Dysbacteriosis is called an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, which is expressed by a deterioration in the child's digestion. Let's see why a child can develop dysbiosis, how it manifests itself, is diagnosed and treated.
Causes
The appearance of dysbiosis is possible due to:
- Antibiotic therapy;
- Birth trauma;
- Acute or chronic diseases of the digestive system;
- Long-term drug use;
- Staying in ecologically unfavorable conditions;
- Stress and frequent colds, as well as secondhand smoke;
- Unbalanced nutrition, including early introduction of complementary foods;
- Helminthiasis;
- Viral infections.
The high incidence of microflora imbalance in young children is due to the immaturity of the infant's gastrointestinal tract and a large number of risk factors, ranging from complications of pregnancy and ending with an infectious lesion of the baby's intestines.
Symptoms
Dysbacteriosis in children is manifested by:
- Regurgitation;
- Bad breath;
- Vomiting;
- Sleep disturbances and restless behavior in infancy;
- Low rate of weight gain in the first year of life;
- Abundant stools of mushy or liquid form, with foam, greens, whitish lumps, putrid or sour odor;
- Attacks of pain several hours after eating;
- Rumbling in the stomach and bloating;
- Polyhypovitaminosis;
- Persistent constipation in older children;
- The appearance of intestinal colic;
- Belching;
- Feeling of fullness in the abdomen after eating;
- Decreased appetite;
- The appearance of thrush, frequent infectious diseases;
- Skin eruptions.
Risk factors
In a child, the composition of the microflora can most often be disturbed due to:
- Late latching on to the breast, whereby the baby does not receive the protective factors from colostrum that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.
- Too early or very abrupt transfer to feeding with mixtures, when beneficial microorganisms have not yet had time to colonize the intestines.
- An unbalanced diet for an older child, if he consumes little fiber, which is important for the vital activity of bacteria in the intestines.
Disease development
In healthy children, there are bacteria in the intestines, represented mainly by lacto- and bifidobacteria, as well as Escherichia coli. Such bacteria make up 97% of all microflora in the intestine. They perform many functions valuable for the body - remove toxins, regulate immunity, synthesize vitamins, participate in metabolic processes, stimulate peristalsis, help to absorb calcium, and synthesize some amino acids.
Also, the intestinal microflora partially consists of conditionally pathogenic microbes, the number of which increases with adverse effects on the body. In addition, there is always a risk of pathogenic microorganisms entering the intestines. With dysbacteriosis, the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli decreases, and the number of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria increases.
In children, the prevalence of dysbiosis is associated primarily with the fact that at birth their intestines are completely sterile. It is colonized by microflora during childbirth, with the first attachments to the breast and feeding in the first months of life. That is why it is more preferable to feed with breast milk, since such nutrition helps to populate the infant's intestines with exactly the bacteria that should live there normally.
When exposed to any factor that causes dysbiosis, for example, the absence of breastfeeding or long-term treatment of the baby with antibiotics, the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the intestinal flora decreases. There are more pathogenic microorganisms, which leads to disruption of the digestive tract.
Forms of dysbiosis
Dysbacteriosis can be classified according to the microflora that currently prevails in the child's gastrointestinal tract, for example, candidal or staphylococcal dysbiosis.
Depending on the spread, the pathology can be:
- localized;
- common (also called generalized).
A common form, in addition to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, can manifest itself as thrush, pneumonia, sore throat. The latent form is manifested by a slightly reduced appetite, frequent infections and low weight compared to peers.
The course of the disease can be represented by phases of decompensation (the child's condition is worsened) and subcompensation (symptoms are moderately expressed), as well as compensation (there are no clinical manifestations). There is also a division of dysbiosis by severity.
Stages of the disease
- The first stage is latent dysbiosis, which is also called compensated, since the digestive function is slightly impaired. The child periodically accumulates gases in the intestines, appetite worsens. Feces can be unevenly colored. Constipation is common, but it can also alternate with loose stools. The child is sometimes restless and easily aroused.
- At the second stage the disease becomes subcompensated. Other symptoms join, which make dysbiosis similar to other diseases of the digestive tract (enteritis, enterocolitis, colitis). The child may vomit, poor appetite, bloating, frequent regurgitation. The baby begins to show anxiety about 2 hours after eating. His sleep may be disturbed. The doctor may also note that the weight gain is insufficient.
- Third stage considered severe. The child's condition worsens, he is lethargic, refuses to eat. Frequent manifestations of this stage are diarrhea, cramp-like abdominal pains, periodic fever, and constipation. The child suffers from hypovitaminosis and anemia. There is a risk of dehydration and the development of sepsis.
Severity of dysbiosis
There are four degrees of severity of this pathology, depending on the results of the study and the identified composition of the microflora:
- At the first degree violations in the child's body are minor. Bifidobacteria are determined in an amount of at least 107-8. Anaerobes are the predominant type of bacteria. Conditionally pathogenic flora is represented by up to two types of microorganisms, and their number does not exceed 102-4.
- Second degree disorders are characterized by an increase in the number of aerobic bacteria. Their number is compared with the anaerobic flora. The number of opportunistic bacteria rises to 106-7. Instead of ordinary Escherichia coli, lactose-negative and hemolytic ones are determined.
- Signs of the third degree is the predominance of aerobic bacteria. A large number of conditionally pathogenic representatives of microflora is detected in the intestine, and lacto- and bifidobacteria are sharply reduced.
- About the fourth degree they say when there are no bifidobacteria in the child's digestive tract, and Escherichia coli and lactobacilli are significantly reduced. Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms with this degree of disease often show resistance to antibiotic therapy.
Diagnostics
Dysbacteriosis can be detected on the basis of clinical manifestations after the appointment of additional studies - coprograms, biochemical, and bacteriological analysis of feces.
Treatment
Therapy for dysbiosis, if the doctor, after the analyzes and assessment of the clinical manifestations, made conclusions about its necessity, includes the elimination of pathological microflora and intoxication, the restoration of digestion with the help of enzymes, as well as the treatment of lactase deficiency, if detected.
Further treatment will be aimed at populating the gastrointestinal tract with normal microflora and stimulating its growth.
First of all, attention is paid to the diet of a child with dysbiosis, as well as the diet. Antibiotic treatment is possible only after being prescribed by a doctor, if indicated. The child may be prescribed the intake of bacteriophages and intestinal antiseptics. Much importance is attached to the intake of probiotics.
In a baby
For a nursing infant, one of the important factors in the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis is breastfeeding. If it is not possible for certain reasons, the child should be fed an adapted formula enriched with protective factors.
Prevention of dysbiosis in children was discussed by us in another article.
Consequences of the disease
Due to dysbiosis, the child's immunity decreases, so the baby becomes less protected from various viral and bacterial infections. Dysbacteriosis is also able to affect the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, which leads to insufficient intake of mineral compounds and vitamins into the child's body.
