Treatment of children

What is constipation?

Constipation is a common problem that is not talked about and rarely treated, associated with increased or decreased motility of the intestine. This is expressed in the form of a decrease in the frequency of the stool, strong straining, a feeling of neoporality of the intestine, the allocation of hard stools. There are age norms of frequency of allocation of a chair, according to which one can judge whether there is or not constipation. Be sure to ensure that the baby's bowels are emptied at least 1 time per day.

In young children of the first year of life, constipation is also considered cases of painful defecation, even if the stool frequency is normal, corresponding to the age norms. You also need to pay attention to the change in the nature of the stool, its diameter, density, which can indicate a violation of the functions of the large intestine. With constipation in children, stomachs ache, they react to pain with crying and anxiety. The so-called "immature intestine" promotes retention of feces, since this is due to the general immaturity of the neuromuscular system. In older children, defecation is controlled by the central nervous system, so the appearance of constipation indicates more serious problems associated with the work of the intestine.

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Why do constipation occur in children?

The first and, undoubtedly, the main cause of constipation in newborns is maternal nutrition, failure to comply with basic recommendations and diet. Remember, undesirable use of fatty foods, yeast dough, fruits and vegetables. Gradually introduce into your diet products, if there are no disorders or constipation, you can continue to use them, otherwise temporarily exclude it from your diet, about a month. If the child is an artificial person, then the cause of constipation may be either an unsuitable formula or an improper drinking regimen. First try to give more drink, if it does not help, change the milk formula.

From the age of 6 months, when you start feeding the baby, constipation can begin if you give too much thick food and do not give the baby water, or give food saturated with protein and fat, which is poorly digested.

It is also necessary to exclude the possibility of a child having such diseases as rickets, iron deficiency anemia, intestinal dysbacteriosis, food allergies, central nervous system damage and thyroid dysfunction. These diseases lead to a decrease in muscle tone and motor activity of the intestine due to insufficient supply of oxygen.

After long-term use of medications, too, there may be problems with stool, especially after taking antibiotics, diuretics, anticonvulsants, etc.

Causes of constipation may have psychological roots, for example, if the child is afraid of the pot or during adaptation to new conditions - nursery, Garden. The child is afraid or ashamed to ask for a "pot", which suppresses the corresponding reflexes and leads to densification of feces. Therefore, try to follow not only the diet of your child, but also his psycho-emotional state.

How does constipation affect the body?

Recall that with constipation disrupted the process of digestion and absorption of food, which leads to contamination of the body with harmful substances, a decrease in appetite and chronic weakness. When the feces stagnate, the microflora of the intestine is broken, which entails the development of pathogenic bacteria and inflammation of the mucosa. Because of the violation of the suction function, the entire body begins to suffer, intoxication develops, the inflammatory process develops, a shortage of useful substances, vitamins and trace elements begins. Stagnation of fecal masses leads to an expansion of the diameter of the intestine, possibly the appearance of cracks, which contributes to the onset of the inflammatory process and further increases constipation.

How to treat baby constipation?

Treatment of constipation can be divided into two types - this is emergency help that parents can provide to their child on their own, and medical help.

As an emergency, parents can make a child a cleansing enema or introduce a candle to a child. Or, even easier, to diversify the diet of the child with loosening products - beets, carrots, dried apricots, kiwi, mango, etc.

Enema is made on the basis of boiled water with the addition of 1-2 teaspoons of glycerin or vaseline oil. For newborns, you need to inject 50 ml of fluid, for a 6-month-old baby - 100 ml, for a one-year-old - 200 ml, etc. The whole liquid is poured into a bottle, and its tip is lubricated with vaseline or sunflower oil. The child is put on the barrel and flexes his legs in the knees, holding it with his left hand, while the right one is injected into the rectum with rotational movements, then slowly poured in water and after several minutes keep the buttocks compressed so that the water does not flow. Enema should be placed no earlier than a day. With increased gas generation and bloating, first use a gas outlet tube or drugs that reduce gas production.

Instead of an enema, you can put a candle, laying the child in the same way as when you enter the enema. Then carefully insert the candle into the anal opening, slightly pushing the buttocks apart, and then fix the buttocks so that the candle is not pushed back.

If these simple measures do not help, do not self-medicate, consult a doctor, because only he can adequately assess your child's condition and prescribe the necessary drugs or prescribe procedures. Urgently run to the doctor if blood fats have appeared in the feces, if constipation is accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen, with involuntary secretion of feces due to relaxation of the muscles of the rectum. First, contact the pediatrician and take the necessary tests for dysbiosis and kaprogrammu, you may need consultations of a surgeon, neurologist and endocrinologist. Treatment of child constipation can not be started and does not respond to their appearance.

Be attentive to your children, timely treat children's diseases, take care of yourself and your health from childhood!