Causes of constipation in infants

Constipation in infants - not uncommon and almost always they are connected with some defect feeding. And the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract contribute to the emergence of constipation. It often happens, and so that there is no chair for 1-2 days, but this is not constipation, but just the complete, almost without a trace, the assimilation of breast milk.

Features of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract in infants

A child is born with relative functional impairment of the gastrointestinal tract, which contributes to the development of his various digestive disorders. In an infant stands little saliva and digestive enzymes, which also contains enzymes. Intestine infant has a relatively greater length than the adult intestine. This motor (motor) activity it can be broken. Digestion of food is also hampered by the absence or insufficient amount of normal microflora, which helps digest food. It bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, some types of E. coli, and more. The process of settling intestinal normal microflora may be delayed up to a year. Therefore, digestion is often accompanied by the release of large amounts of gas and constipation.

Constipation and their causes in infants

Constipation - a slow, labored or systematic lack of bowel movements. Constipation - a relative term, as stool frequency, especially in infants can be very different. One child chair may be 2-3 times a day, at the other - once 2-3 days. And this is the norm in the case if the child is restless, quietly sucking chest paddles during waking and sleeping peacefully. Rare chair can say that the child is very well absorbed by breast milk.

The situation is different if the child a few days (or just a night) no chair, and he is restless, not breastfeeding, not sleeping. Constipation can occur in various neurological disorders (for example, the consequences of a birth trauma), which may be accompanied by a violation of the motor activity of the intestine, congenital anomalies of the intestine (congenital narrowing or lengthening some parts of the intestines) from taking certain medications. Infants found constipation due to total muscular hypotension (low muscle tone), combined with hypotension intestine on the background of some other diseases (rickets, underweight, Down syndrome suffered by intestinal infections, and so on).

But the most common cause of constipation in infants are violations of feeding and nutrient absorption. Quantitative underfeeding or very good intake of breast milk stool volume is too small to excite the urge to defecate. The constant delay chair for 2-3 days in such cases do not relate to the true constipation.

By the occurrence of constipation in infancy is mainly breast-feeding without sufficient food containing fat adding vegetable dishes and carbohydrates. Excess body fat at the same time aggravates constipation, contributing to the formation of soaps in the intestine and thereby further hardening of feces.

The manifestations of constipation in children

The state of health of infants with constipation for a long time can remain satisfactory. But after many days of delay stool may develop toxicity (poisoning of the body metabolic products) from repeated vomiting, dehydration, fever, paroxysmal abdominal pain, signs of cardiovascular disorders.

But often, the child begins to worry about in a day, due to accumulation of gas in his belly swells (flatulence), appear paroxysmal pain (intestinal colic). Children are very restless, refusing the breast or the opposite breast constantly demanding to calm down, do not sleep, loud cry.

Diagnosis and treatment of constipation in infants

If constipation is constantly worried about the baby, it should be examined in order to detect abnormalities of the intestine. To do this, conducted X-ray of the large intestine with the introduction of a contrast agent through the rectum (barium enema).

Treatment of constipation in infants is prescribed based on the cause. Breastfed Breastfeeding: notes   establishing mode nursing mother is administered supplementation (if enough breast milk) or solid foods The lure: a spoon first adult food   in the form of vegetables, if the child is celebrated for 5-6 months. Adjust the chair can also be the appointment of juices and fruit puree having laxative effect (carrot juice, pureed prunes, etc.). The child must also be from an early age to teach a systematic daily bowel movement.

If signs of acute intoxication child needs an enema, but only after a medical examination, as constipation may be the result of intestinal obstruction in this case, an enema may aggravate the situation.

Congenital malformations of the digestive tract, causing constipation, require surgical treatment.

A child under one year should be seen monthly pediatrician who will always give advice on what to do with constipation.

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