Symptoms and treatment of Helicobacter pylori in a child
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can live and multiply not only in the stomach of an adult, but also in a child. This microorganism is quite insidious, since after penetrating the digestive tract, it does not give itself away. The asymptomatic existence of the bacteria can continue until the person develops a disease of the digestive system, the mildest of which is gastritis. In the inactive stage, bacteria can exist for a long period of time.
Diseases that can cause Helicobacter pylori:
- Dyspeptic disorders.
- Gastritis.
- Gastroduodenitis.
Children are most often diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori by the age of five. There can be several ways of infection. Part of the source of infection is the mother or another adult from the immediate environment of the child. Infection can occur when the mother eats with the child from the same dish or licks his spoon, and then feeds the baby with it.
Content:
- First signs
- The main symptoms
- Infection routes
- Diagnostics
- How is Helicobacter pylori treated in children?
First signs
When Helicobacter pylori is activated in the child's body, the first symptoms of the disease appear, which include:
- Frequent belching during which an unpleasant odor is clearly felt.
- Heartburn that occurs from time to time.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Darkening of feces.
- The appearance of a white coating on the tongue.
- Painful sensations in the abdomen.
- Unstable stools, in which diarrhea may alternate with constipation.
If an adult ignores these symptoms in a child, then the disease will progress, leading to the development of severe complications. Also, the first sign of infection with Helicobacter pylori in children may be an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria. If you donate blood, then it is possible to detect iron deficiency anemia.
The main symptoms
When Helicobacter pylori in a child exists in the body for a long time, this will lead to the following symptoms:
- Lagging child in mental development.
- Constant fatigue and malaise.
- Rapid pulse.
- Increased moodiness.
- Dry mouth.
- Hair loss.
- Delayed physical development.
Rapid weight loss can also be a signal indicating H. pylori infection. This bacterium is very dangerous for the health of the child, therefore, treatment should be started immediately after its detection. The longer Helicobacter pylori exists in the body, the more difficult it will be to get rid of it. She triggers adaptive mechanisms that allow her to remain viable even under the influence of drugs.
Very often, a person does not even suspect that he is a carrier of the infection, since there are no specific symptoms that would be characteristic of Helicobacter pylori.
Infection routes
Helicobacter pylori enters the child's body through the fecal-oral route. Hygienic skills in children are not fully formed, so it is not difficult for them to get infected.
Possible ways of infection of a child with Helicobacter pylori:
- Through contaminated water.
- Through contaminated food, such as eating unwashed fruits or berries.
- Through expired food.
- If hygiene measures are not followed.
The weaker a child's gastrointestinal tract, the more likely it is to develop an infection. Eating fast food, the absence of liquid dishes in the menu negatively affects the state of the digestive system.
It is extremely rare for infection to occur in an iatrogenic way, when non-sterile instrumentation is used in the clinic during diagnosis.
There is a high risk of infection of the child from other family members. If at least one person is a carrier of Helicobacter pylori, then the risk of transmitting the bacteria to people living with him in the same apartment is equal to 95%.
A child can become infected not only at home, but also at school or in kindergarten. It is enough not to wash your hands once after a walk so that harmful bacteria enter the body. Moreover, at a young age, children pull everything into their mouths, from toys to their fingers. It is imperative to teach your child to wash their hands after visiting the restroom.
Diagnostics
When the first symptoms of infection of a child with Helicobacter pylori appear, it is necessary to seek the advice of a specialist. First you need to visit a pediatrician. If the suspicions are confirmed, then it is necessary to undergo treatment under the supervision of a pediatric gastroenterologist.
A preliminary diagnosis can be made even on the basis of complaints from the mother and on the basis of examination of the child. Helicobacter pylori antibodies can be found in blood and feces. Therefore, it will be necessary to submit these materials for research.
Using an endoscope, the doctor examines the gastric mucosa and assesses the extent of its damage. During the study, it is possible to take a biopsy sample of the coolant, which is subjected to laboratory tests and Helicobacter pylori is detected in it.
Non-invasive methods include a breath test, when the conclusion about the presence of bacteria in the child's body is made on the basis of a study of exhaled air. Children are recommended to carry out a breathing "Helik-test" in which the child will need to drink a solution of carbamide. This substance does not pose any threat to the health of the baby, therefore, the study is absolutely safe.
Modern medicine also has molecular methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori. To carry it out, dental plaque is taken from the subject.
To make a diagnosis, a comprehensive examination is required.
How is Helicobacter pylori treated in children?
Self-treatment of Helicobacter pylori in children is unacceptable, the doctor should deal with therapy. To remove bacteria from the body, antibacterial drugs are used. Moreover, a combination of at least two antibiotics is required. Moreover, they must be non-toxic to the child's body. Be sure to prescribe drugs that are aimed at reducing the acidity of gastric juice.
Most experts do not recommend that children take proton pump inhibitor drugs, as they negatively affect the overall development of the child. H2-histamine blockers are preferred. Antibiotics should be selected so that they are harmful to the bacteria. Otherwise, the microorganism will develop resistance to them and will not respond to the therapy.
For the treatment of children from Helicobacter pylori, there are specially designed schemes. So, it is forbidden to simultaneously take drugs from different drug groups. A certain period of time must pass between them. Some medicines are taken once a day, and some are taken twice a day.
Taking antibiotics is always associated with the risk of developing dysbiosis. The fact is that antibacterial drugs are harmful not only for harmful, but also for beneficial bacteria that live in the child's digestive tract. Therefore, it is impossible to extend the duration of treatment on your own.
The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor, on average, the course is 7 days, although, at the discretion of the specialist, it can be extended up to 15 days. Doctors do not even consider folk remedies for treatment as auxiliary, since there will be no effect from them.
Drug therapy has several goals, including:
- Reducing the risk of developing gastric cancer.
- Reducing the risk of developing internal gastric bleeding.
- Prevention of the formation of stomach ulcers.
- Prevention of iron deficiency anemia.
You should be prepared for the fact that the ongoing therapy will respond with a number of side effects. After all, drugs for getting rid of Helicobacter pylori cannot be considered absolutely safe.
Read more: Helicobacter pylori eradication: which drug to choose?
As undesirable symptoms against the background of the treatment, are:
- Stool disorders.
- Metal taste in the mouth.
- Abdominal pain.
- Constipation.
If a child complains of one or more symptoms, then he must be shown to the doctor. It is possible that the doctor will recommend some other drugs. Although not always negative manifestations from the digestive system are associated with taking medications. It cannot be ruled out that they are manifestations of the disease itself.
Diet food
During treatment with Helicobacter pylori, the child should be transferred to a diet. The diet is selected on an individual basis, when drawing up the menu, the patient's age, the state of his immunity and health in general are taken into account.
In any case, the diet should cover all the energy needs of the growing organism. It is unacceptable to cut the daily calorie intake, or vitamins and minerals. Therefore, you need to make up a diet in conjunction with a doctor.
Most often, dietary meals are not tasty for children. Therefore, parents must be smart to feed the baby. Perhaps, you should diversify the serving of dishes, for which you can use unusual dishes.
The child's menu should contain such products as:
- Eggs.
- Milk.
- Fruit.
- Low fat fish and meat.
Helicobacter pylori is a dangerous bacteria that can harm a child's health. Most often, adults are infected, but infection in childhood should also not be ruled out. Statistics indicate that in children, the bacterium is found in 10% of cases, while the average number of infected adults is 50% of the general population. In any case, if parents notice that their child has disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, they should take him to see a doctor.
Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist
Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist
