerobic microflora are present in equal amounts (106-107 CFU per 1 g of feces).
  • 3 degree. There is much more aerobic microflora. It suppresses bifido- and lactobacilli.
  • 4 degree. Associated dysbacteriosis, in which opportunistic microflora with resistance to antibiotics completely predominates.

Symptoms and form of dysbacteriosis in children divide the disease into the following types:

  1. Compensated. It is characterized by a latent variant of the course of the disease of 1 or 2 severity without visible symptoms.
  2. Subcompensated. This is a dysbacteriosis of 2-3 degrees of severity, occurring in a local variant. It is accompanied by a breakdown, poor appetite and poor weight gain.
  3. Decompensated. It has a generalized or local variant of the course of the disease of 3 or 4 degrees of severity, in which diarrhea, vomiting and a general deterioration in well-being can be observed.

Causes of dysbacteriosis

The reasons for the development of dysbacteriosis can be quantitative (the number pathogenic bacteria) or qualitative (presence of pathogenic microflora). Any unfavorable factor from the outside can become Starting point for the development of the disease. With the reproduction of harmful microflora, it displaces the useful one, and the child's well-being deteriorates greatly.

If clearly pathogenic pathogens develop in the intestines, the child may become ill with more serious pathologies than dysbacteriosis (candidiasis, Staphylococcus aureus, salmonellosis, etc.).

What contributes to the development of pathogenic microflora

Dysbacteriosis in infants occurs in the process of formation of microflora. If the disease is not treated at that time, then it will definitely make itself felt at a later age.

Children of any age can get dysbacteriosis for the following reasons:

  1. Improper diet with excessive consumption of meat or sweets.
  2. Poor environmental conditions for the child.
  3. Intestinal infection.
  4. Incorrect introduction of complementary foods.
  5. Artificial or mixed feeding.
  6. Pathologies of the digestive system (colitis, lactase deficiency, pancreatitis, etc.).
  7. Worm infestations.
  8. Reckless behavior of the mother during the period of gestation ( malnutrition taking medicines and antibiotics).
  9. protracted hormone therapy or antibiotic treatment.
  10. Chronic diseases.
  11. Frequently recurring colds.
  12. Consequences of operations on the organs of the digestive system or removal of the gallbladder.
  13. Allergy.
  14. Late attachment of the baby to the breast.
  15. Abrupt termination of breastfeeding.
  16. Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
  17. Atopic dermatitis.
  18. A sharp hormonal surge.
  19. Weakened immunity.
  20. Stress and experiences.

Therefore, it is very important to monitor the child's lifestyle, follow all preventive measures and correctly introduce and complete breastfeeding.

Symptoms

According to the symptoms, the violation of the intestinal microflora is similar to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Physicians identify the following characteristic symptoms dysbacteriosis in older children:

  • permanent disorder of the stool (diarrhea is replaced by constipation);
  • flatulence;
  • metallic taste in the mouth;
  • belching;
  • signs of immunodeficiency (furunculosis, stomatitis, seizures in the corners of the lips, brittle hair and nails);
  • pain in the abdomen, increasing in the evening;
  • frequent accompaniment of allergy disease, skin rashes, SARS;
  • deterioration in the general well-being of the child.

In infants, the symptoms of intestinal dysbacteriosis are manifested:

  • vomiting;
  • lack of body weight;
  • flatulence;
  • restless state;
  • regurgitation;
  • rumbling belly;
  • sleep disturbance;
  • spasms in the intestines.

Feces in infants with dysbacteriosis are distinguished by an admixture of foam, mucus or lumps. It has a white or greenish color, and also exudes an unpleasant sour or putrid odor.

Diagnosis of dysbacteriosis

Before making a diagnosis, the child should be examined by a pediatrician and a gastroenterologist. At the appointment, doctors examine the condition of the skin and pay attention to pain during palpation of the abdomen.

After detecting some symptoms, the doctor prescribes a biochemical or bacteriological examination of the feces with possible additional examinations (ultrasound abdominal cavity, gastroscopy, biochemical liver tests, fecal analysis for the detection of helminths and giardia).

Analysis for dysbacteriosis

Feces are taken for analysis for dysbacteriosis in children, which is subsequently sent for research. To carry it out, the collected material is sown on a nutrient medium, and then after a week they look at which bacteria predominate.

The results of the analysis for dysbacteriosis will be:

  • list of microorganisms living in the intestine;
  • the number of these microorganisms;
  • sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria to bacteriophages and antibiotics.

In addition to the study, the doctor may prescribe a scatological analysis of feces (reveals the degree of digestibility of food).

Treatment of dysbacteriosis

After the studies, the pediatrician or gastroenterologist prescribes the appropriate complex therapy. So, for example, the treatment of grade 1 dysbacteriosis in children is the intake of bacterial preparations. If opportunistic microflora is detected, it will be longer and more laborious. Treatment of dysbacteriosis in children in this case will consist of several components.

Diet

It is prescribed for violation of the digestive tract, manifested by diarrhea, constipation and flatulence. With such a diet, the following foods should be included in the diet of older children:

  • dairy products with beneficial bifidobacteria;
  • fresh vegetables, fruits and berries rich in vitamins, but not freshly squeezed juices;
  • sprouted cereals (lentils, buckwheat, etc.), bread from coarse wheat varieties;
  • nuts.

For young children on mixed feeding, the introduction of fermented milk products is recommended.

Medicines

The child may be prescribed bacterial preparations containing:

  • probiotics that restore the number of bifido- and lactobacilli;
  • prebiotics that promote the reproduction of normal microflora;
  • bifidobacteria;
  • lactobacilli, displacing harmful bacteria from the intestines;
  • non-pathogenic Escherichia coli;
  • at the same time bifido-, lactobacilli and E. coli;
  • organisms similar to lactobacilli with antagonistic activity.

Stimulate the growth of beneficial microflora and non-microbial preparations:

  • Hilak-forte;
  • Lactulose;
  • Lysozyme;
  • paraaminobenzoic acid.

First of all, for the treatment of dysbacteriosis in a child, doctors try to use bacteriophages, since they destroy only microbes of a particular type. If they are ineffective, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. It is necessary to give them to a child with extreme caution and compliance with the dosages recommended by the doctor. This is due to the fact that, in addition to pathogenic microflora, antibiotics also kill useful ones. After taking them, the patient must be prescribed bacterial preparations.

With a fungal infection, the child is prescribed antifungals. To increase immunity - a complex immune preparation (CIP). He renders local action, increasing the resistance of the intestine to disease.

To rid the intestines of toxins, viruses and other pathogenic microflora, sorbents are prescribed to the child ( Activated carbon, Enterosgel, Fitosorbovit, etc.). The doctor will select the appropriate drug for the situation. After all, for example, activated charcoal is contraindicated for constipation, and Enterosgel promotes bowel movements.

Of the vitamins, only B vitamins or vitamin C can be prescribed to a small patient.

Treatment of symptoms

In the complex treatment of dysbacteriosis, you first need to cope with unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, you have to deal with each symptom separately.

With constipation, Duphalac, Pekcek, etc. will help to cope, with diarrhea - enterosorbents. When colic or flatulence occurs, No-Shpa, Duspatalin, Espumizan and Subsimplex are most often used.

In case of digestive problems, in which pieces of undigested food are observed in stool tests, the doctor recommends taking Mezima-forte, Festal or Penzinorm.

Folk remedies

AT complex treatment intestinal dysbacteriosis in children are often included and folk remedies.

The most common method is the use of microclysters with oils. To prepare one dosage of diarrhea remedy, you need to mix 100 ml of vegetable oil with 5 drops of lavender, fennel and basil. Enema to enter 5 ml daily for 10 days. For constipation, combine the same amount of vegetable oil with 2 drops essential oil tea tree, 2 sage, 3 lavender, 2 fennel and 1 drop of geranium. Enter into the rectum 5 ml for 14 days.

Prevention

Dysbacteriosis in children, its unpleasant symptoms and treatment can be prevented well in advance of the onset. It is enough to observe the following preventive measures:

  1. The child should lead a healthy lifestyle: eat a balanced diet, have a good rest, and not experience nervous shocks.
  2. Parents should not prescribe their child medicines. First of all, this rule is related to antibiotics.
  3. Can't be ignored chronic diseases child, including those related to digestion.
  4. It is necessary to observe the hygiene shown in the prevention of intestinal infections.
  5. It is necessary to try to prevent the development of SARS and colds in children.
  6. The expectant mother should monitor her health and plan pregnancy.
  7. To prevent the onset of dysbacteriosis in infants, doctors recommend early breastfeeding in the delivery room and maintaining breastfeeding for at least six months.

Parents often ignore older children's complaints of digestive problems. Then dysbacteriosis can quickly develop from the 1st degree of severity to the 4th. Therefore, in case of any deviation from the norm, it is better to show the child to the doctor.

So that infants or older children do not experience symptoms of dysbacteriosis, it is necessary to stop the causes of its occurrence in time and monitor the health of the child from the first days of life.