Dysbacteriosis in infants of the intestine: symptoms and treatment

Any disturbances in the intestinal microflora of a newborn child are accompanied by various reasons.

This condition can be caused by treatment with antibacterial drugs of a nursing mother or baby, nutritional disorders, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dysbacteriosis in infants is not a disease, but this condition can lead to unpleasant consequences in the body and the development of serious complications.

Therefore, it is important to seek help from a pediatrician in time, to establish the cause of the violations and start the correct treatment.

Dysbacteriosis

When a baby is born, beneficial microorganisms penetrate into the cavity of his intestine.

After the first attachment of the newborn to the mother's breast, all necessary substances and bacteria that in a week colonize the intestines of a baby who is on the breast feeding.

If a child eats artificial mixtures, modern medicine has developed a whole range of healthy baby food, which makes it possible to fully replace breast milk.

Special formula milk contains all the necessary beneficial bacteria.

Healthy gut microflora of the child ensures the well-being of the baby and peace of mind for his parents.

Any disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, nutritional disruptions or antibiotic therapy can adversely affect the state of the microflora, destroying beneficial bacteria.

As a result, a part of pathogenic microorganisms begins to prevail, developing and actively multiplying.

This leads to serious stool disorders, dyspeptic symptoms, regurgitation and severe pain in the baby's abdominal cavity.

These phenomena accurately characterize intestinal dysbiosis in crumbs.

Symptoms

The appearance of dysbiosis is accompanied by characteristic symptoms. They can be permanent or intermittent.

Signs of dysbiosis in infants at various stages differ in severity and intensity.

What are the symptoms typical for a violation of the intestinal microflora:

• The kid becomes restless, constantly naughty, crying;
• Sleep disturbances and insomnia are noted;
• The baby's tummy growls, bloating appears, increased gas formation, flatulence;
• Pain sensations of varying intensity appear in the abdominal cavity;
• The child refuses to eat, for these reasons he dramatically loses body weight;
• The work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted;
• Stool disorders appear as diarrhea or constipation;
• Bowel movements must be constant. If the baby is breastfed, he should have a bowel movement every 3 days without assistance. Children who are on artificial feeding must have a bowel movement at least once a day. Any disturbances are unnatural and characterize disturbances in the digestive system.
• In the abdominal cavity, constant painful colic is noted, as a result of which the baby experiences pain syndrome, cries, bends over;
• After eating, the baby may spit up milk, and an unpleasant odor may be noted from the mouth. In order to avoid regurgitation, it is imperative to keep the baby in an upright position after feeding so that some of the absorbed air goes out through the oral cavity.

When these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis. The doctor will examine the baby, prescribe tests and proper treatment.

Development stages

This condition is not an independent pathology, but it can lead to disturbances in body systems.

Therefore, it is important to seek the help of a specialist in time. There are 4 main stages of dysbiosis.

First stage

For the full functioning of the intestines and maintaining the normal state of the microflora, beneficial microorganisms suppress pathogenic bacteria.

This stage of the disorder is often perceived as a normal state, when opportunistic microorganisms are contained in the baby's feces, but do not have any effect on the general condition child.

Signs of dysbiosis are not manifested in the behavior of the baby. A reaction to dysbiosis appears.

This stage includes any disturbances in the nutrition of a nursing mother or baby, the transition to others milk formulas or diet, the introduction of complementary foods or the use of unwanted products of the lactating mom.

This condition does not require special treatment, it goes away on its own.

Second stage

Microflora disorders are evident. The baby's tummy is inflated, accompanied by flatulence, increased gas production.

Often, constipation or diarrhea appears at this stage. You should immediately contact the pediatrician to clarify the diagnosis and causes of this condition.

In addition to examining the baby, the doctor will completely revise the diet of the nursing mother. The reason for this condition may be the use of junk food by a mother who is breastfeeding her baby.

When feeding a newborn with milk formulas, it is imperative to replace it with another food, since this mixture is definitely not suitable.

Third stage

At this stage, pathogenic bacteria largely prevail over beneficial microorganisms.

There is an active development and reproduction of staphylococci and other harmful microbes. In this condition, a pathological process develops, which must be stopped urgently.

The lack of proper treatment threatens to increase unpleasant symptoms, the appearance of pain sensations, prolonged diarrhea may develop, and particles of undigested food.

Having addressed the doctor in time, he will prescribe a comprehensive treatment to relieve symptoms. The selection of drugs is carried out exclusively by a pediatrician after diagnostic tests by laboratory tests.

Stage four

This stage provides for a greater development of pathogenic microorganisms with a pronounced inflammatory process.

All unpleasant symptoms in the baby are intensified and exacerbated. The child has all the symptoms of intoxication.

Diarrhea can be long lasting. If medicines do not help to stop diarrhea, the baby is rapidly losing body weight, its general condition worsens, additional violations from the organs may develop digestive system.

This stage must necessarily be stopped, since the likelihood of developing a chronic form of the disease increases.

Causes

Often, disturbances in the work of the intestines become the main causes of problems in the work of the organs of the digestive tract.

Often, violations of the microflora of newborns occur due to improper nutrition.

Overfeeding

Many mothers decide to feed their baby not by the clock, but on demand. For these reasons, the number of attachments to the breast or a bottle with milk formula reaches up to 2-3 times per hour.

Sometimes mothers confuse the baby's natural need for food with other manifestations of it. As a result, the baby is consuming too much milk that is not completely digested.

This is due to a lack or immaturity of enzymes in the child's body. Some of the incoming food is digested, while the other begins to ferment, causing a number of unpleasant symptoms.

Increased gas formation is formed, as a result of which the child suffers from a swollen tummy and flatulence.

The child becomes restless because he has colic and pain in the abdomen.

Malnutrition

If a child eats milk formula, all the necessary substances for a full nutrition of the child have already been selected in its composition.

When breastfeeding, different composition and quality of breast milk is possible. For example, it may contain normal amounts of lactose but deficient in fat.

For these reasons, the baby may experience bloating, flatulence, colic, accompanied by pain.

To avoid such situations, you should adjust the correct diet of a nursing mother.

The menu should contain foods with a sufficient fat content. The feeding method also plays an important role.

To prevent milk stagnation, doctors recommend applying the baby to the breast in turn.

But in order for the milk to be fatty and include both lactose and fats in its composition, it is important to empty one breast completely, only after that it is applied to the other.

Change of milk mixture

In the case when a newborn is on artificial feeding, he gets used to a certain milk formula.

The baby's body produces the required amount of enzymes that digest and break down food.

When changing food, you should pay attention to the composition of the milk formula, because a sudden change can lead to serious problems on the part of the digestive tract.

These violations can provoke lactose deficiency. With a low index of this substance, the organs of the gastrointestinal tract cannot cope with the digestion and assimilation of useful elements.

Therefore, it is worth giving preference to low-lactose milk formulas. You shouldn't change formula often.

When switching to another milk diet, it should be done gradually, it is recommended to carry out this procedure for a week.

Early complementary foods

Early introduction of complementary foods can cause dysbiosis.

Doctors say that until the child reaches 6 months of age, the only food for the baby should be breast milk or a specially developed infant formula.

Violation of these rules threatens the appearance of failures in the normal intestinal microflora.

It is recommended to introduce the first complementary food gradually. All products should be administered according to the age of the baby and taking into account the individual characteristics.

The introduction of juices, fruits, vegetables and meat dishes should be divided among themselves on different days in order to in the case of allergies or other manifestations, it was possible to identify a provoking product and exclude it from diet.

If dysbiosis has arisen due to nutritional disorders, its symptoms can be weakened or completely eliminated by correcting the menu.

In the presence of intestinal infections, immediate complex therapy with the use of drugs is required.

Additionally, they enhance the protective functions of the baby's immunity.

Diagnostics

There are several stages of detecting dysbiosis in infants. To do this, you should pass laboratory tests of feces and a coprogram.

Fecal sampling for analysis is required before antibiotic therapy or 12 hours after completion.

When treating with probiotics, feces are taken a month after treatment. To find out how to treat dysbiosis, the following studies should be carried out:

• Study of feces for bacteriological composition. The analysis is carried out in laboratory conditions, where it is possible to identify up to 25 types of pathogenic bacteria. This analysis allows you to determine the number of pathogenic microorganisms.
• Analysis of feces for dysbiosis. With its help, the intestinal microflora, the number of beneficial and harmful bacteria are studied in detail, the reaction to antibacterial drugs is studied.
• Coprogram. With its help, the presence and degree of development of the inflammatory process, the level of food digestion are revealed.

The state of the microflora is prone to frequent changes, has the individual characteristics of each organism.

For these reasons, it is rather difficult to identify the real picture of the state of the intestine with the help of laboratory tests.

In this case, the doctor can send for additional study and delivery of blood and urine tests, and then refer to a gastroenterologist for a detailed examination.

Treatment

After a detailed diagnosis, a specialist will prescribe a therapy method. What is included in its complex:

• Breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible. The beneficial elements and beneficial bacteria included in breast milk ensure the normal condition of the intestines. This ensures a balance between bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and Escherichia coli. Normal digestion and relief of allergic reactions are provided.
• Treatment of dysbiosis in infants on artificial feeding is carried out using special adapted mixtures. Fermented milk mixtures include prebiotics and other live bacteria.
• Special medications are prescribed to suppress pathogens. These include bacteriophages, intestinal antiseptics, antibiotics.
• Prescribe drug therapy in order to populate the intestinal microflora with beneficial microbes. They contain prebiotics. These include Linex, Bifeform Malysh, Enterol.
• In some cases, it is recommended to use recipes for alternative therapy. Special infusions of medicinal herbs based on chamomile, St. John's wort, plantain, and peppermint are prepared. All dry ingredients are taken in equal proportions, poured with boiling water, insisted for half an hour. After cooling, carefully filter, add 0.5 cups of infusion to a vessel with 0.5 liters of boiled purified water. Give the child medicine instead of tea 2-3 times a day.

Probiotics

Preparations containing a group of beneficial microorganisms for improving digestion. They include bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, yeast fungi, Escherichia coli, enterococci.

After eliminating harmful bacteria, they eliminate themselves during digestion. They are dry and liquid.

They are conventionally divided into:

• One-component - Biobacton, Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin.
• Multicomponent - Acylact, Linex, Acipol.
• Symbiotics - Bifiliz, Bifiform, Hilak Forte.
• Sorption. Florin Forte, Probifor, Bifidumbacterin.

Prebiotics

The preparations contain organic trace elements that accelerate the growth of beneficial microbes. Medicines contain proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates.

They are based on natural ingredients. Among them are distinguished:

• Clean - Laktusan, Lizalak, Portalak, Normaze.
• Combined - Lactofiltrum, Polysorb, Lignosorb.

Medicines are intended for babies, made in the form of powders, syrups, granules. With their help, the following therapeutic goals are achieved:

• They stop the development of harmful microorganisms;
• Accelerates the growth of beneficial bacteria;
• Reduce mucous discharge in feces;
• Promote the regeneration of the intestinal walls;
• Eliminate constipation;
• Enrich with vitamins;
• Normalize acidity;
• Improves immunity.

Bacteriophages

These drugs are based on viruses that can suppress many harmful microorganisms.

They do not have a negative effect on beneficial bacteria, it is impossible to develop resistance to them.

Finding the right medicine requires a doctor's consultation and laboratory tests.

Bacteriophages are taken as a solution. You can take the drug orally or rectally. The duration of treatment is 7-10 days.

Treatment should be carried out exclusively by the attending physician. It is important to contact a pediatric pediatrician in time for help in order to exclude all possible causes of the pathological process, to start the correct treatment.

The attending physician should be involved in the selection of medicines, self-medication is dangerous.

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