Symptoms and treatment of enteritis in children
Enteritis in children can be acute and chronic. The course of acute this disease in children is usually accompanied by symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, which becomes chronic. Pathology can develop against the background of a previous infection, allergic reactions, become a consequence of a deficiency of protein foods or be a complication of surgery.
The cause of enteritis can be an acceleration of the transit of intestinal contents, a violation of the process of digestion - both cavity and parietal. As a result of the development of the pathological process, there is a decrease in the activity of enzymes in the small intestine and a violation of all metabolic processes, the severity of these symptoms is of great importance, especially in severe disease and a small age of the child.
Symptoms of enteritis in children
The main symptom of enteritis in children is diarrhea. The child's feces become abundant, have a light yellow color and contain particles of undigested food mixed with mucus. In some cases, the feces become gray in color, have a clay appearance and a characteristic shine, in this case, a violation of the process of fat digestion can be assumed in the child. With the course of putrefactive processes in the intestinal cavity, the feces acquire a fetid odor, with the predominance of fermentative processes, the feces become foamy.
The child usually complains of pain during bowel movements, stool frequency during exacerbation of enteritis in some cases reaches 20 times a day. In addition, children have increased gas production, rumbling in the abdomen, pain. Palpation reveals soreness in the navel.
In addition to local manifestations of pathology, patients have symptoms characteristic of metabolic disorders and functional changes in some organs and systems. The most severe enteritis occurs in young children.
When making a diagnosis, attention is paid to the intolerance of certain foods, especially milk, as well as to the presence of a history of intestinal infections.
Treatment of enteritis in children
Treatment of enteritis in children requires an integrated approach. The patient must adhere to a certain diet: the child's diet must contain a significant amount of protein, the patient must receive fats in physiological quantities, but the use of carbohydrates should be limited. It is necessary to exclude milk and foods rich in fiber.
In case of a severe course of the disease, the child is prescribed antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, it is recommended to take B vitamins, vitamin C and folic acid.
Treatment with enzyme preparations is mandatory. After carrying out antibiotic therapy, it is recommended to take medications that normalize the intestinal microflora, as well as bacteriophages. A good effect is given by enveloping preparations, sorbents, infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants.
After long-term treatment, the prognosis of the disease is favorable.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
