Dr. Komarovsky: intestinal infections in children, symptoms, treatment, diet

All food and water, which people use, unfortunately, are very far from sterility. Every day and every hour, billions of different bacteria come into our bodies. There is nothing wrong with this, because nature has come up with effective ways to neutralize microbes. "Good" bacteria, saliva with bactericidal properties, poisonous gastric juice do not allow outsiders to get accustomed to the body and destroy it.

But the child's body is very gentle and receptive, so miracles do not always happen to him. Unfortunately, Dr. Komarovsky argues, intestinal infections Happen with children almost with the same frequency as ARVI. What should parents do that suspected intestinal infection from their youngster, and are there ways to prevent dangerous infection? We will try to understand this.

Cause of intestinal infection

There is no one person who has never caught an intestinal infection. This is because there are many ways to neutralize a huge number of protective forces of the body: neutralize the acidic acid juice with an alkaline drink, destroy your own microbes with antibiotics, swallow food without chewing it and many others.

The pests, however, often enter the organism quite often, says Dr. Komarovsky. Intestinal infections do not really need an adult, let alone a child. Their main reason was, there is and will be a failure to comply with the simplest hygiene standards: unwashed hands, improper storage of food, flocks of flies between the toilet and the dinner table. No matter how magnificent protective forces the body of man in general and the kid in particular possesses, there will always be microbes that can not be neutralized.

Intestinal infection in any family member is a huge alarm for everyone else. The patient needs a separate dish, and the rest - more often wash their hands, organize an ideal cleanliness, all the dishes should be boiled, not sparing disinfectants.

The main principle of assistance in obtaining an intestinal infection is to make up for loss of salts and fluid as quickly as possible. Go compote from dried fruits, green tea.

Infectious agents

Like many others, intestinal infections in babies can be viral and bacterial. By their name it can be seen that the difference in the nature of the pathogen. Among the huge number of viral intestinal infections, in children the most common is rotavirus.

In addition, there are still the most common infections in infants: dysentery, enterovirus and salmonellosis.

Every year (according to WHO statistics) about 2 million children under the age of 5 die from a disease called intestinal infection in children. Komarovsky believes that if all the necessary measures were taken, this figure would be much lower.

Self-medication or the experience of professionals?

But parents should not be frightened and despair. Not the worst thing that can happen to their baby, this one Rotavirus intestinal infection. Komarovsky Argues that over 90 percent of all cases of intestinal infections can be overcome without the use of special medications. But the remaining 10% are the most insidious and terrible. This is just the case when self-medication should not be used in any case! The most important thing in the current situation is to bring the baby to infectious diseases as soon as possible.

Indication for calling a doctor

Urgent doctor assistance is necessary for the following symptoms in your child:

• In the vomit masses of the baby or its feces there are blood clots;
• The child can not be given a drink - he either spews up water, or can not swallow it;
• There are obvious signs of dehydration - a "dry" tongue, the baby does not piss the last 5-6 hours, there is dry skin and mucous membranes, there is no sweat and tears;
• A rash appeared on the child's body;
• A crumb complains of a headache;
• Sharply and greatly increases the body temperature;
• With diarrhea or vomiting, parents can see that the baby's skin is rather pale and greatly shivering.

Signs and symptoms of intestinal infection in infants

All the above signs and symptoms describe a situation in which intestinal infection in children (Komarovsky claims this with all responsibility) has already acquired a sufficiently severe or even deadly form. Fortunately, such situations are not frequent.

Most cases of infection with the infection are usually expressed by several universal symptoms:

• The baby refuses to eat;
• There is vomiting or diarrhea;
• Slightly increases body temperature;
• The baby is drowsy, listless and pale.

Who brings the infection to the body?

Far from all cases, intestinal infection in children is terrible and dangerous. Treatment (Komarovsky is convinced of this from the height of his professional experience) should be timely and accurate.

The pathogens of intestinal infections include bacteria (vibrio cholera, typhoid fever, staphylococcus) and some viruses. They can perfectly reproduce in the intestines and lead to disruption of the digestive process. They also contribute to inflammation of all cells of the intestinal mucosa. The usual and characteristic consequence of these processes is diarrhea as the main symptom in a situation where an acute intestinal infection is observed . Komarovsky explains that initially the very concept of a disease obtained by infection differs. For a person who is not versed in medical terms, diarrhea is a guarantee of the presence of infection in the body. For a doctor, the symptoms themselves are not important, but the ways of infection.

Part of the symptoms is not a disease yet

"Any disease in infants, transmitted through the mouth (the so-called fecal-oral route of infection) and shows what is the intestinal infection in infants" (Komarovsky). The most obvious example is Botkin's disease. The virus penetrates the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea is mostly absent, and the liver is affected. That's why you should not focus only on diarrhea. After all, there are also other signs of the disease - pain in the tummy of the baby, high body temperature, nausea and vomiting, no appetite, the child is weak. Such signs are quite common, but not always they indicate that there is an intestinal infection in children. Symptoms, treatment (Komarovsky, as a representative of the talented doctors clan, is convinced that the result will be much better than before the parents turned to the doctor) should be: the first - well studied, and the second - to be applied according to the prescriptions of the doctor.

Dehydration of the child's body

Only a small part of the diseases called "intestinal infection", treatment (Komarovsky as a physician with many years of experience in this is convinced), which does not require reflection, should be carried out with the help of antibiotics. And the rest pass without such intervention, accompanied by the immune system of the baby. After a few days she begins to develop the necessary protection against this disease. The main task of any kid is to hold out for these few days. And the most dangerous risk for this period for the child is the most common dehydration, the doctor says. Komarovsky. Intestinal infections contribute to the fact that with diarrhea or vomiting fluid leaves the body. Therefore, it is so important to renew it.

If mom and dad know exactly how to protect their baby's body from dehydration, then their intestines are not afraid of any intestinal infection.

Features of treatment of intestinal infection in children: high temperature and antibiotics

Intestinal infection in children - symptoms, treatment (Komarovsky has dwelt on this moment in his programs), in case of a situation that arises, they must first be detected in time and then eliminated with the help of properly prescribed medications.

Usually it is believed that if the baby has a body temperature of about 38 ° C, then it should not be knocked down (the body struggles itself). But according to Dr. Komarovsky, intestinal infections - The thing is dangerous, so it's not only possible to knock down the temperature, but it is also necessary. This follows from the fact that the heat removes huge amounts of liquid from the body, and in fact it is especially dehydration in case of intestinal infection for babies.

Karapuzu (if the body temperature has risen) it is necessary to give an antipyretic agent so that there is no dehydration and intoxication. You should always give your baby a drink.

Parents, remember: the higher the intestinal infection the temperature of the baby's body, the more it should be watered!

Previously, it was said that only a small percentage of intestinal infections require the use of antimicrobial agents for cure. And the use of any antibiotics in this case is strictly regulated by WHO.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, intestinal infection in children is dangerous, but not fatal. It is necessary only to adhere to all the recommendations of a doctor and not engage in self-medication. Antibiotics can be used in cases of diarrhea that has lasted for several days, hemocoalitis (when there is an admixture of blood in the stool or vomit) and in severe forms of cholera. Only in these cases, the use of antibiotics for babies is justified and quite effective.

Treatment of intestinal infection in children: sorbents

Indeed, there is some reason for using sorbents in intestinal infections of babies. They can absorb poisons, toxins and other harmful substances inside the gastrointestinal tract, get rid of excess gas. Practitioners of pediatricians are convinced that to some extent sorbents save the child's body from dehydration and intoxication. So far, no one has been able to prove that the use of such means poses a threat to the child.

Baby food after getting rid of an intestinal infection

So, what is the diet after an intestinal infection? Komarovsky Recalls that during illness the baby had a temporary enzymatic insufficiency. After the illness, it does not last long. This is important to consider when drawing up the baby's menu.

In the first days after the illness it is necessary to restrain the appetite of the recovering child.

Often it happens that after the recovery phase comes, the condition of the baby improves, the appetite comes. That's parents (especially grandmothers) and are happy to try - put on the table all yum-like - fatter and thicker. But purely physiological organism of the child to such excesses is not yet ready: he does not yet have enzymes that would digest all this deliciousness.

Do not feed it with "heavy" and fatty foods. It is better to prolong the therapeutic diet, which includes vegetable soups, cereal grains on water, cookies, fruit puree. It's only for 5-7 days, until the enzyme activity is restored.

The diet of the child after an intestinal infection should be observed. Komarovsky Advises that you can do the same in a different way: for a time to give the recovering baby special enzymes. Although many pediatricians believe that an extended diet is better than "feeding" to the child pharmacy enzymes.

Health to you and your children!