Flatulence in children

Flatulence, or increased gas formation inside the intestines, cannot be called a disease: it is just a symptom indicating some kind of malfunction in the digestive tract. Gas formation and accumulation also occurs in healthy people – however, in small quantities, which does not cause discomfort or pain. Flatulence in children is usually of particular concern. This condition can occur for many reasons, without determining which one cannot begin treating the child.

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Causes flatulence in the baby

Flatulence in children of different ages occurs as a result of the accumulation of air or gas bubbles in the intestines. This can be caused by such reasons as air entering the stomach during meals, eating gas-forming foods, and fermentation processes of food masses.

The most common probable causes can be listed as follows:

• the presence in the diet of a large amount of carbohydrate foods and baked goods (abundance of sugar and yeast);
• pathology of food digestion (insufficiency of secretion of enzymes necessary for complete digestion of food elements);
• disruption of bacterial balance in the intestines (dysbacteriosis);
• weakness of the intestinal muscular system (atony, helminthic infestations).

In addition, children with an easily excitable nervous system are prone to intestinal colic and increased gas formation. Thus, with a tendency to hysteria and irritability, the excitement can be transmitted to the digestive tract, which usually manifests itself in poor digestion of food and, as a result, flatulence.

Symptoms flatulence in the baby

Flatulence is characterized by the following symptoms:

• a feeling of heaviness in the abdominal area;
• internal pressure in the abdomen;
• spastic pain;
• visual enlargement of the abdomen.

In children, this condition may be accompanied by hiccups, unpleasant belching, and increased sweating. If the gases are successfully released, all of the above symptoms go away.

What is the difference between flatulence in a baby? The fact is that the baby, due to his age, is not yet able to explain to an adult what exactly is bothering him. Therefore, it is very important that parents can independently determine the cause of discomfort in the child for subjective and objective reasons.

During intestinal colic, the baby is capricious, restless, twitches its legs, cries incessantly. Sometimes the appearance of flatulence is associated with a recent meal, and most often this occurs in the evening or at night.

• Flatulence in a one-month-old baby is a very common occurrence that can cause a lot of concern to inexperienced parents. From about birth to five months, the baby's digestive tract adapts to digesting food: intestinal microflora is formed, enzyme production is established. Often, the still imperfect intestines are not able to cope with the abundance of pathogenic flora, so they react to dysbacteriosis with increased gas formation and intestinal spasms.

In addition, a fairly common cause of flatulence in infants is swallowing air during feeding. This can happen:

• when the baby is not latched on to the breast correctly, when he does not grasp the entire areola, but only the nipple;
• if the baby is in an uncomfortable position during feeding;
• if the bottle is positioned incorrectly and air gets into the nipple;
• if the nipple is incorrectly selected (too much flow, too hard, inelastic nipple);
• when feeding a crying and restless baby.

In order to minimize the discomfort of the infant from air entering the digestive system, it is recommended to give the infant an upright position after feeding until the baby burps the accumulated air. This usually happens after 5-20 minutes.

If the child is breastfed, then the occurrence of flatulence may be associated with errors in the nutrition of the nursing mother. It is no secret that many substances present in food products also get to the child with milk.

If bloating occurs in a baby who is bottle-fed, the reasons may be as follows:

• unsuitable mixture;
• poor quality or unadapted mixture;
• lactose intolerance in a child.

To solve this problem, you should consult with your pediatrician about the correct replacement of the milk formula with another one.

• Flatulence in a 1-year-old child is no longer associated with imperfections of the gastrointestinal tract. At this age, the formation of the digestive organs is already completely completed: enzymes for digesting food are ready, the intestines are stable in most cases. The peculiarity is the rapid development of the intestines and an increase in the volume of the stomach. Flatulence at this age can be provoked by errors in nutrition (especially if the baby is already eating from the "adult" table), low physical activity and emotional overload. For example, excessive excitability and a tendency to hysterics can lead to improper functioning of the stomach and intestines, as a result of which food is poorly digested and causes flatulence.
• Flatulence in a 3-year-old child occurs much less frequently than at an earlier age. The causes of bloating can be different, because such children can already eat food containing a large amount of starch and fiber, or drink carbonated water, which can also cause flatulence. To help the child and prevent gas formation, it is necessary to monitor what foods he eats. You can notice a connection, after what food bloating appears. For example, "gases" can bother the baby after eating bakery products, sweets, milk, as well as with a combination of carbohydrate and protein foods. If there is no such connection, then you can suspect dysbacteriosis or other problems with the digestive system. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is better to consult a doctor.
• Flatulence in children aged 5 years may be associated with the constant expansion of the diet. When choosing products for a 5-year-old child, it is necessary to take into account age-related features, because the baby's digestive system is still sensitive to the composition of dishes and diet. Therefore, the choice of products should be carefully planned.

If mom and dad do not control their child's diet sufficiently, then already at this age the baby may develop gastrointestinal tract pathologies. Subsequently, this may lead not only to flatulence, but also to other problems associated with poor digestion and absorption of food.

Why can bloating occur at the age of 5:

• when combining products incorrectly;
• when consuming large amounts of sweets or carbonated water;
• in case of lactose intolerance;
• when overeating;
• if the diet is not followed (for example, the intervals between meals are too short);
• when consuming large amounts of raw fruits and vegetables.

It is advisable to prepare a menu for a child in advance in order to think through all the nuances of nutrition in a timely manner in order to avoid flatulence.

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Diagnostics flatulence in the baby

To diagnose flatulence, it is sometimes enough to monitor the child's diet. Eliminating certain foods from the diet and establishing a dietary regimen often helps to get rid of the problem. However, in some cases, it is necessary to resort to tests and research.

• Stool analysis – will help to identify dysbacteriosis, helminths and their eggs. Also, the study of feces indicates the presence of blood elements or undigested food particles, which gives an idea of the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Blood test – allows you to detect signs of inflammation in the body, or anemia, which is often associated with poor absorption of food.
• Hydrogen test – determines the quality of carbohydrate digestion and lactose tolerance.
• Gastric probing and colonoscopy are performed if intestinal obstruction is suspected.
• Enzyme tests – assess the enzymatic activity of the digestive system (the ability to digest food).

When making a diagnosis, one should also take into account possible problems with the child's nervous system, endocrine disorders, helminthic invasions, the presence of foci of infection in the body, etc. Depending on the identified cause, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

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Treatment flatulence in the baby

Flatulence in children is treated depending on the child’s age and the cause of the disease.

In relation to infants, whose flatulence is associated with an imperfect digestive system and the ingress of air from outside, it is recommended to apply the following rules:

• Immediately after feeding, place the baby in an upright position for 10-15 minutes so that he can burp up the accumulated air;
• regularly massage your tummy clockwise, approximately 1.5-2 hours after eating;
• Before feeding, place the baby on his tummy - this way the accumulated bubbles will come out on their own;
• apply a warm diaper or a non-hot heating pad;
• allow the baby to fall asleep with his or her tummy against mom or dad's tummy;
• if there is a large accumulation of gases, insert a gas-removal tube: such a tube is sold in a pharmacy, or you can make one yourself from a baby enema. The tube should be inserted very carefully, having first lubricated it with Vaseline, so as not to damage the baby's delicate skin;
• with the doctor's permission, give the baby an infusion of fennel or chamomile. There are also special teas for small children (for example, HIPP tea, "Babushkino Lukoshko", etc.).

Often, small children are prescribed drugs that neutralize gas bubbles in the intestines. As a rule, these are drugs based on simethicone - a substance that can bind "gases" and dissolve or remove them from the body. Simethicone is absolutely safe even for newborns, since it is not absorbed into the bloodstream and is excreted unchanged along with feces. Among such drugs, the most common are drops Colikid, Espumisan, Infacol, Bobotik, etc.

Herbal medicines with the addition of chamomile, fennel, and anise have a good effect. Such preparations include Baby Calm, Plantex, Bebinos, etc.

If a child is diagnosed with dysbacteriosis, then in most cases Bifiform baby, Lacidophil, Linex, Lactovit forte can help him. Such medications can be taken only after consultation with a pediatrician.

For your convenience, we have compiled a small table that describes the most well-known medications for flatulence in children, as well as their dosage and method of administration.

Name of the drug	Method of administration and dosage	Special instructions
Colikid suspension	For children under 1 year: 0.5 ml of the preparation per dose, mixed in water or milk. For children over 1 year old: 1 ml of the drug per dose. For children over six years of age: 1-2 ml per dose.	Children under 12 years of age are prescribed Colikid only in the form of a suspension.
Espumisan	For infants and children under 6 years of age: no more than 1 teaspoon at a time. For children over 6 years old: 1 to 2 teaspoons at a time.	In childhood, the drug is used in the form of an emulsion.
Bobotik	For infants and children under 6 years of age: 16 drops per dose, dissolved in milk or water. Children under 14 years: up to 32 drops at a time. Frequency of administration: up to 5 times in 24 hours.	Do not use in case of intestinal obstruction.
Infacol	Prescribed only to infants, 1/2 ml before each meal. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor.	Use with caution if your baby is prone to allergies.
Baby calm	Take 10 drops before feeding, diluted with boiled water according to the instructions.	Used only to treat flatulence in children under 1 year of age.
Plantex	From birth to 1 year: up to 2 sachets per day, 3 times. Children from 1 to 4 years old: up to 3 sachets 3 times. The granules are dissolved in warm boiled water.	Do not use in case of lactase deficiency or impaired glucose absorption.
Bebinos	The product is dissolved in water. For children under 1 year: 3 to 6 drops three times a day. For children under 6 years of age: up to 10 drops three times a day. For children over 6 years old: up to 15 drops three times a day.	Not prescribed to children with sorbitol intolerance.
Bifiform	Mix the contents of the capsule with food (formula, milk). For children 2-6 months: ½ capsule once a day. From six months to 2 years: 1 capsule once a day. From 2 years: 1 capsule twice a day. Bifiform baby suspension is prescribed from birth in the amount of ½ ml per day. Duration of therapy is up to 20 days.	The prepared suspension Bifiform baby should be used within 14 days.
Lactovit forte	For children from six months to 2 years: 1 capsule per day, dissolved in milk or water. For children over 2 years old: 2 capsules daily, preferably before meals.	Not prescribed to children under 6 months of age, or to patients with lactose intolerance.
Lacidophilus	The contents of the capsule are dissolved in food or water. For newborns and children up to 3 years old: 1 capsule every other day. For children over 3 years old: 1 capsule daily. Duration of therapy is 3 weeks.	If necessary, the dosage may be increased.
Linex	For infants and children up to 2 years old: 1 capsule three times a day. Children under 12 years: up to 2 capsules three times daily.	The drug is added to liquid or tea.

If your child has flatulence, don't offer him food: it will only make the discomfort worse. Give him water or tea, calm him down.

When the bloating subsides, you can feed the baby, but little by little, avoiding overfeeding.

If flatulence does not go away after all the measures taken, you should definitely show the child to a doctor.

Prevention

In order to avoid increased gas formation in a child, it is recommended to follow some rules:

• if necessary, you should limit the consumption of legumes, carbonated water, cabbage, sweets, and buns (by the child or nursing mother);
• It is worth explaining to the older child how important it is to chew food thoroughly;
• you need to eat slowly;
• It is advisable to create a diet and stick to it: this will improve digestion and avoid overeating;
• for good digestion of food, you need to lead an active lifestyle, maintain physical activity, and do physical exercise;
• To prevent flatulence, infants can be given dill water, fennel or chamomile tea (after consulting a doctor);
• For older children, tea with mint leaves will be useful for preventive purposes.

If flatulence does appear, the simple treatment methods described above will help a child of any age. The main thing is to pay attention to the baby's problem in time.

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Forecast

It is possible to talk about the prognosis of flatulence in a child only after the cause of increased gas formation has been established. In the vast majority of cases, the problem of flatulence is solved by the means listed above. In some situations, it may be necessary to correct the diet and stabilize the bacterial balance of the intestinal flora.

If a baby is diagnosed with lactose intolerance, then by refusing products containing lactose, the state of the digestive system usually returns to normal.

In case of disorders of the nervous system, the help of a pediatric neurologist may be required.

In difficult cases, such as intestinal obstruction, surgical intervention is sometimes used. The prognosis in such a situation depends on the timeliness of seeking medical help, as well as the competence and professionalism of the attending physician.

Flatulence in children is, in most cases, a physiological process. This is especially true for infants. However, if there is the slightest doubt or suspicion of a disease, it is imperative to consult a pediatrician.

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