Gastrointestinal Problems Among Children
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, failure to gain weight, and feeding problems are the most common gastrointestinal ailments parents come with. These problems should not be overlooked because later in life they result in serious consequences...Over time, a child with an intestinal disorder can have: Problems absorbing calcium. Weak bones. Inflamed skin, eyes, or joints.
Here in This, I am going to discuss some of the most common complaints parents come with-
Abdominal Pain
The most frequent complaint of the child is "My Tummy Hurts’’ It is mainly due to wind or indigestion. A sore tummy might also be a sign of infections like food poisoning, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, or urinary tract infections.
Vomiting
Having vomit just after taking feed is very common in a newborn. This is because the sphincter muscle between the stomach and the esophagus is not as strong as it will eventually become as the baby matures. In the formula, feed vomiting occurs when overfeeding is done or if the formula fee doesn't suit the baby. You have to visit a healthcare provider when there is often vomiting, green color vomiting, or if the child becomes lethargic. In certain instances, it can be a cause of serious diseases such as meningitis (infection in the brain), appendicitis, hepatitis, and intestinal blockages. Apart from it, the consumption of tea, coffee, and tangy and fried food can also cause vomiting due to gastritis.
Constipation
Constipation in children is one of the most common yet one most challenges that parents face. I have often seen in children constipation triggered when there are minor changes in the routine of a child such as traveling, or changes in eating, and drinking habits. So here are some of the tips one can do to soften the stool in constipation
- Keep your child hydrated
- Add more and more fiber to the diet
- Encourage the child to do regular exercise
- Give them Bowel Training (after waking or meals)
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is when the stools are loose and watery. It may last 1 or 2 days and go away on its own. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days, your child may have a more serious problem. It may be due to Bacterial infection, Viral infection, food intolerance, etc. In most cases treatment involves the replacement of the lost fluid.
The rotavirus vaccine can prevent diarrhea caused by that virus.
Failure to weight gain
Never ignore a child who is refusing to eat food, who is not growing well in weight ad height, and is having yellow eyes, coupled with lethargy and poor concentration in school. Such children may be suffering from anemia (low hemoglobin), celiac disease, and chronic liver disease. Consulting a healthcare provider must be a priority.
Here are some ways which will help to defeat your Child’s digestive issues
- Encourage your child to be physically active.
- When there is diarrhea or severe vomiting give a small amount of water every 15 minutes. Your child may refuse food when they first get gastro. This is not a problem as long as they are drinking fluids.
- Don’t stop breastfeeding in any of the gastro problems. It supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions. It protects against allergies, sickness, etc.
The main purpose of the gut is to digest and absorb nutrients to maintain life. If your gut is unhealthy then there will no proper absorption of the nutrient. In conclusion, nutrition has both a supportive and therapeutic role in the management of chronic gastrointestinal diseases. With the development of modern techniques of nutritional support, the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic GI disease can be reduced.
Paediatric gastroenterology experts provide proper care for children having digestive problems. Here at Basic Meals, we prescribe the proper diet plan and also motivate how to live a healthy lifestyle.
You can also follow us on:
