Diarrhea in infants with mucus, blood, fever and vomiting
Content:
- Causes of diarrhea in infants
- Fever, vomiting and diarrhea in infants
- Types of diarrhea in babies
- How to treat diarrhea in babies?
Young mothers, especially those who have had their first child, may not always correctly assess the changes that occur with their baby in the process of contact with the outside world. One of the main points of this interaction is the functioning of the intestines and the formation of feces.
Diarrhea in infants is a pathological condition that children are exposed to in the early postpartum period, manifested by frequent loose stools. This definition requires a number of clarifications, since not every loose stool in infants is diarrhea. This is due to the fact that little children poop very often (up to 15 times a day). In addition, feces have a fickle consistency, which depends on the nature of the diet of both the child and the mother in the case of breastfeeding.
The following characteristics of feces can be considered pathological:
- The amount of liquid stool is more than 20 times a day;
- Watery, frequent stools;
- Persistent, frothy, liquid bowel movements;
- The appearance of green liquid and fetid feces;
- Any kind of bloody impurities in the stool;
- The appearance of brown or greenish mucus;
You don't have to worry if:
- Periodic foamy stool;
- Small greenish inclusions;
-
Discharge of clear mucus;
- Infrequent liquid feces;
- Any changes in feces once;
Causes of diarrhea in infants
Among the reasons for the appearance of diarrhea in young children are:
- Inconsistency of the nature of the nutritional mixture with the enzymatic capabilities of the child (the mixture is not suitable);
- Mom's violation of dietary recommendations for breastfeeding;
- Intestinal dysbiosis (dysbiosis). Most often it is of a transient nature and goes away on its own over time;
- Acute intestinal infections in a baby;
- Congenital malformations of the digestive system;
- Fermentopathies and food insensitivity;
- Teething and other temporary changes in the growth process, leading to a weakening of the body's immune surveillance;
- Postponed respiratory infections;
- Antibiotic treatment;
Fever, vomiting and diarrhea in infants
If the appearance of only diarrhea in a child can be regarded as a transient state, then the addition of vomiting and fever to it speaks of an obvious problem. In such cases, you should never wait for relief or treat the child yourself. The fact is that infants are very sensitive to changes in water balance. And given that all three of these symptoms lead to fluid loss, the body can very quickly become dehydrated. Moreover, against the background of a high temperature, it is rarely possible to make a child drink liquid. The resulting loss of fluid, which is not replenished from the outside, leads to a progressive deterioration of the condition.
The combination of fever, diarrhea and vomiting in infants can be a manifestation of infection with intestinal pathogens.
Given the imperfection of the intestinal immune system, the most common pathogens are staphylococci, escherichia and various types of the enterovirus family. Therefore, be sure to seek help from pediatricians.
How and how to bring down a high temperature in a child?
Types of diarrhea in babies
Diarrhea with mucus in infants
The appearance of loose stools with mucus in infants does not always indicate pathology. If the mucus has a transparent appearance, even against the background of a little liquid feces, you should not immediately panic. This can be one of the transitional periods in the development of a small organism. Conversely, if the feces are not even so liquid, but there is abundant secretion of any mucus, it is better to see a specialist.
The main reasons for the appearance of mucus in the feces, which leads to its liquid consistency, are problems with the intestinal microflora. The more pronounced this imbalance, the larger and brighter the mucous discharge. Indeed, on the walls of the large intestine, there is a constant struggle between good and bad microbes. In the case of the predominance of the latter, abundant mucous discharge with feces appears. The constant appearance of frothy stool and colored mucus should be especially alarming.
Green diarrhea in infants
The appearance of green diarrhea in infants can never be a variant of the norm or transitional state. As soon as such a symptom appears, the child should be examined by a doctor. Most likely, such children will be infected with a staphylococcal infection. It is characterized by a progressive course with severe intoxication, which requires mandatory hospitalization with infusion and antibiotic therapy.
If we are talking about feces of ordinary consistency, against the background of which greenish mucus or fecal inclusions of a dark green color appeared, then the situation is not so dangerous. Usually, these changes characterize the colonization of the intestine by microflora, in which coccal representatives predominate. In most cases, they are gradually replaced by normal E. coli. The most that a child may need is probiotics (preparations containing normal intestinal bacteria).
Diarrhea with blood in infants
If the baby has bloody diarrhea or brown dirty discharge with normal feces, this is an indicator of severe changes in the intestines. They are most often caused by either congenital anomalies or aggressive and advanced intestinal infections. These symptoms indicate that the inflammatory process has led to a complete defeat of the mucous layer with its rejection. Such diarrhea becomes simply continuous and it is very difficult to stop it. In such cases, not a minute can be lost. The child should be taken to the nearest pediatric ward, where he will be provided with specialized care.
The danger and insidiousness of the situation lies in the lightning-fast deterioration of the condition of children with bloody diarrhea. On the one hand, there is a loss of fluid and electrolytes, on the other, blood loss. As a result, dehydration, anemia, progressive intoxication with respiratory and heart failure.
The appearance of bloody elements in any stool can never be the norm.
How to treat diarrhea in babies?
The first thing that needs to be said is that any treatment should be prescribed and monitored by a doctor. He may advise:
- Selection of formula for feeding and proper nutrition of the nursing mother;
- Children's teas based on fennel and chamomile;
- Probiotics for the normalization of intestinal microflora. The most common group of drugs for diarrhea in children. Lactovit, biogaya, lactomune, bifidumbacterin, bifi-form, enterol are widely used;
- Enzyme preparations. They are prescribed for diarrhea caused by enzymatic deficiency and as an additional remedy for any intestinal infections. It is most convenient to use the drug Creon, since it is produced in the form of small granules in a capsule;
- Intestinal antiseptics and antibiotics as needed. The safest and at the same time effective drug is nifuroxazide;
- Sorbents. In pediatric practice, atoxil and smecta are used;
- Drink plenty of fluids. It is on him that the main emphasis should be placed. For this, rehydron, plain water and children's tea are shown. If the child refuses to drink, intravenous infusion of glucose-saline solutions in age-specific dosages is indicated.
The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician
Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.
