Dyspepsia in children: symptoms and treatment. Functional digestive disorders in children. Symptoms of the disease

How does indigestion manifest in children? The symptoms of this pathological condition will be listed below. You will also learn about why this disease develops and how it should be treated.

Basic information

Stomach upset in children is quite common. As you know, the mentioned organ is one of the main elements that make up the human digestive system. Interruptions in its work negatively affect not only the patient’s well-being, but also his health in general.

In children, it is a special condition in which one of the functions of the organ in question (for example, motor or secretory) is disrupted. In this case, the small patient feels noticeable pain in the epigastrium and experiences a significant feeling of discomfort.

A characteristic feature of this condition is the absence of any structural changes in the gastric mucosa. Thus, the diagnosis is made based on a survey of the patient, existing symptoms, test results and other studies.

Types of disease, their causes

Indigestion in children, or rather its type, is determined by several factors that cause an imbalance in its functioning. Primary disorders are independent diseases. The main reasons for their development are the following:

Why does stomach upset occur in children? Secondary causes of this pathology are accompanying factors or consequences of other diseases of the internal organs. These include the following:

• vascular and heart diseases;
• disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
• chronic infections;
• organic or functional diseases of the central nervous system.

Most often, stomach upset in children occurs not because of one, but because of several factors that were mentioned above.

Symptoms of the disease

Now you know what a pathological condition such as indigestion is. Symptoms in children, however, as in adults, can be different. In modern medicine, several clinical pictures of this disease are distinguished:

• dyspeptic;
• painful;
• mixed.

Typically, functional indigestion in children is accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as pain in the stomach. Both children and adults talk about paroxysmal pain, which is usually concentrated in the navel area and is intermittent.

Babies with this pathology may develop mild pain, especially when pressing on the abdomen.

Signs of illness

If your child has a fever and stomach upset, you should definitely contact your pediatrician. It is also necessary to visit a doctor if a small patient has poor appetite, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, as well as belching with the smell of rotten or sour food and nausea leading to vomiting.

According to experts, a strong one in a child may indicate the presence of pylorospasm. It should also be noted that difficulties with swallowing food in a baby may indicate the development of cardiospasm.

Other symptoms of the disease

How does indigestion manifest in children (such a disease should only be treated by a gastroenterologist)? The disease in question in children is often accompanied by excessive sweating, emotional instability, instability of the heart and blood vessels, as well as other internal organs.

It should also be noted that such a disorder of the main digestive organ has special forms in which symptoms such as aerophagia (that is, strong belching of air), acute dilatation of the stomach and habitual vomiting (including sudden bouts of vomiting) are observed.

All of these symptoms require special attention from doctors. But in order to make a correct diagnosis, one should rely not only on the identified signs of the disorder, but also on test results. Only in this case will the specialist be able to prescribe the necessary treatment, as well as adjust the diet of his patient.

According to statistics, children and adolescents suffer from gastric disorders much more often than adults. This fact is explained by the fact that it is young people, who are inextricably linked with computers and other electronic equipment, who regularly experience psycho-emotional overload. By the way, against the background of this, many children and adolescents forget about regular and nutritious meals, snacking on hamburgers and washing them down with carbonated drinks. Usually the results of such behavior are not long in coming.

A child has an upset stomach: what to do?

Modern food products do not always meet all quality and safety requirements. Therefore, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract took first place among all others.

Very often this problem occurs in young children and adolescents, especially if their parents do not particularly monitor their diet. So how to treat an upset stomach in a child? To eliminate the cause of this disease, doctors recommend using non-drug methods. Experts suggest the following:

• Normalization of diet. This includes the choice of high-quality and safe products, the presence of various hot dishes on the menu, regularity of meals, the absence of coffee, hot chocolate and sparkling water among the drinks consumed, as well as the complete exclusion of fried, spicy, fatty and salty foods.
• If an upset stomach in an adult is associated with harmful working conditions, then they must be eliminated. To do this, you should refuse to work at night, and also cancel frequent business trips.
• Healthy lifestyle. This method of eliminating the causes of gastric upset involves regular exercise and physical exercise, alternating work and rest, and giving up bad habits (for example, smoking or drinking alcohol).

In most cases of indigestion, such measures can not only significantly improve the patient’s condition, but also eliminate malfunctions in other internal organs.

Fever and stomach upset in a child can be observed not only in early childhood, but also in adolescence. By the way, in such children the signs of the pathology in question are very similar to gastritis. To make a more accurate diagnosis, morphological confirmation is required.

Medicines for stomach upset in children are used for more serious disorders, as well as for the presence of a huge number of symptoms of this disease. In addition, in this condition the patient is prescribed a special diet.

Drug treatment

What stomach upset remedy should I use for children? Experts say that to eliminate motor disorders, children can be prescribed medications from the following groups: antispasmodics, anticholinergics, selective cholinomimetics and prokinetics. If it is necessary to correct secretory disorders, doctors recommend the use of antacids or anticholinergics.

For autonomic disorders, it is allowed to use drugs and various herbs that have a sedative effect. Also, with this pathology, acupuncture, antidepressants, electrosleep, massage, gymnastics, and water procedures are often used. If gastric disorders arise due to psycho-emotional overload, then a consultation with a psychiatrist is indicated.

Treatment of young children

While various medications and other procedures can be prescribed for adolescents and adults for indigestion, such treatment methods are not suitable for young children. So what should you do if a child develops a similar disease?

The main condition for successful treatment of indigestion in a young child is drinking enough fluid, which helps prevent dehydration.

If, with gastric pathologies, a child willingly and more often takes the breast, as well as a bottle with formula, then he should not be limited in this. The baby also needs to be given an additional electrolytic solution. The drug “Regidron” can act as it. This remedy will help restore the child’s body.

According to experts, if you have stomach problems, you should not give your child fruit juices containing glucose. Children are also prohibited from drinking carbonated drinks. If you ignore this advice, the listed products will increase diarrhea and significantly worsen the child’s condition. By the way, it is not recommended to give strengthening drugs to children, since they are contraindicated for children under 12 years of age.

If the sick child is already 6 months old, then if severe diarrhea develops, he can be given ripe banana puree, or for older children, starchy foods and chicken are ideal.

If a child has loose stools due to an upset stomach for two days or more, and dietary restrictions do not affect his condition in any way, then you should definitely consult a doctor. It is not recommended to independently purchase medications intended to treat this condition in pharmacies.

Sequencing

The advisability of using certain medications, their doses, as well as the duration of treatment for gastric disorders are determined only by the doctor.

If the disease in question has secondary causes of development, then treatment should be aimed at eliminating the main symptoms and those pathologies that caused the disorder itself. To do this, a sick child or adult with complaints of severe stomach pain must register with a therapist or gastroenterologist for a period of 12 months. In this case, examinations of the patient should be carried out every six months.

Diet for a child with an upset stomach is very important for the healing process. The correct diet for a baby or adult is prescribed by a doctor. In this case, the doctor must give the patient a brochure indicating prohibited and permitted products.

In particularly severe cases, the patient is prescribed sedatives, as well as moderate exercise.

If after some time the main symptoms of gastric disorders no longer recur, then no more is required. In this case, the patient is removed from the register.

If you do not consult a doctor in time for an upset stomach, the child may experience serious disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, which can develop into peptic ulcers or chronic gastritis. In this case, the symptoms and treatment will differ significantly.

Proper nutrition for a child with an upset stomach is very important. Usually a special diet is used during an exacerbation of the disease. At the same time, the child’s diet includes nicotinic acid and additional vitamins C and group B.

All dishes intended for a sick baby should be cooked exclusively by steaming. The products can also be consumed boiled.

If you have an upset stomach, you should eat in small portions, that is, up to 6 times a day. As the main symptoms of the disease are eliminated, the patient is transferred to a balanced diet. A gentle diet is also recommended for him.

What preventive measures can you take to prevent stomach upset for both you and your child? Primary prevention of the disease in question is the introduction of a healthy lifestyle. This will not only entail the elimination of many causes that cause disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but will also simply improve the patient’s condition.

According to experts, proper adherence to the daily routine, lack of physical overload, a balanced diet, as well as the elimination of nervous tension will help to significantly reduce the number of patients, including children, with the mentioned diagnosis.

If a child has or is experiencing helminthic infestations that contribute to the development of a gastric disorder, then preventive measures must be carried out in conjunction with the treatment that is being carried out at a given time. In order to rehabilitate the little patient, he is recommended to undergo sanatorium-resort therapy.

Dyspepsia in young patients is expressed by disruption of the digestive system. In simple terms, functional dyspepsia in children is common “indigestion.” In newborns and babies under the age of one year, the main causes of digestive disorders are the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract system and nutritional disruptions (introduction of something new into the diet, a sharp transition to artificial feeding, lack of variety in diet, etc.). In addition to these factors, dyspepsia may be preceded by a genetic predisposition and insufficient production of digestive enzymes.

The main reasons for the development of dyspepsia are errors in feeding the child. A disrupted diet plays a special role - for example, if the mother feeds the baby more often than necessary, this contributes to regurgitation, and too much food in the baby can cause vomiting.

Children who are formula-fed or formula-fed are more susceptible to digestive disorders than those who are fed breast milk. Selecting formulas over a long period of time, or feeding a low-quality formula will ultimately lead to dyspepsia. In addition, when using formula, overfeeding is possible - after all, it is easier to suck from a bottle than from the mother's breast.

Acute digestive disorders in young children can be caused by the following reasons.

• Binge eating.
• Insufficient enzymatic activity.
• The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of a baby’s food do not correspond to the performance of its digestive tract.
• Introduction of new food that is too early for the child to consume due to his age.

In older children, digestive disorders can also be caused by a number of factors.

• Excessive consumption of foods harmful to the body (fried, fatty, smoked, salty).
• Hormonal imbalance.

Overeating can cause dyspepsia in children

Concomitant diseases are the following.

In children, there are functional, toxic and parenteral dyspepsia.

In turn, functional (or nutritional) dyspepsia is a digestive disorder resulting from poor nutrition.

Functional dyspepsia is divided into five types.

• Fermentative dyspepsia in children is caused by fermentation processes from the abuse of foods high in carbohydrates. As a result, fermentation bacteria multiply in the colon.
• Putrefactive - the intestinal loops are inhabited by putrefactive microbes as a result of oversaturation with foods rich in proteins.
• Fatty – characterized by excessive consumption of fatty foods.
• Toxic dyspepsia is formed as a consequence of ineffective treatment of functional dyspepsia, and the main source of the problem here is the causative agents of intestinal infections - salmonella, E. coli, shigella and other less dangerous microorganisms.
• Parenteral is secondary in nature and is a complication after any previous illness (for example, pneumonia).

Based on the types of digestive disorders, the following symptoms are distinguished.

• Weight loss due to lack of appetite.
• Nausea, vomiting .
• Restless sleep.
• Flatulence (before and after one year).
• Acute pain in the epigastric region, accompanied by colic.
• Frequent loose stools with mucus and lumps of undigested food.

Nausea is one of the symptoms of an upset stomach in a child.

Fermentative dyspepsia, just like putrefactive dyspepsia, is characterized by a specific stool odor.

Newborns are susceptible to temporary dyspepsia on the 3rd to 5th day of birth. It lasts several days while the body adapts to the external environment and goes away on its own.

The toxic form of the disorder is marked by the appearance of severe signs of the disease - symptoms of meningitis, fever, sudden weight loss, muscle atrophy, as well as the presence of convulsions and loss of consciousness may be present. The skin is pale or bluish in color.

With ineffective or long-term treatment of dyspepsia, the child may develop dystrophy due to impaired metabolism. Rickets and allergies during the course of dyspepsia can lead to pyelonephritis, otitis, and pneumonia.

Be careful, young children are at high risk of developing volvulus, a serious gastrointestinal problem.

How to diagnose

At the first signs of a disorder, you should contact a pediatrician who will examine the child and, if necessary, prescribe a consultation with a pediatric gastroenterologist. You may need consultation and treatment from a pediatric neurologist and psychologist for problems with the nervous system.

The diagnosis is based on the results of instrumental and laboratory studies.

Instrumental examination methods include all of the following.

• X-ray of the stomach and subsequent examination of the intestines.
• Carrying out duodenal or gastric intubation.
• Endoscopic examination of the stomach and duodenum.
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
• Measuring the acidity of gastric contents using a special test.

Laboratory diagnostics includes the following basic tests:

• Biochemistry blood test from a vein.
• Examination of blood and urine for the enzymatic activity of the pancreas.
• Examination of stool for the presence of bacteria, worms (all information on worms in a child).
• Carrying out a coprogram to diagnose the performance of the digestive organs.

To diagnose dyspepsia in a child, an abdominal ultrasound is performed.

Treatment

There is no need to worry if there is a single case of vomiting or diarrhea – you just need to adjust the baby’s diet. For example, a new product should be introduced gradually, given in small quantities and the subsequent reaction to the new product monitored. It should be noted that signs of a digestive system disorder may be observed if the child is overheated in the sun.

The basic principles of treatment can be represented by the following actions:

• Correction of the child's nutrition.
• Optimization of the drinking regime.
• Traditional methods of therapy.
• Abdominal massage.
• Drug therapy.

If you experience frequent diarrhea (more than 10 times a day) and vomiting, you should definitely seek medical help. This condition can portend not only functional disorders of the digestive organs in children, but also be expressed by the appearance of an intestinal infection (dysentery).

Treatment of nutritional dyspepsia

The principles of treatment for this type of dyspepsia are:

• normalization of nutrition;
• increased drinking regimen;
• use of folk remedies;
• drug treatment.

Treatment of nutritional dyspepsia suggests that the volume of food needs to be replenished with a volume of liquid. That is, during an exacerbation, give the child as much fluid as possible. If the child is breastfed, then it is worth stopping complementary foods and leaving only breastfeeding.

To cure dyspepsia in a child, it is necessary to strengthen his drinking regime.

Treatment of nutritional disorders is usually carried out at home. When normalizing nutrition, it is important to know what will help the baby heal as quickly as possible. The mother's daily action plan is presented below.

First day

• Leave the baby without mother's milk for up to 12 hours.
• During the absence of milk, replace feeding with baby tea with sugar.
• The maximum amount of tea should not exceed 300 ml.
• After 12 hours, breastfeed.
• The dose of milk after a break is no more than 100 ml.

Second day

• Feeding with mother's milk 5 times a day.
• The maximum volume per feeding is 100 ml.
• If the child needs more food, then add baby tea.

From the third to the fifth day

• The amount of milk per feeding increases to 175 ml.
• Weigh your baby regularly.
• If the stool is abnormal, then replace mother's milk with protein milk in a volume of 100 ml.

What to do if the mother has no milk

When artificial feeding, food unloading is carried out, the principle of which is to cancel 2-3 feedings. Feeding is replaced with drinking. If feeding formula, dilute it half with water. This therapy is carried out until vomiting and diarrhea stop. The mother's daily behavior plan is presented below.

When artificial feeding, food is unloaded and sometimes the mixture is replaced with water.

First day

• For the first 12 hours, eat only tea.
• Maximum tea volume 300 ml.
• After 12 hours, use the rice water.
• The frequency of feeding with decoction is 4 times.
• The maximum dose of decoction is 150 ml per feeding.

Second day

• The number of feedings per day is no more than 6 times.
• Feed with rice water four times out of six.
• A single dose of decoction is no more than 150 ml.
• Add kefir the remaining two times.
• Kefir dose 150 ml.

The third day

• The frequency of feedings is 5 times.
• Feed with rice water two times out of five.
• Three times out of five use kefir or protein milk.
• The dose of decoction or kefir is 125 ml per feeding.
• You can add 5 grams of sugar to kefir or milk.

Fourth day

• The frequency of feeding the baby is 7 times.
• Apply protein milk or kefir five times.
• Feed twice with rice water.
• The dose for any feeding is 150 ml.

From the fifth day, the frequency of feedings is returned to what it was before dyspepsia. The rice water is kept for another day or two. Then they switch to classic mixtures, preferably fermented milk. You can add sugar up to 10 grams to the broth.

Traditional medicine helps well in the treatment of nutritional dyspepsia. For example, chamomile decoctions have an anti-inflammatory effect, and tea brewed from blueberry leaves is an indispensable remedy for diarrhea.

Eubiotics (“Bifidumbacterin”) will help eliminate dysbiosis and normalize microflora. For colic, antispasmodics are used - “Papaverine” or “Drotaverine”.

You can normalize the intestinal microflora with the help of “Bifidumbacterin”

Treatment of toxic dyspepsia

In case of toxic dyspepsia, the child is hospitalized urgently. To eliminate acute symptoms of dyspepsia, it is advisable to prescribe antibiotics, saline solutions (Acesol, Disol, Trisol, Ringer's solution), as well as a 5% glucose solution. If a secondary infection cannot be excluded, treatment with antibiotics is carried out.

So, the main points of treatment of the toxic form of the disorder:.

• Hospitalization.
• Replenishment of lost fluid.
• Use of eubiotics.
• Correction of pathological flora with antibiotics.

Lost fluid is replenished with 50 ml of drink every half hour after vomiting or defecation.

How massage can help

Massage plays an important role in the treatment of digestive disorders in children. Abdominal massage helps greatly with flatulence and colic. To carry it out, the child is placed on his back and the tummy is massaged in a clockwise direction with light stroking and a gradual increase in pressure. Performing this massage for 5 minutes will help relieve spasms and relax the muscles.

In addition to massage, applying a warm diaper or heating pad to the epigastric area will help relieve the pain of colic. In this case, the drugs used are “Espumizan”, “Bobotik” or “Plantex”.

Parenteral dyspepsia is eliminated by excluding the associated disease.

Conclusion

Thus, dyspepsia always requires a careful assessment of the risk of the child's further condition. With the development of serious painful symptoms, especially in infants, immediate therapeutic measures are indicated. A simple and effective method for timely recognition of problems dangerous to a child’s health is to contact a specialist in a timely manner.

Indigestion in a child is a fairly common phenomenon caused by intestinal dysfunction. But if in infants the symptoms of indigestion are repeated again and again, this is a direct signal about the need to take measures aimed at normalizing and restoring the digestive process.

The manifestation of signs of indigestion has its own clinical designation - dyspepsia. At the same time, dyspepsia in newborns and children of a later age can be different, have characteristic manifestations and treatment methods.

With dyspepsia, infants experience severe discomfort in the abdomen and digestive system. Acute indigestion is recurrent in nature.

Approximately 20% of cases of dyspepsia occur in children 7-12 years old. It is noteworthy that the more susceptible category of children are girls.

It is not always possible to determine the root cause of the development of digestive disorders in children. In approximately 40% of all cases of dyspepsia in infants or older children, it disappears on its own over time. But you still shouldn’t rely on chance. Parents need to nip this disease in the bud by providing appropriate treatment and care.

Types of disorders in children

If we take into account the causes of development, the disease is divided into the following types:

• Fermentation. With fermentative dyspepsia in children, the main reason is the child’s abuse of drinks based on a process such as fermentation, as well as carbohydrate-containing foods. The highest concentrations of carbohydrates that are dangerous for babies are found in potatoes and flour products.
• Rotten. This form is caused by excess protein in the child’s diet, which provokes the development of putrefactive dyspepsia. The products simply do not have time to be completely digested, as a result of which the process of rotting begins inside the body.
• Fat. Dyspepsia syndrome in fatty children is caused by the abuse of refractory and difficult to digest fats.

There is also a certain classification that distinguishes three types of illness:

• It is an acute digestive disorder in young children. Children who are breastfed are most often affected by the disease. This type of disease is characterized by a disease of the digestive system.
• Toxic dyspepsia in children. In the toxic type of disease, symptoms are caused by metabolic disorders. The toxic form is more dangerous because it can quickly spread throughout the body and cause damage to other organs.
• Parenteral dyspepsia. It is a disorder of the digestive system that accompanies various infectious diseases. In most cases, the disease manifests itself when the baby suffers from otitis media, pneumonia, measles or flu.
• Physiological dyspepsia. Signs of physiological dyspepsia can be observed in children over 1 year of age. Accompanied by discomfort in the abdomen and lining, but no diseases are observed. It is not uncommon for the physiological type of the disease to develop due to stress, poor nutrition, increased acidity of gastric juice, or consumption of foods that are not appropriate for the baby’s age.

Types of functional dyspepsia

It is not uncommon to encounter digestive and nutritional disorders in infants. Like any other disease, functional dyspepsia in children (FD) entails negative consequences and a threat to the baby’s health.

If relapses of functional dyspepsia in young children are repeated again and again, this will become an impetus for the development of gastrointestinal diseases - gastritis, ulcers, etc. Plus, the immune system will be under threat, the restoration of which will require a lot of effort, patience and time.

To determine how to treat FD, you need to determine the specific type of condition your baby is experiencing. Each of them has a certain sign and method of identification:

• Ulcer-like. This FD is accompanied by pain in the epigastric area after eating food. Symptoms are most pronounced in case of overeating or after taking certain medications. In particular, we are talking about drugs for acid-dependent diseases of the digestive system.
• Dyskinetic. The main symptom is rapid saturation. Having eaten just a little food, the baby feels that he is full. This happens almost after the first spoons of food. In the pit of the stomach there is a feeling of satiety and a sour taste. In addition, symptoms are often accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
• Non-specific. Difficult to diagnose because it is characterized by manifestation symptoms of two types of functional dyspepsia at once.

Causes of indigestion in children

For functional dyspepsia in children, treatment is prescribed based on what triggered the symptoms of the disease. In most cases, the reason lies in poor nutrition. But this concept can mean many different things.

Therefore, we will introduce you to the main factors that can provoke the development of functional dyspepsia in a child:

• sudden transition to another diet;
• quick change from breast milk to artificial formula;
• changes in the child's lifestyle;
• lack of regular and systematic meals;
• frequent skipping breakfast, dinner or lunch;
• abuse of fast foods;
• regular overeating;
• plenty of carbohydrates and proteins in the diet;
• frequent snacking;
• inclusion of a large amount of dry meat in the daily diet;
• stressful situations and strong emotional shocks.

Symptoms

Functional disorders of the digestive system in children entail changes in the gastrointestinal tract. The following happens:

• the motor function of the stomach is impaired;
• there is a disorder of digestive processes;
• organs related to the digestive system weaken;
• food in practically undigested form moves from the duodenum to the stomach;
• the stomach does not work actively enough to digest food.

Functional dyspepsia, which is common in young children, is largely similar in its symptoms to other gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to independently diagnose FD.

There are several symptoms that are not characteristic of FD. That is, when they appear, another illness should be suspected. These symptoms include:

• frequent diarrhea;
• development of anorexia (excessive thinness);
• pain at night that interferes with sleep;
• insomnia caused by pain;
• painful sensations in the joints;
• irradiation of painful sensations;
• signs of fever;
• changes in the baby’s behavior during attacks; he may behave unconventionally or inappropriately.

Faced with the above uncharacteristic signs, we can conclude that there is another disease, not functional dyspepsia. Or FD is accompanied by other diseases, connecting with each other and exhibiting corresponding signs. In any case, you need to contact a specialist who will prescribe treatment and give recommendations.

Acute dyspepsia

Separately, acute dyspepsia should be considered. Not as rarely as we would like, dyspepsia becomes acute. Its appearance is due to the inconsistency of nutrition in its composition and volume when feeding the baby. The body simply does not have the physiological capabilities for the digestive system to cope with the load.

Acute dyspepsia is characterized by certain signs:

• regurgitation;
• slow growth process;
• frequent diarrhea, that is, diarrhea;
• stool of uneven consistency;
• Sometimes there are mucus impurities in the stool.

To treat acute dyspepsia in children, it is necessary to do a diet fast. Just skip no more than 2 feedings a day for a while, replacing them with nutritional liquid.

Features of treatment

Various methods and remedies can be used to treat digestive disorders in children. But under no circumstances should you purchase medicines or prepare them based on folk recipes without first consulting with specialists.

The first priority is to visit a doctor. He will conduct an examination and diagnosis to confirm the disease and determine the nature of its course. Having received the necessary information, the specialist will be able to prescribe the optimal solution.

The basis of treatment is two points:

• Changes in the child's diet. Since the problem is directly related to the digestive system, treatment should begin with adjusting the diet. The disorders are caused by an inactive and unhealthy lifestyle. The less the child moves, the less he wants to eat. Because of this, harm is caused to the entire body. It is best to treat the disease by breaking your daily meals into several small portions throughout the day. We are talking about the so-called separate nutrition. Also be sure to exclude allergenic foods that can cause allergic reactions after consumption. The ideal scenario is to completely remove fried and fatty foods, soda, smoked foods and sweets from the child’s diet. But this is often difficult to do, so just try to minimize the consumption of these products. It is not uncommon that a simple change in diet can relieve a child of all the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.
• Medications. To supplement proper nutrition, doctors prescribe certain medications. This allows you to speed up the healing process. The types of medications depend directly on what type of dyspepsia the child is experiencing. In case of ulcerative form, inhibitors or histamine blockers are usually prescribed. In the case of treatment of a dyskinetic type of illness, prokinetics are used. If you are faced with nonspecific dyspepsia, then you will not need medications. This form of indigestion cannot be treated with medication.

Folk remedies against FD

Since we are talking about a child’s weak body, many doctors are inclined towards the most safe, natural and effective remedies. These include folk recipes. But in no case should traditional medicine be used without first consulting a doctor.

There are several ways to relieve a child from the symptoms of dyspepsia through traditional treatment:

• Blackberry. You need approximately 10 grams. the roots of this berry bush, which are filled with 500 ml of water and placed on fire. Boil the root until 2/3 of the water remains in the container. Strain and add high-quality red wine to the mixture in proportions of 1 to 1. Once every 4 hours you need to give the product to the child 2 large spoons.
• Fennel. Aka pharmaceutical dill. It costs a penny, but it helps tremendously. Pour 500 ml of boiling water over 10 fruits, put on fire and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Let the mixture cool, then strain. It is important that 200 ml of decoction remains. It should be drunk throughout the day in small portions.
• Sagebrush. Although it is bitter, the benefits are amazing. Take a large spoon of wormwood and fill it with 200-250 ml of boiling water. After half an hour, strain. Regarding the dose, be sure to ask your doctor for advice, since each individual case requires a certain portion of the decoction.

Dyspepsia cannot be called a terrible disease. Especially if you consult a doctor in a timely manner and begin comprehensive treatment of the problem. Provide your child with proper nutrition, an active lifestyle and minimize the number of stressful situations. This guarantees him reliable protection against indigestion.

Dyspepsia in children is a fairly common disease characterized by disruption of the digestive process. Often this disease is diagnosed in children in the first year of life, and the severity of the disease directly depends on the amount of food consumed. This is due to the fact that the volume of food consumed does not always correspond to the capabilities of the gastrointestinal tract. There are several varieties of this syndrome in children - simple and toxic. In the first case, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, in the second, metabolic disorders are observed.

There are several reasons for the occurrence of such a disorder in children - immaturity of the digestive system, a sharp transition to artificial nutrition, and the introduction of new foods into the child’s diet. But some experts believe that genetic predisposition or insufficient enzyme production may be predisposing factors.

This disease in children is manifested by characteristic symptoms - severe pain in the abdomen, complaints of stomach fullness, early satiety, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, which can be followed by constipation, as well as heartburn and belching.

Diagnostic measures for dyspeptic syndrome include laboratory tests of stool and blood, as well as instrumental examinations, including ultrasound and endoscopy. All these procedures are necessary in order to find the cause of the disease. Treatment of the disease depends on the diagnostic results and the type of course. For simple dyspepsia, therapy consists of eliminating the product that caused the disorder and taking medications that reduce the manifestation of characteristic symptoms. The toxic form requires treatment in a medical facility, as plasma transfusions, intravenous medications, and antibiotics may be required.

Etiology

There are several groups of factors that influence the appearance of dyspeptic syndrome. They depend on the age category of the child. Thus, the reasons for the formation of dyspepsia in young children are:

• irrational or irregular feeding of the baby;
• frequent overfeeding of the child;
• early and illiterate introduction of complementary foods to infants;
• introducing age-inappropriate foods or dishes into the diet;
• insufficient production of beneficial intestinal bacteria;
• non-compliance with the established diet by a woman while breastfeeding;
• defects of digestive enzymes are a hereditary disorder during which diseases related to metabolism develop;
• overheating of the child's body.

Causes of the occurrence and development of the syndrome in older children:

• unhealthy diet – predominance of one or another group of nutrients, for example, only fats or carbohydrates;
• eating low-quality foods;
• increased secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach during inflammation - gastritis;
• taking certain medications, such as antibiotics or hormonal substances;
• prolonged exposure to stressful situations;
• acute intoxication - in case of food poisoning or infectious and purulent diseases;
• disruption of food movement due to improper motility of the gastrointestinal tract.

A pronounced dyspeptic syndrome in a child requires immediate treatment, since a long-term disease can cause serious complications.

Varieties

Medicine knows two main types of disease:

• simple form– characterized by damage only to the organs of the digestive system;
• toxic– poses a much greater danger because metabolic disorders occur. Symptoms in this form are pronounced and disappear over a long period of time.

In addition, dyspeptic syndrome is divided depending on nutritional errors and causes. Thus, the disease is divided into:

• fermentation– is formed on the basis of eating large amounts of carbohydrates. For example, kvass and beer, legumes and fruits, cabbage and bread;
• putrid– predominance of protein in food, due to the consumption of large amounts of meat and eggs;
• fatty– excessive intake of fats into the body.

Classification of the disease according to the manifestation of characteristic symptoms of the syndrome in children:

• ulcer-like– is expressed by severe pain in the stomach that goes away after eating food. Therapy is carried out by taking medications;
• reflux-like– there is the appearance of belching, heartburn and bloating;
• dyskinetic– expressed by the occurrence of discomfort in the abdomen, which intensifies after eating, and increased release of gases;
• nonspecific.

There are also several other classifications, but they are most typical for adults.

Symptoms

The clinical manifestation of dyspeptic syndrome in newborns and older children begins with the expression of a simple form of the disease, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• constipation, which later gives way to diarrhea. The frequency of bowel movements can be more than five times a day;
• the presence of mucus and characteristic lumps in the stool, which may have a white, yellow or green tint;
• increase in abdominal volume;
• increased gas separation;
• fast saturation;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• the occurrence of intestinal colic;
• belching.

The duration of this form of the disease is approximately one week. If treatment is not started during this time, a more severe form of the disease develops - toxic. In this case, the expression of symptoms such as:

• a significant increase in body temperature, up to a feverish state;
• constant nausea and frequent vomiting;
• diarrhea - the frequency of bowel movements reaches twenty times a day;
• severe dehydration;
• retraction of the large fontanelle in newborns;
• significant reduction in body weight;
• decreased manifestation of reflexes;
• lack of interest in new toys or people;
• seizures of convulsions.

The toxic form of the syndrome can cause impairment of consciousness, development of coma and death of young children.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of dyspepsia in children includes a whole range of tools, and consists of examination by a pediatrician and pediatric gastroenterologist, laboratory tests and instrumental examinations.

First of all, the doctor needs to familiarize himself with the medical history of the patient and his immediate family. This is necessary in order to exclude or confirm genetic factors for the occurrence of the disease. After which the specialist needs to find out the first time, intensity and duration of symptoms. A thorough inspection is then carried out.

Instrumental diagnostic methods include:

• acidity test;
• Endoscopy is a procedure during which a specialist examines the internal surface of the digestive system using a special instrument. In this case, a mandatory biopsy is necessary;
• determination of acidity in the stomach;
• respiratory diagnostics – necessary to detect the bacterium Helicobacter pylori;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• colonoscopy;
• radiography using a contrast agent;
• determination of gastric and intestinal motility;
• manometry – carried out to assess the motor function of the esophagus;
• sounding - gastric or duodenal.

In addition, additional consultations with a pediatric neurologist and psychologist are necessary since this disease is often accompanied by disorders of the nervous system.

Treatment

After identifying the characteristic symptoms of the disease and making a diagnosis, drug and non-drug therapy is used to treat the disease in children.

Non-drug treatment consists of:

• food intake restrictions - give only liquids for six hours. In the future, follow the nutritional rules according to the child’s age group;
• performing massage movements on the stomach, clockwise;
• walking with the baby after he has eaten. Provide him with a vertical position for twenty minutes;
• avoiding excessively tight swaddling;
• regulation of diet in older children and adolescents;
• complete elimination of overeating.

Drug treatment of dyspepsia involves taking medications aimed at eliminating the signs of the disease. Patients are often prescribed painkillers, proton pump blockers, drugs to reduce acidity, and enzyme substances that normalize the digestion process. In addition, it is necessary to visit a psychotherapist and take psychotropic medications.

Severe forms of dyspepsia in children are eliminated in a medical facility. In such cases, therapy includes plasma transfusion, administration of plasma replacement or saline solutions. Intravenous injections of drugs may be needed to eliminate the symptoms and disease that caused the disease.

Prevention

Preventive measures against such a disorder consist of following simple rules:

• maintaining a rational and balanced diet, according to the age of the child;
• complete elimination of overeating, consumption of low-quality products and fast food;
• maintaining a healthy lifestyle - for teenagers;
• regular performance of moderate physical activity;
• maintaining hygiene before eating;
• Regular visits to the pediatrician, at least once a year.

In most cases, dyspepsia in children has a favorable prognosis, complete recovery and does not entail complications. But if treatment is not started in a timely manner, the prognosis is not so good. A toxic form of the disease may develop, which can lead to coma or death.

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not yet fully formed, many children experience various types of abnormalities in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This is associated with the widespread prevalence of such diseases as dyspepsia.

The pathology manifests itself in the form of a set of symptoms that may also be characteristic of other disorders of the digestive system.

Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia in children, as well as its early treatment, since disturbances in the processes of food digestion can negatively affect the overall health of the baby.

Read about the symptoms and treatment of gastroenteritis in children in ours.

Characteristics of the disease

Dyspepsia – disruption of the upper digestive system.

Most often, pathology occurs as a result of non-compliance with the diet, or the child consuming low-quality food that is not suitable for the child’s body.

If the digestive system of an adult easily copes with spicy and fatty foods, then the child’s stomach is not able to do this.

As a result of systematic violation of feeding rules, for example, if a child is regularly overfed, complementary foods are introduced ahead of schedule, or given foods that are not suitable for him, a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract develops.

In this case, a whole series of symptoms, indicating the presence of dyspepsia.

Most often, the disease develops in young children. The digestive system of a baby under 1 year of age is not adapted to overloads that can arise as a result of a violation of the diet or consumption of “adult” foods.

How does dyspepsia occur? Pathology develops in stages:

1. Digestive system of a small child contains small amounts of enzymes involved in the process of food digestion. They are not enough to break down heavy foods that adults eat. As a result, the digestion process is not carried out fully.
2. Incompletely processed food enters the intestines, where it should be absorbed, but due to the fact that the food is not completely digested, this does not happen. In the intestines fermentation processes begin.
3. Fermentation in the intestines leads to excessive excretion toxic breakdown products food.
4. As a result of these processes, symptoms of the disease arise.

Causes

The most common cause of dyspepsia in children is considered to be eating disorder, that is, if the child systematically overeats (this occurs in both infants and older children).

If a child is offered food that is not appropriate for his age (for example, with the early or incorrect introduction of complementary foods), this leads to disturbances in the digestion of food, and as a result, to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Exists many unfavorable factors, provoking the occurrence of dyspepsia in children of different ages.

Children under 1 year	Binge eating. This is especially common during artificial feeding, since it is much easier for a child to suck milk from a bottle than from the mother’s breast. The process of sucking milk occurs faster, the baby does not have time to understand that he is full. Insufficient amount of digestive enzymes. Consumption of foods that are not suitable for the baby’s age. When introducing complementary foods, it is important to pay attention to whether the new product corresponds to the age-related characteristics of the baby’s digestive system. It is best to offer your baby simple one-ingredient meals as complementary foods. Incorrect introduction of complementary foods when the baby is offered several new dishes at once. It is recommended to introduce no more than 1 new product per week. Prematurity.
Older children	Abuse of foods that are difficult to digest. These include salty, fatty, spicy foods that irritate the gastric mucosa. Violation of the diet, for example, a heavy dinner shortly before going to bed, overeating. Hormonal changes in the body characteristic of puberty.
Common causes common to any age group You will find specialists in the treatment of gastroduodenitis in children on our website. Classification There are 3 main types of dyspepsia: simple (functional), parenteral and toxic. Functional dyspepsia, in turn, is divided into the following types: fermentation. As a result of fermentation processes occurring in the intestine, the number of microorganisms involved in the fermentation process sharply increases in its cavity. This happens with excessive consumption of carbohydrate foods; putrid. If a child eats large amounts of protein-rich foods, the number of bacteria in the intestines that contribute to food rotting increases; fatty. With excessive consumption of fatty foods, the process of digestion and absorption of food is disrupted, heaviness, painful sensations in the stomach, and stool disorders occur. Parenteral dyspepsia is a secondary disease that develops as a result of serious pathologies (for example, pneumonia) previously suffered by the child. Toxic dyspepsia is considered the most severe form, which occurs due to bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, this form can develop as a result of untreated simple dyspepsia. Symptoms and manifestations of pathology The disease is characterized by the presence of certain symptoms that indicate disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system. These symptoms include: In some cases, symptoms such as frequent sleep disturbances are also noted. Complications and consequences Depending on the form and severity of the pathology, its consequences may be different. With timely prescribed treatment the disease usually goes away within a few days without causing any complications. Lack of therapy can cause weight loss and loss of appetite. Acute dyspepsia, manifested by profuse vomiting and diarrhea, can lead to dehydration of the body, and this, in turn, provokes the development of irreversible changes in all internal organs. The chronic form of the disease contributes to the development persistent violations functioning of the digestive system. Diagnostics If you notice the first signs of dyspepsia in a child, you should contact your pediatrician. Consultations with other specialists (gastroenterologist, psychiatrist, neurologist) may also be required. Certain methods are used to make a diagnosis laboratory and instrumental research. What should I give my child for worms? find out right now. Treatment and drugs To eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of pathology, it is necessary, first of all, exclude the cause of its occurrence. Next, a whole complex of therapeutic measures, which includes following a certain diet, taking medications, and other procedures, such as abdominal massage to improve the functionality of the digestive system and relieve pain. Drugs used for therapeutic purposes: Maalox; Domperidone; Mezim; Cisapride. These products facilitate the digestion of food, restore intestinal microflora, and eliminate heaviness and pain in the stomach. Diet Without following a special diet, drug treatment of dyspepsia will be ineffective. The diet consists of reducing the amount of food consumed and restoring the body’s water balance. Forecast With timely detection and treatment of the disease, the prognosis favorable. If there is no therapy, it is possible to develop serious diseases of the digestive system, disrupt the growth and development of the child, which negatively affects the general condition of his body. Prevention For young children, it is important to monitor not only the quantity of food consumed, but also its quality. Yes, baby you can't overfeed, that is, he should not consume food too often or in large quantities. If the child is bottle-fed, it is necessary to choose quality milk formulas, closest in composition to breast milk. For older children, the quality of food remains an equally important point. Must be excluded fast food products, all kinds of unhealthy snacks, carbonated drinks, coffee, fatty and spicy foods, pickles. In addition, the child should move as much as possible and spend enough time in the fresh air. Dyspepsia is a common disease, the main cause of which is considered eating disorder. The pathology occurs in both young and older children. The disease manifests itself with certain symptoms, indicating the presence of problems in the functioning of the digestive organs. The child will need special treatment, the main points of which are taking medications, dieting. With timely prescribed therapy, the disease responds well to treatment. You can learn about the symptoms and treatment of dyspepsia from the video: We kindly ask you not to self-medicate. Make an appointment with a doctor!