When the ratio of microorganisms in the intestine is disturbed in the baby's body, this condition is called dysbiosis. Can it develop in a newborn, what provokes it, how to identify such a problem and what is important to take to treat it?
Causes
The intestine of a newborn baby is immaturity, so the risk of dysbiosis in young children is increased.
The development of an imbalance in the intestinal microflora leads to:
- Trauma during childbirth.
- Congenital diseases of the digestive system.
- Prescribing antibiotics and other medications to a newborn for a long period (longer than 7 days).
- Immunodeficiency.
- Fermentopathy.
- Replacement of breastfeeding with artificial during the neonatal period.
Symptoms
In a newborn, dysbiosis can manifest with the following symptoms:
- Frequent regurgitation.
- Restless behavior 1-2 hours after eating.
- Disturbed sleep.
- Vomiting attacks.
- Poor weight gain.
- Bloating.
- Diarrhea, represented by loose stools in large quantities, in which there may be impurities of green color, foam, white lumps. The smell of such a stool is sour or putrid.
Risk factors
The following factors contribute to the violation of the composition of the microflora in the intestines of the newborn:
- Complications of pregnancy and problems with the birth process.
- The presence of bacterial vaginosis in a woman.
- Poor Apgar scores and resuscitation.
- Delayed first attachment to the breast.
- Long stay in the maternity hospital.
- Physiologically immature intestines.
- Purulent infections.
Disease development
When a baby is in the womb, there are no microorganisms in its intestines. At birth, the baby encounters the first microbes, and normally these will be lactobacilli, E. coli and bifidobacteria. They are found in the mother's birth canal and in breast milk. Also, breast milk (in the early days it is colostrum) includes special factors that stimulate the growth of beneficial microflora in the infant intestine. That is why it is so important to attach the baby to the breast immediately after giving birth and in the first days in the hospital to give the baby colostrum from the mother's breast.
If the first attachment to the mother's breast happened late or did not happen at all, this increases the risk of another flora entering the infant's intestines. Normally, microorganisms that can cause intestinal disruption are in the gastrointestinal tract of children in small numbers. They are called opportunistic bacteria. While there are few of them in the baby's intestines, the baby's digestion is not disturbed. However, under the action of factors provoking dysbacteriosis, the useful flora becomes smaller, which makes it possible for opportunistic microbes to increase their number and affect the state of the infant's digestive system.
It should also be noted that during the first days after birth, most newborns develop a passing (transient) type of dysbiosis, manifested by stool disorders. If, at the same time, aggravating factors do not act on the baby, and the mother continues to breastfeed the baby, by the end of the first week of life, the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the intestine will prevail.
Diagnostics
To detect dysbiosis, the doctor first examines the baby, palpates his intestines and directs the baby to study feces. First, the baby is prescribed to pass a stool coprogram, and then other fecal tests for dysbiosis, among which there is also the determination of bacteria in the stool.
Treatment
Breastfeeding is considered one of the most important points in the treatment of intestinal flora dysbiosis in a newborn. Babies with dysbiosis need breast milk especially badly.
If it is impossible to breastfeed, the baby should be given an adapted mixture containing protective factors - bacteria, prebiotics.
To correct the microflora, the baby can be prescribed bacteriophages and probiotics for children. Also, according to indications, the baby is prescribed symptomatic therapy.
Consequences of the disease
One of the most dangerous consequences of dysbiosis is hypovitaminosis in an infant, as well as impaired absorption of minerals and a decrease in immunity in a baby. This can significantly affect the health of the newborn.
Prevention of dysbiosis should be started even during pregnancy, read about this in our other article.
