Gastroduodenitis In Children - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Gastroduodenitis in children

Gastroduodenitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum 12. This disease is manifested in children by impaired stool and appetite, nausea and heartburn, bloating and pain in the projection of the stomach after eating. Treatment of gastroduodenitis in children includes taking drugs from the groups of antacids, gastroprotectors, antisecretory agents, adsorbents, as well as adherence to diet and physiotherapy.

Content:

• Features of gastroduodenitis in children
• Symptoms of gastroduodenitis in children
• Causes of gastroduodenitis in children
• Diagnostics
• Treatment of gastroduodenitis in children
• Prevention and prognosis of the disease

Features of gastroduodenitis in children

This pathology ranks first in the frequency of occurrence among all gastrointestinal diseases in children - approximately 65-70%. Thus, it is safe to say that every third child is sick with gastroduodenitis in one form or another, children of all ages, except for the earliest (newborn), are exposed to it.

Children's gastroduodenitis leads to:

• To change the mechanism of secretion of gastric juice;
• To disrupt the movement of the food lump;
• Deterioration of gastric and intestinal motility;
• Reconstruction of the structure of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.

Unfortunately, the trend towards an increase in the number of sick children over the past 10-15 years has only increased.

Children have age-related features of the digestive system, which directly affect the high likelihood of developing disorders in the gastrointestinal tract:

• The secretory glands of the child's stomach are still defective, they cannot maintain the balance of acidity;
• Enzymes of gastric juice are not active enough, they can digest food appropriate for age, but when deviations from the diet do not cope with their task;
• The intestines of a child have a reduced bactericidal activity, therefore, intestinal infections often occur in children;
• Children have sensitive intestines - the balance of digestion and absorption, the transport of water and electrolytes is easily disturbed, which leads to rapid dehydration and intoxication.

The disease can take an acute and chronic form, passing through the phases of remission and exacerbations. Gastroduodenitis in children has the same forms as in adults: it can be erosive, superficial, hemorrhagic, atrophic, hypertrophic or mixed.

Symptoms of gastroduodenitis in children

The most striking symptom of gastroduodenitis in children is aching pain in the epigastric region. The pain occurs after eating (after 1-2 hours), at night, on an empty stomach, disappears after taking antacids, after eating. It gives off to the navel, under the rib, it can be sharp or cramping.

Additionally, the child experiences the following symptoms:

• Heaviness in the stomach, distension;
• Sour or bitter belching;
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea;
• Excessive salivation;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Lack of appetite;
• Weakness, insomnia, fatigue.

The child may experience vegetative crises, manifested by drowsiness, palpitations, sudden weakness. If there are long breaks between meals, hypoglycemic attacks are possible. They are manifested by tremors all over the body, weakness, "wolfish appetite."

Relapses and exacerbations are most often observed in the off-season (spring and autumn), after stress, illness, training loads.

Causes of gastroduodenitis in children

Most often, gastroduodenitis in children occurs due to infection of the digestive tract with the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori, against the background of gastritis caused by this pathogen.

Secondary endogenous and exogenous factors in the development of pathology:

• Hereditary predisposition;
• Lowered immunity due to previous somatic and infectious diseases;
• Pathology of pregnancy and childbirth in the mother of a sick child;
• Early transfer to artificial feeding;
• Food allergies, allergic dermatitis;

• History of gastrointestinal tract pathology (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, enterocolitis);
• The presence of endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, adrenal pathology);
• The presence of foci of infection (tonsillitis, caries);
• Parasitic invasions (helminthiasis, amebiasis);
• Diet disorders - dry food, monotonous diet, rare meals, eating irritating foods;
• Poisoning with food toxins;
• Side effects of drugs - NSAIDs, antibiotics, glucocorticosteroids.

Since there are many schoolchildren among children with gastroduodenitis, the probable cause of the disease is academic load and the associated stress, mental overload.

Diagnostics

If there is a suspicion of a child's digestive disorder, you should consult a pediatrician, then a gastroenterologist.

With a visual examination, the doctor will reveal the following signs of the disease:

• Pale, loose skin;
• Decreased body weight;
• "Bruises" under the eyes;
• Brittle nails, hair loss;
• Yellowish coating on the tongue, teeth marks on it.

The main method for detecting pathology is fibrogastroduodenoscopy, or FGDS. This endoscopic examination will help the doctor determine the shape and stage of the disease. During the procedure, a specialist takes a sample of the stomach lining for histological and morphological analysis.

Additional diagnostic methods:

• A blood test to detect anemia;
• Stool analysis for helminthiasis and giardiasis;
• Coprogram for detecting dysbiosis;
• ELISA analysis of feces, breath test, PCR diagnostics for the determination of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori;
• Intragastric pH-metry to study the acidity of gastric juice;
• Duodenal intubation;
• Ultrasound and X-ray of the stomach to assess its motility and evacuation function.

In addition to consulting a specialized doctor, the child can be referred to an allergist and other specialists.

Treatment of gastroduodenitis in children

Diet food against the background of physical and mental rest is the most important part of the treatment of gastroduodenitis in childhood.

Basic principles of the diet:

• Frequent fractional meals (5-6 times a day);
• Method of cooking - boiling, baking, steaming;
• Refusal from strong meat broths, mushrooms, fatty meat and fish;
• The ban on the use of smoked meats, canned food.

With exacerbations of the disease, treatment is carried out in bed rest. If the bacteria Helicobacter pylori is detected in the child's gastrointestinal tract, a combination of two antibiotics (Metronidazole and Ampicillin) with bismuth preparations is prescribed.

Groups of drugs used in the treatment of gastroduodenitis in children:

• Antacids - to regulate acidity;
• Antisecretory agents - Omeprazole, Ranitidine;
• Antireflux drugs - prevent the reverse reflux of gastric juice from the duodenum into the stomach (Domperidone, Metoclopramide);
• Gastroprotective agents to protect the walls of the stomach and intestines (Sucralfate, folic acid, bismuth subcitrate);
• Adsorbents - bind toxic substances and gases (Smecta, methylsilicic acid hydrogel);
• Vitamins.

Additional methods are the use of mineral waters, herbal medicine, spa treatment.

Physiotherapy procedures for gastroduodenitis in children:

• UHF;
• Electrophoresis;
• Laser treatment;
• Diadynamometry;
• Inductothermy;
• Hydrotherapy.

As new dishes are included in the diet, the child may be prescribed digestive enzymes (Festal, Creon), probiotics and lactobacilli to restore the gastrointestinal microflora.

Prevention and prognosis of the disease

So that the child does not suffer from inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you should offer him age-appropriate food, timely treat foci of infection in the child's body. Of great importance for the prevention of gastroduodenitis in children is the optimal mode of alternation of work and rest, protection from stress, teaching the child methods of psychological protection.

Children with gastroduodenitis are registered with a pediatric gastroenterologist. Every year they undergo abdominal ultrasound and FEGDS.

Based on the research results, the doctor adjusts the course of treatment. The chronic course of the disease in children is manifested by frequent relapses, it is very difficult to achieve tangible progress. Chronic gastroduodenitis in a child is a prerequisite for the development of a similar disruption of the gastrointestinal tract in adulthood.

The author of the article: Gorshenina Elena Ivanovna | Gastroenterologist

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Russian State Medical University named after N. I. Pirogova (2005). Postgraduate studies in the specialty "Gastroenterology" - educational and scientific medical center.