Analysis for dysbiosis in infants: how is it done

The vast majority of newly-made parents face the problem of infant dysbiosis. Any baby up to one year old can be affected by this phenomenon, especially if the body is weakened from the first hours of life. Special tests will help to identify and cure dysbiosis. You cannot let the situation go by itself.

What is dysbiosis

The thin section of the human intestine is inhabited by numerous bacteria. Microorganisms of this part of the body are not harmful, on the contrary, they are responsible for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, immunity and other systems.

Dysbacteriosis is a violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora. The number of some bacteria is sharply reduced, while others are growing rapidly. An imbalance leads to pathogenesis. Unpleasant symptoms develop.

Many doctors do not consider dysbiosis to be a disease. This deviation is called a special condition that requires correction. Non-started forms are treated quickly enough. However, this does not mean that the problem can be neglected. The decision is indisputably necessary, since the baby's digestion directly affects the well-being, development, absorption of nutrition, and susceptibility to dangerous viruses.

Causes of occurrence

With normal gestation, the baby is kept in sterile conditions until birth. It feeds through the umbilical cord, has no microorganisms in its intestines. The first bacteria get to the baby during the birth. In the birth canal, not only bifidobacteria and lactobacilli live, but also Escherichia coli. Active reproduction of microflora occurs with any contact of the baby with the skin, with breast milk and mucous membranes (kisses).

Under ideal conditions, the microflora develops healthy and consists of 99% (admissible 95%) probiotics. Obligate or neutral organisms make up the rest. Bacteroids, clostridia, micrococcal, streptococcal, enetrococcal species, E. coli do not negatively affect the baby in moderation.

When unfavorable factors hit the baby, the number of obligate bacteria increases dramatically. In excess, they cease to be neutral and begin to harm the fragile body.

Risk factors for dysbiosis include:

• diseases of the mother when carrying a child;
• violations of the generic process;
• the presence of infections at the time of childbirth or the first days of life (colds, intestinal disorders);
  

  If a pregnant woman gets sick before giving birth, the child has an increased chance of developing dysbiosis.

• physiological underdevelopment of the gastrointestinal tract, prematurity;
• congenital and acquired dyspeptic disorders, dysfunctions (impaired intestinal absorption, frequent regurgitation, vomiting, constipation);
• primary immunodeficiency;
  

  Congenital immunodeficiency

• taking hormonal (including contraceptive) medications by the mother;
• late nursing training;
• lack of breastfeeding;
  

  It is preferable to feed with breast milk rather than formula

• transfer of the baby to low-quality mixtures;
• surgical interventions from the first hours and days of life;
• congenital rickets, the development of anemia, dermatitis, malnutrition;
  

  Rickets can cause dysbiosis

• constant stress of mother and child;
• taking antibiotics.

Attention! It is necessary to find out the root cause simultaneously with the diagnosis of dysbiosis. Otherwise, a full-fledged treatment will not work.

When is examination necessary?

An attentive parent always notices changes in the functioning of the child's body. It is worth going to the doctor with suspicion of dysbiosis if 2 or more symptoms from the following list are found:

• flatulence, difficulty passing gas, a swollen tummy;
• frequent loose stools;
  

  Persistent loose stools in a child should alert

• frequent constipation;
• fecal matter with mucus, green or blood streaks, lumps, foam;
  

  Feces with blood - a reason for immediate medical attention

• copious frequent regurgitation of curdled milk;
• allergy to milk or formula;
  

  An allergic reaction to mother's milk or mixture manifests itself in the form of dysbiosis and redness on the skin

• skin rashes and blemishes;
• frequent colds or other manifestations of weak immunity;
  

  Frequent colds reduce immunity and lead to a violation of the intestinal microflora

• pallor of the skin;
• frequent colic;
  

  Prolonged and painful colic is a sign of dysbiosis

• dry skin;
• stomatitis, fungal infections in the oral cavity;
  

  Thrush may signal intestinal problems

• vomit.

In addition, against the background of symptoms, there is a general change in the baby's condition. The child becomes whiny, lethargic, often irritated by the usual activities around, sleeps poorly, eats and gains little weight.

In the early days of introducing complementary foods, similar symptoms may occur. In such cases, the work of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized without intervention from the outside. This condition can be distinguished by the duration of the symptoms and impurities in the feces. New food takes root in no more than 2-3 days.

When complementary foods in the feces there are small amounts of foam, pieces of food, mucus, but there are no blood streaks and abundant greenery. The alarm should be beaten if bowel movements occur more often 10-12 times a day with screams, noticeable difficulties and discomfort. Normally, liquid stool gradually changes to a semi-solid formed.

If you suspect dysbiosis, the doctor will immediately prescribe tests. Correct decoding will help prevent the deterioration of the baby's health in time.

What tests to take

Examination for dysbiosis is carried out by laboratory methods. Your doctor may suggest one or more of the following tests:

• coprogram. Diagnosis of feces for the degree of food digestibility, signs of inflammatory processes (mucus, leukocytes). Also, in parallel, a survey is carried out for the presence of eggs of worms and their cysts. The microflora is considered in shape, movement, the presence of legs and flagella. Carried out with a microscope in 1 day;
  

  Coprogram is one of the most informative methods of stool examination

• biochemical seeding of feces for opportunistic bacteria. A certain amount of organic acids is isolated on the masses. After that, they look at the reactions and the concentration of the products of production. By the allocated fatty (propionic, butyric, acetic) acids, they see which organisms are more. Study duration: up to 5 days depending on equipment. Preliminary results can be found in a day;
  

  Sowing feces for dysbiosis

• seeding for drug resistance. With a large number of some bacteria, an antibiotic reaction test may be additionally prescribed in order to select the appropriate treatment.
  

  It is necessary to culture for resistance to different antibiotics in order to find the right drug

Apart from drawing up a clinical picture of the child's condition, these analyzes are rarely informative. It is important to combine different types of diagnostics.

Sampling analysis

It is possible to increase the information content of analyzes due to careful preparation for their delivery.

3-5 days before the collection of fecal material, meat purees and broths are excluded, the introduction of new products into complementary foods is stopped. It is also recommended to suspend the courses of medications (antibiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, sorbents), laxative suppositories, cleansing enemas. In case of constant medication intake or other impossibility of cancellation, the doctor should be informed about them in advance.

Immediately before the analysis, you need to let the baby empty the bladder, wash it thoroughly. Such manipulation will exclude urine impurities from entering the feces. Remove the diaper in advance, put the baby on a clean diaper or oilcloth.

For reference! To speed up the process of bowel movement, massage with bending of the legs to the abdomen and circular strokes will help. You can also use a gas outlet tube. The sterile device is lubricated with pure petroleum jelly, carefully inserted into the anus by 0.5-1 cm. a bowel movement should occur within 5 minutes.

The container is taken sterile. In pharmacies, special jars are sold with a spoon for picking up and a lid. 8-10 g of feces are placed in a container, delivered to the laboratory no later than 3 hours after collection. In cases of delay or heat, the material is placed in a refrigerator bag or chamber for up to 6 hours.

If you encounter difficulties in such manipulations, you can contact the clinic for help.

What the analysis will show

Laboratory studies show the microbial composition of feces. According to the result, they talk about the state of the microflora at the moment. Diagnostics allows you to make generalized conclusions. Dysbiosis or its absence can only be judged by summarizing the analyzes and collected data on symptoms.

Stool examination takes up to 1 week for certain reasons. The material is first placed in a fungal propagation medium. Deciphering begins when growth becomes sufficient for visual examination under a microscope.

The final document will indicate 4 main positions:

• bifidobacteria. Responsible for the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, the absorption of elements in the intestine. Without them, stimulation of gastrointestinal motility does not occur, mineral and vitamin substances are not synthesized. Also, bifidobacteria neutralize pathogenic fungi and poisons;
  

  Bifidobacteria

• lactobacilli. Produce lactic acid, maintain acid-base balance, synthesis of enzymes, lactase, fight infections. With their acute shortage, stool discharge is disrupted, food intolerance, allergies occur;
  

  Lactobacillus

• Escherichia. They digest food, destroy toxic elements, remove excess oxygen, and help the immune system. The number of Escherichia decreases in the presence of harmful parasites, infections;
  

  Esherichia

• bacteroids. Break down excess fat cells. It is believed that with optimal metabolism, children under six months should not have them.
  

  Bacteroids

The results are measured in colony forming unit per gram of preparation in gram of feces - CFU / g.

Table. Indicators of the norm

Name	Quantity
Enterobacteriaceae pathogenesis	absent
Bifidobacteria	From 100 (for children over 1 year old - above 108) mln / year
Lactobacillus	From 106 (for children over 1 year old - over 108) mln / year
Escherichia (E. coli of normal activity)	300-400 million / year
Escherichia coli of decreased activity	No more than 10%
The general presence of Escherichia coli	108 million / year
Coccal forms in general content	107 million / year
Hemolytic flora	absent
Candida mushrooms	Up to 103 million / year
Staphylococci	Up to 104 mln / year
Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Clostridium, etc.	Up to 105 mln / year
Yeast	Up to 1000 mln / y

Indicators of deviation from the norm

Deviations in indicators indicate dysbiosis with the risk of developing concomitant diseases:

• enterobacteriaceae pathogenesis. Their presence indicates the onset of an intestinal infection. The higher the amount, the closer to the acute stage of salmonella, shigella, dysentery. Treatment should be started immediately;
  

  Intestinal infections

• bifidobacteria. A small amount indicates a weak resistance to diseases, the development of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract and the rest of the body;
• lactobacilli. A deficiency also signals a violation of the body's immune defense, the possible presence of viral infections;
• Escherichia, Escherichia coli. A general deficiency or excess is a sign of the inability of the microflora to synthesize vitamins correctly. A low number of Escherichia is also often accompanied by the presence of parasites and their cysts in the intestine;
  

  A small number of Escherichia testifies to parasites in the intestines of the child.

• hemolyzing flora. The presence leads to poisoning of the body. Often speaks of contamination with a toxic substance (harmful E. coli) from animal food. Interferes with digestion, provokes allergies, colic, defecation disorders;
• staphylococci. Excess (especially of the golden type) increases defecation, leads to depletion of the body, and seriously disrupts metabolic processes. It is ingested by airborne droplets, usually with milk. Dangerous for the child, requires immediate treatment;
• candida. The excess appears more often after antibiotic therapy. Manifested by thrush of the mucous membranes, bloating, stool disorders, intestinal pain. Suppresses the correct microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, disrupts the digestibility of food;
  

  Thrush in children often manifests itself on the oral mucosa, but it can also on other mucous membranes of the body.

• proteus, citrobacters, klebsiella and other lactonegative bacteria. Above the norm, they cause irritation of the intestine, regurgitation, do not allow food to be absorbed;
• bacteroids. The presence in an infant may indicate improper breakdown of food, a lack of fat for the structure of cells of a growing body.

The exact decoding can only be provided by a doctor.

Dysbiosis treatment

Elimination of dysbiosis in an infant is successfully carried out under the supervision of a doctor. First of all, they try to exclude the causes of the occurrence, then add correction therapy.

The list of medicines includes antibiotics, sorbents and live bacteria. Thus, pathogenic organisms are killed, removed from the intestines. Then lacto- and bifidobacteria are colonized so that they restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is important for a breastfed infant to be treated at the same time as the mother. A breastfeeding woman should also adhere to a diet with the exclusion of "food waste" (sausages, sweets, caffeine, packet juices, chips, store sauces, etc.), an abundance of fermented milk products and clean water.

Prevention of dysbiosis

The problem is easier to prevent than to fix. This is especially true for children who are bottle-fed and with previously known problems. The main preventive measures include:

• quick attachment to the chest. The very first drops of colostrum after the birth of a child carry a huge number of beneficial bacteria. They are able to populate the intestines enough for the body to successfully resist diseases;
• breast-feeding. In this case, the mother should eat healthy food;
  

  Breastfeeding - prevention of dysbiosis

• the right mixtures. If artificial feeding is being carried out, you need to carefully select the composition of the mixtures. A doctor can help with this;
• preparation for pregnancy, health care during planning and gestation. A complete check-up with elimination of problems is recommended for both parents before conception.
  

  Parents need to be tested before conceiving a child.

A responsible approach to the birth and nutrition of a baby will help avoid dysbiosis and not lead to the development of its severe forms. Mild manifestations of the problem are eliminated by therapy in a short time.

Video - Analysis for dysbiosis in infants