Intestinal infection is a dangerous disease that sooner or later affects every person. The presented ailment includes a large number of pathological processes that negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. An ailment often occurs due to the presence of viruses, toxins and bacteria in the body. The symptoms of the disease differ significantly in terms of its severity.

What contributes to the onset of the disease?

If the body is affected by viruses and bacteria, then this is fraught with the formation of such diseases as:

• escherichiosis;
• klebsiellosis;
• dysentery;
• salmonellosis;
• diarrhea;
• staphylococcal infection.

All the presented pathological processes cause intestinal infections. In addition, the development of this ailment is influenced by non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, the use of dirty fruits and vegetables, and the replenishment of the body with water, which contains harmful microorganisms. They move from the esophagus through the stomach and into the intestines.

How does the disease manifest in adults?

There are cases when an intestinal infection in adults does not make itself felt for a certain time, so the patient does not even suspect about this insidious ailment. The most common symptoms of intestinal infection include the following:

Intestinal infections in children occur for the same reason as in adults (damage to pathogens). They inflict damage mainly on the digestive tract and are accompanied by a toxic reaction of the body.

Intestinal infection in children, like all other infectious diseases, occurs suddenly. Even in the early stages of the disease, children are visited by weakness, poor appetite, headache, fever. At first glance, all the presented signs indicate ARI. But after a while, the child develops nausea and vomiting, cramping abdominal pains, diarrhea, chills.

Acute intestinal infection

Acute intestinal infections are a type of infectious acute pathologies that arise as a result of the influence of various pathogenic agents. Acute intestinal infection with fever manifests itself and contributes to the development of further dehydration. Acute infection is especially severe in children and people of retirement age. The incubation period of the pathology lasts from 5 hours to two days.

Very often, salmonellosis begins acutely after a brief feeling of abdominal discomfort. During this period, the patient notes the following symptoms of an acute intestinal infection:

• weakness;
• feeling of nausea;
• vomit;
• an increase in temperature (38-39 C);
• acute intestinal infections are accompanied by painful sensations in the abdomen, which are diffuse;
• diarrhea, which is characterized by copious, watery, greenish bowel movements.

If the patient presents with symptoms of acute intestinal infection, he must be hospitalized immediately. Very often this form of intestinal infection is diagnosed in infants. Therefore, if you find green diarrhea in a baby, a rise in temperature, then you need to immediately show it to a specialist.

Intestinal flu (rotavirus infection)

Intestinal infections of this form occur due to the presence of rotaviruses in the body. The irritation process takes place through food, water and hands. Rotavirus infection begins to form after bacteria have invaded the cells of the lining of the small intestine. As a result, his physical activity increases, which contributes to the occurrence of feelings of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The disease begins to manifest itself even before the viruses multiply in the required amount to irritate the intestines. This is the incubation period and lasts about 5 days.

Effective therapy

Treatment of intestinal infections should involve an integrated approach. In addition to stopping harmful microbes, the patient needs to neutralize toxins and restore water balance.

Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea introduce harmful substances from the body, so there is no need to restrain yourself. On the contrary, during this period she is even called. Treatment of an intestinal infection cannot do without bowel lavage. This procedure is performed using an enema. It is also necessary to treat the disease with the help of sorbents that neutralize the negative effects of toxins. The most effective are:

• Smecta;
• Polyphepan;
• Attapulgite.

During the period of intestinal infection, fasting is beneficial for patients. The reason is that food can cause bacteria to grow. Rice and oatmeal porridge without added salt are useful. They have a calming effect on the intestines.

To treat intestinal infections is shown with a solution of Rehydron or Behydron. These funds during the period of illness help to restore the electrolyte balance. They are taken in a couple of sips every 10 minutes. The patient needs more fluid intake during the period of intestinal infection. The best option would be dried fruit compote and various herbal teas.

As for antibiotics for intestinal infection, it is not recommended to use them immediately after the onset of the first symptoms. They have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora and the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of intestinal infection with antibiotics can only be prescribed by the attending physician. It is allowed to treat the disease with such modern drugs as Linex and Lactobacterin.

It is also not recommended to treat an intestinal infection on its own during a period when the patient has severe and debilitating vomiting, as a result of which he cannot drink, a high temperature, and there are blood impurities in the feces.

Disease therapy in children

If an intestinal infection in a child is accompanied by severe diarrhea and vomiting, then you need to immediately take action and treat the ailment that has arisen. The most common mistake parents make when treating an intestinal infection is to stop unwanted symptoms of the disease. In the first hours, it is not recommended to do this, since vomiting and diarrhea are a protective reaction of the body, as a result of which the body tries to eliminate toxins on its own.

If these manifestations are stopped during the treatment of intestinal infections in children, this will lead to even greater intoxication. In addition, if the parents know exactly what their baby ate and the rise in temperature, abdominal pains are caused by this, then vomiting or defecation should be provoked to effectively treat an intestinal infection.

With such events, it is very important to constantly replenish the loss of fluid and mineral salts. Therefore, during the treatment of intestinal infection in children, parents should make sure that he takes a lot of fluids. To do this, you need to give him special solutions, powders, which are sold in the pharmacy. It is forbidden to give your child juices and dairy products.

Nutrition

If the disease is mild, then for the treatment of intestinal infection, the diet involves only a decrease in the amount of food. If the disease is in a moderate form, then the food is reduced by 30-50%, and the number of meals should be 5-8 times a day.

Diet for intestinal infection in children under 4 months of age should exclude the use of fermented milk mixtures. In case of an acute illness, treatment of intestinal infection with a diet in infants involves the use of mixtures enriched with protective factors: bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, biologically active additives.

During the treatment of intestinal infection with a diet, adults are prohibited from eating the following foods:

• whole milk;
• black bread;
• yoghurts;
• fermented baked milk;
• cream;
• beets;
• legumes;
• citrus;
• meat and fish broths.

If the development of an intestinal infection in a young child is accompanied by the appearance of a protein deficiency, then it is corrected from the 3rd day of the disease with mixtures that contain this element. When the exocrine function of the pancreas is impaired and malabsorption syndrome is developed, then therapeutic mixtures are an effective treatment for intestinal infections in young patients.

Prevention measures

Prevention of intestinal infections is an activity, thanks to which it is possible to protect your body from this ailment. To do this, you need to follow these simple rules:

• wash your hands before eating;
• do not eat sweets with cream during hot weather;
• store meat and fish in the refrigerator;
• wash fruits, berries and vegetables thoroughly;
• consume only fresh meat and milk;
• drink boiled or mineral water.

Intestinal infection is a pathological process that can affect not only adults but also children. You can eliminate this ailment if you strictly adhere to the treatment regimen drawn up by the doctor.

1 - Instructions for medical use of the drug McMiror ®

All food and water that people consume, unfortunately, is very far from sterility. Every day and every hour, billions of different bacteria enter our bodies. Nothing terrible happens from this, because nature has come up with effective ways to neutralize microbes. "Good" bacteria, saliva with bactericidal properties, poisonous gastric juice do not allow strangers to take root in the body and destroy it.

But the child's body is very delicate and sensitive, so miracles do not always happen to him. Unfortunately, says Dr. Komarovsky, intestinal infections occur with children with almost the same frequency as ARVI. What should parents do when they suspect their little one has an intestinal infection, and are there ways to prevent a dangerous infection? Let's try to figure it out.

Cause of intestinal infection

There is not a single person who has never caught an intestinal infection. This is because there are many ways to neutralize a huge amount of the body's defenses: neutralizing acidic gastric juice with an alkaline drink, destroying your own microbes with antibiotics, swallowing food without chewing it, and many others.

All the same, these pests get into the body quite often, says Dr. Komarovsky. Intestinal infections are really not needed by either an adult, much less a child. Their main reason was, is and will be non-observance of the simplest hygiene standards: unwashed hands, improper storage of food, flocks of flies flying between the toilet and the dining table. No matter how great the protective forces of the human body in general and the baby in particular, there are always microbes that are unrealistic to neutralize.

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

The main principle of helping with an intestinal infection is to replenish the loss of salts and fluid as soon as possible. Dried fruit compote, green tea will go.

Infectious agents

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

In addition, there are still the most common infections in babies: 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 afraid and despair. Not the worst thing that can happen to their baby is an etarotavirus intestinal infection. Komarovsky claims that over 90 percent of all cases of infections can be overcome without the use of special medications. But the remaining 10% are the most insidious and scary. This is exactly the case when self-medication should not be used in any case! The most important thing in this situation is to bring the baby to the infectious disease specialists as soon as possible.

Indications for calling a doctor

Emergency doctor's help is needed for the following symptoms in your child:

• there are blood clots in the baby's vomit or stool;
• the child cannot be drunk - he either spits up water, or cannot swallow it;
• there are clear signs of dehydration - a "dry" tongue, the baby has not pee for 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;
• the baby complains of a headache;
• body temperature rises sharply and strongly;
• with diarrhea or vomiting, parents can see that the baby's skin is quite pale and he is very chilly.

Signs and symptoms of intestinal infection in babies

All of the above signs and symptoms describe a situation in which an intestinal infection in children (Komarovsky declares this with full responsibility) has already acquired a rather severe or even deadly form. Fortunately, these situations are not common.

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

• the baby refuses to eat;
• have vomiting or diarrhea;
• body temperature rises slightly;
• the baby is sleepy, lethargic and pale.

Who brings the infection to the body?

Not in all cases, intestinal infection in children is terrible and dangerous. Treatment (Komarovsky is convinced of this from the height of his professional experience) must be timely and accurate.

The causative agents of intestinal infections include bacteria (cholera vibrio, typhoid fever, staphylococcus aureus) and some viruses. They can perfectly multiply in the intestines and lead to disruption of the digestive process. They will contribute to the 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 it 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 the doctor, it is not the symptoms themselves that are important, but the routes of infection.

Some of the symptoms are not a disease yet.

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

Dehydration of the child's body

Only an insignificant part of the diseases called "intestinal infection", the treatment (Komarovsky as a doctor with many years of experience is convinced of this) which does not require hesitation, should be carried out with the help of antibiotics. And the rest pass without such intervention, accompanied by the baby's immune system. After a few days, she begins to develop the necessary protection against this disease. The main task of any baby is to hold out for these few days. And the most dangerous risk for a child during this period is the most common dehydration, according to Dr. Komarovsky. Intestinal infections cause fluid to pass out of the body with diarrhea or vomiting. That is why it is so important to renew it.

If mom and dad know exactly how to protect their child's body from dehydration, then their little one is not afraid of any intestinal infection.

Features in babies: high fever and antibiotics

Intestinal infection in children - symptoms, treatment (Komarovsky dwelled on this point in detail in his programs) in a situation that arose - must first be identified in time, and then eliminated with the help of correctly prescribed drugs.

It is usually believed that if the baby's body temperature is about 38 ° C, then it does not need to be knocked down (the body fights itself). But according to Dr. Komarovsky, intestinal infections are a dangerous thing, so it is not only possible, but also necessary to bring down the temperature. This follows from the fact that fever removes huge reserves of fluid from the body, and it is precisely dehydration with an intestinal infection that is especially dangerous for babies.

The toddler (if the body temperature has risen) should be given an antipyretic agent so that there is no dehydration and intoxication. You should constantly give your baby a drink.

Parents, remember: the higher the baby's body temperature in case of an intestinal infection, the more it needs to be watered!

It has already been said that only a small percentage of intestinal infections require the use of antimicrobial agents to cure. And the use of any antibiotics in this case is strictly regulated by the WHO.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, the intestinal thing is dangerous, but not fatal. You just need to adhere to all the doctor's recommendations and not self-medicate. Antibiotics can be used in cases of diarrhea that has lasted for several days, hemocolitis (when there is an admixture of blood in the stool or vomit) and in severe forms of cholera. Only in these cases is the use of antibiotics for babies justified and quite effective.

Treatment of intestinal infection in babies: sorbents

Indeed, there is some reason in the use of sorbents for intestinal infections of babies. They can absorb poisons, toxins and other harmful substances inside the digestive tract, relieve excess gas. Practicing pediatricians are convinced that to some extent sorbents protect 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 intestinal infection

So what is the diet after an intestinal infection? Komarovsky recalls that during the illness, the baby developed a temporary one. After the illness, it does not last long. It is important to take this into account 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.

It often happens that after the recovery phase begins, the baby's condition improves, and the appetite comes. Here parents (especially grandmothers) are happy to try - they put everything delicious on the table - fatter and thicker. But purely physiologically, the child's body is not yet ready for such excesses: it does not yet have enzymes that would digest all this delicious food.

You should not feed him "heavy" and fatty foods. It is better to prolong the therapeutic diet for a longer time, which include vegetable soups, cereals on the water, cookies, fruit puree. This is only 5-7 days until the enzyme activity is restored.

The child's diet after an intestinal infection must be followed. Komarovsky advises that you can do differently: for some time give the recovering baby special enzymes. Although many pediatricians believe that the extended diet is better than "feeding" the child with pharmacy enzymes.

Health to you and your children!

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Intestinal infections often affect young children. This is facilitated by the still imperfect work of the immature digestive tract, violation of personal hygiene standards and improper storage and processing of food. Children's intestinal infections can be quite acute and lead to serious complications. If you do not provide the crumbs with the right help, they can cause serious damage to his health.

How does intestinal infection manifest in the smallest?

Diarrhea (diarrhea) occurs - this is a frequent stool, which can be from two to ten times a day. In this case, the consistency of feces can vary from mushy to completely liquid. They contain an admixture of mucus, foam, greenery, and in some cases blood.
- There are signs of general intoxication, expressed in general weakness, the baby becomes lethargic and drowsy, somewhat apathetic. He may complain of headaches.
- Appetite completely disappears or worsens. This is how the body defends itself, directing all its energy to fight infection, instead of digesting food.
- Vomiting occurs - single or multiple. Vomit initially contains a certain amount of food debris, after which they become scarce and may include bile.
- Body temperature rises and sometimes up to 38C, chills may occur on the first day.
- Cramps and pain appear in the abdomen.

Children's intestinal infections are usually characterized by an acute onset. Each infection has its own characteristics and characteristic signs. Parents need to carefully record them and everything that happens, since after telling the doctor about these manifestations, it will be easier for the doctor to diagnose and choose the right treatment. If signs of infection appear in young children, then there is no need to delay calling a doctor, he should be called as quickly as possible.

Be sure to consider if there are adults or children with similar symptoms around the baby. Intestinal infections are often massive, since at an early age children are constantly in contact with unwashed hands, toys, etc. Remember what you ate the crumb over the past two days. The dishes should be as fresh as possible, but perhaps after such an analysis you will identify the pathogen by exclusion.

Causes of the disease

Often the disease occurs due to meat, fish, dairy and vegetable dishes of dubious quality. Because of them, staphylococcal infection can develop. Poorly washed fruits, vegetables and herbs, as well as raw eggs and boiled sausages, lead to salmonella contamination.

First aid for children with intestinal infection

First of all, the crumbs need to rinse the stomach. After each vomiting attack, give your one-year-old toddler about one hundred grams of normal boiled water at a cool temperature. For each year of the child, add one hundred milliliters of liquid. To provoke vomiting yourself, press your finger on the root of the tongue, while you need to wrap your finger with a sterile napkin. You can also resort to a cleansing enema (add one teaspoon of salt to half a liter of cool water). Be sure to make sure that all the water poured into it comes out of the intestines, so it heats up to body temperature and is absorbed into the body, which will lead to repeated intoxication. If you are even a little unsure of your abilities, seek medical help.

After the enema, cover the baby with a blanket and put it to bed.

To prevent dehydration of the body, give him special mixtures - Rehydron, Electrolyte, Glucosolan. They need to be purchased at a pharmacy and diluted with boiled water. Such a remedy can be prepared independently by dissolving in a liter of water (boiled or mineral) half a teaspoon of soda and salt and a tablespoon of sugar. This drink must be given to the baby in small sips, but not in one gulp, to prevent a new attack of vomiting. Also for these purposes, you can use weak green tea, dried fruit compote, table or mineral water without gas. So that, with the development of an intestinal infection in a sick baby with urine, toxins are removed from the body, it is important to provide it with plenty of drink.

You should not give the baby drugs that suppress the symptoms - that fasten and eliminate loose stools. These medications can give the impression that the child's condition has improved, but at the same time, the intoxication will only increase.

Nutrition for intestinal infection

The first day the baby is better off eating nothing at all. But if he asks for it himself, give him some rice water or a crouton. Further focus on the testimony of the doctor and the condition of the child. You can gradually introduce light soups in vegetable broth, porridge in water, chamomile tea, mashed potatoes without adding oil, slightly dried bread, dried fruit compote.

Cut out fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, fresh bread, sweets, spicy, salty, fried and fatty foods from his diet for about two weeks.

Rules for the prevention of intestinal infections

You need to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Wash hands more often, handle toys, cut nails, clean the apartment.
- When going out into the countryside to wash your hands, you should use only the water or sanitary napkins stored in advance.
- Process berries, fruits and vegetables before eating.
- Buy only quality products that have passed sanitary and hygienic testing.
- Do not give your baby food that you forgot to put in the refrigerator. After all, many microbes do not affect the taste in any way, but, nevertheless, they multiply quickly.

Be attentive to what and how your baby eats, and intestinal infections will bypass you.

Ekaterina, www.site

Intestinal infection in children is a group of diseases of various etiology, occurring with a predominant lesion of the digestive tract, a toxic reaction and dehydration of the body.

The susceptibility to intestinal infection in children is several times higher than in adults, the disease is characterized by pronounced clinical signs, may be accompanied by a weakening of immunity, the development of enzyme deficiency, and intestinal dysbiosis. Intestinal infections in children rank second in the structure of infectious morbidity after acute respiratory viral infections.

The widespread prevalence of intestinal infections among children is caused by the high contagiousness and prevalence of pathogens, their resistance to environmental factors, age-related features of the structure and functioning of the digestive system, functional imperfection of protective mechanisms, as well as insufficiently vaccinated and fixed hygiene skills.

In severe forms of intestinal toxicosis in children, it is possible to develop pulmonary edema, acute renal and acute heart failure. In the world, approximately 2 million deaths from acute intestinal infections are recorded annually, mainly among children under 5 years of age.

Causes

The cause of an intestinal infection in a child may be the only one - a pathological microbe has entered the baby's body. The spectrum of causative agents of the disease is very wide.

These can be enterobacteria, including:

• Shigella.
• Salmonella.
• Campylobacter.
• Escherichia.
• Yersinia.

Representatives of conditionally pathogenic flora that can provoke the development of intestinal infection in a child are:

• Staphylococci.
• Proteus.
• Klebsiella.
• Clostridium, etc.

In about 70-80% of cases, viruses become the causative agents of intestinal infections:

• Rotaviruses
• Enteroviruses.
• Adenoviruses.

Pathogens can be transmitted by fecal-oral route, alimentary route, water and contact-household routes. If the child's immunity is weakened, then even his own conditionally pathogenic flora that lives in the intestine can lead to the development of the disease.

Infected people or animals act as a distributor of pathogenic flora. They excrete microbes into the external environment with feces, vomit, urine. A person can remain contagious until he is completely healed, that is, until the clinical symptoms of the disease disappear. If a person is sick with a viral intestinal infection, then he can be the source of its spread even after 2-3 weeks after complete recovery. Eating food and water containing microbes is no less dangerous.

The most common way of infecting a child with an intestinal infection is through the fecal-oral and household route. In this case, microbes will be found on household items, on food or in water. They get there if the rules of personal hygiene, sanitary standards, and the rules for storing food are not followed. The child swallows the causative agent of the infection (licks his hands, toys, eats contaminated food, etc.), as a result of which infection occurs. Through the organs of the digestive system, microbes reach the intestines and begin to multiply there rapidly.

It cannot be ruled out that pathogens of intestinal infection may appear on various food products, even if the integrity of the packaging is observed. Pathogenic flora multiplies under the condition that food has been stored for too long, or the conditions for its storage were inadequate.

So, the main reason for the spread of intestinal infection among children is non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, which babies, due to their age characteristics, are not able to assimilate 100%. Therefore, an adult is obliged to ensure that the baby does not come into contact with potentially dangerous household items, with infected people, eat quality food and use clean drinking water.

There are many types of pathogens of intestinal infections. The table lists the main representatives of the pathogenic flora that cause the disease in childhood.

Type of intestinal infection	How does it get into the child's body
Bacteria; pathogens of intestinal infections in a child
Salmonella infection	Most often, salmonella enters the child's body after eating contaminated eggs, milk, butter and meat. Sources of infection can be not only people, but also pets. Children at the age of 2-3 years have a hard time tolerating the disease. They are at high risk of developing toxic shock with renal and heart failure and cerebral edema.
Staphylococcal infection	Staphylococci exist in the body of all people, but there are so few of them that they are not capable of leading to the development of the disease. With a weakening of the child's immunity, staphylococci can begin to multiply rapidly, causing an intestinal infection. Also, a child can swallow an impressive amount of staphylococci with food, when eating staple foods.
Shigellosis or dysentery	The source of infection is a sick person who has an erased or mild course of the disease. Children will be contagious from the first day of illness, the excretion of Shigella occurs with the feces. The mechanism of transmission of infection is fecal-oral, and the route of transmission is water, food, contact and household. Shigella can enter the child's body with products that have expired, with unwashed vegetables and fruits, when swallowing water in swimming pools and open bodies of water.
Escherichiosis or coli infections	The causative agent of the disease is Escherichia coli. The source of infection appears to be a healthy or sick person. Also, infection can occur by water (it happens rarely) and by food when a child eats dairy products, meat dishes, stewed fruit, kvass, salads with boiled vegetables. Children are often infected through contaminated hands, toys, and doorknobs.
Viruses - causative agents of intestinal infections in a child
Rotaviruses	The source of rotavirus infection is a sick person. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral, which can be realized both through food, and through water, and through household contacts. Rotavirus infection is widespread among children, which is why it is even called childhood intestinal flu.
Enteroviruses	Sources of infection are adults and children who are infected with enteroviruses. Transmission of infection occurs not only by fecal-oral, but also by airborne droplets. Most often, enterovirus infection occurs in children aged 3-10 years.
Adenoviruses	The source of the spread of adenoviruses is a sick person. Infection most often occurs by airborne droplets, viruses are released into the external environment with nasopharyngeal secretions. However, the fecal-oral and contact-household transmission route cannot be ruled out. To date, more than 50 adenoviruses have been identified that can lead to intestinal infections.

Symptoms of an intestinal infection in children

Clinical symptoms of intestinal infections in children are associated with the destruction of intestinal mucosa cells, as well as indigestion and are manifested by two syndromes: intestinal and infectious-toxic (general intoxication syndrome).

The severity of intestinal infections in children is largely determined by the amount of fluid loss.

The main symptom of any form of intestinal infection is diarrhea (repeated loose stools).

Other signs:

• nausea, vomiting;
• lethargy, weakness;
• loss of appetite;
• increased body temperature;
• pain, rumbling in the stomach;
• admixture of blood in the feces;
• breathing disorders;
• decrease in body weight.

The danger is dehydration, which develops due to the loss of fluid with abundant vomit and feces. Its signs:

• sunken fontanelle in an infant;
• dry skin and mucous membranes;
• decreased urine output;
• increased thirst;
• sunken dry eyes;

The clinical picture of some intestinal infections is peculiar.

Dysentery in children is characterized by general intoxication, fever, vomiting, dysfunction of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and colitis syndrome (dull abdominal pain, diarrhea, the presence of mucus and blood in the feces, spasm of the sigmoid colon, pain in the rectum).

Rotavirus infection is highly contagious, the clinical picture is manifested by gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal tract damage is combined with catarrhal symptoms (rhinitis, throat hyperemia, coughing, sore throat).

The symptoms of salmonellosis depend on the form of the disease. The typical (gastrointestinal) form is most common and can occur in the form of gastritis, pancreatitis, enteritis, appendicitis, pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, gastroenterocolitis. The stool is liquid, copious, brownish-green in color, mixed with mucus and blood. The atypical form can have a septic, typhoid-like, toxic-septic (in newborns), erased and asymptomatic course.

Identification of an intestinal infection in children under five years of age is the basis for hospitalization in the children's infectious diseases department of the hospital.

Escherichiosis mainly affects young children who are bottle-fed. The disease has a gradual onset with the onset of diarrhea, vomiting, or regurgitation over the next three to five days. Body temperature is subfebrile or normal. Stools watery, yellow-orange in color, mixed with mucus. The symptoms of the disease increase within 3-5 days. The disease can occur in three clinical variants (cholera-like syndrome, mild enteritis, which occurs against the background of acute respiratory infections in young children, and foodborne illness).

Staphylococcal intestinal infection in children can be primary and secondary. The course of the primary infection is characterized by diarrhea, toxicosis, and vomiting. Stools watery, mixed with mucus, greenish tinge. With a secondary staphylococcal infection, intestinal symptoms develop against the background of the underlying disease (pneumonia, tonsillitis, purulent otitis media, staphyloderma, etc.).

Complications

In case of improper / untimely implementation of therapy, dehydration of the body, disruption of the normal activity of internal organs, intestinal dysbiosis, as well as a decrease in the protection of the immune system may occur. The severe course of the pathology leads to the following complications:

• neurotoxicosis - the patient has a disorder of consciousness, sleep disturbance, hallucinations and convulsions are possible;
• circulatory disorder - blood pressure decreases, the skin becomes pale, problems of the cardiovascular system are formed;
• renal failure - scanty urine flow, dull back pain;
• hypovolemic shock - develops as a result of dehydration, drooping eyes, weight loss.

Diagnostics

If a child has signs of AEI, then parents should immediately seek help from a specialist so as not to aggravate the condition.

The pediatrician interrogates the patient, visual and tactile examination. This is enough to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. In order to identify the causative agent of the disease, the following diagnostic tests are carried out:

• bacteriological inoculation of vomit and feces;
• scraping from the opening of the anus;
• coprogram (analysis of feces);
• laboratory blood test for TA.

Intestinal infection - treatment

The most important rule in the modern treatment of any intestinal infection is the prevention of dehydration and adherence to diet.

Taking any medications is not required and, moreover, in 90% of cases of intestinal infections, it is not necessary, since the human body itself will be able to destroy pathogenic microbes (as in the case of ARVI or colds), and he just needs to "hold out" until the moment when the immune system develops a sufficient amount of antibodies that can have a detrimental effect on a specific microorganism that has entered the intestine. In other words, the human body is able to cope with almost any intestinal infection on its own, therefore, it does not need medicines for its treatment, but only measures that ensure the maintenance of the normal functioning of organs and systems. And such activities are abundant drinking and diet.

So, drinking plenty of fluids replenishes the loss of fluid that occurs along with diarrhea and vomit, and the diet minimizes the load on the intestines, as a result of which the cells of its mucous membrane can recover as quickly as possible. Under these conditions, the immune system's own immune system successfully copes with the infection in 3 to 8 days.

Replenishing the loss of fluids and salts (drinking plenty of fluids) is called rehydration therapy. In order for the body to receive not only water, but also salts lost with diarrhea and vomiting, you need to drink special rehydration solutions sold in pharmacies. Currently, the most effective rehydration solutions are:

• Tour;
• Hydrovit;
• Glucosolan;
• Marathonite;
• Orasan;
• Rehydrar;
• Regidron;
• Reosolan;
• Humana Electrolyte;
• Citraglucosolan.

These rehydration preparations are sold in powders, which are diluted with ordinary clean drinking water, after which they are drunk as a means of replenishing the volume of water and salts lost by the body with vomiting and diarrhea. However, if you cannot buy rehydration solution for any reason, you should prepare it yourself. According to the WHO recommendation, to obtain the optimal composition of the rehydration solution, dissolve a tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda in one liter of water. In an extreme case, when for some reason it is impossible even to prepare a rehydration solution on your own, then you should drink various liquids containing salts, such as tea with sugar, compote, fruit drink, mineral water without gas, etc. It must be remembered that with an intestinal infection, it is better to drink at least something than nothing.

The amount of rehydration solution to be drunk in case of intestinal infection is simply determined based on the ratio of 300 - 500 ml of solution for each episode of loose stools or vomiting.

Rehydration solutions should be drunk slowly, in small, frequent sips, so as not to provoke vomiting. In this case, the entire volume of the solution in 300 - 500 ml does not need to be drunk at a time - it is optimal to drink 100 - 150 ml every 5 - 15 minutes. It is advisable to warm up the rehydration solution to a temperature of 36-37oС, since in this case liquid and salts are most rapidly absorbed from the stomach into the blood and replenish the losses.

During the entire period, while there is loose stools or vomiting, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the adult or child for signs of dehydration. Signs of dehydration include the following symptoms:

• Lack of urine for 6 hours;
• Crying in a child without tears;
• Dry skin and mucous membranes;
• Dryness of the tongue;
• Sunken eyes;
• Sunken fontanelle (in infants);
• Greyish skin tone.

If a child or an adult has signs of dehydration, you should immediately call an ambulance and be hospitalized in a hospital where intensive rehydration therapy will be carried out. In a hospital, rehydration therapy is carried out by intravenous administration of salt solutions. You cannot try to treat dehydration yourself at home, as this condition is very dangerous due to the high probability of developing shock with subsequent possible death. It is because of the risk of death that dehydration is only treated in a hospital.

Hospitalization in a hospital for intestinal infection must also be performed when a person develops the following signs (in addition to signs of dehydration):

• Admixture of blood in the feces;
• The diarrhea stopped, but vomiting increased, or after the temperature dropped, it increased again, or abdominal pain appeared;
• Inability to drink rehydration solutions due to persistent vomiting;
• Great weakness and thirst;
• The patient's age is less than one year old or over 65 years old.

In all other cases, the treatment of intestinal infections can be carried out at home.

In addition to rehydration therapy, with an intestinal infection, diet No. 4 must be followed. Until the end of diarrhea and vomiting, you can eat only slimy soups (soups on cereals), weak broths, boiled mashed lean meat, boiled lean fish, omelet, boiled porridge, stale white bread, crackers, uncooked biscuits, baked apples without skin. Milk and dairy products, smoked meats, canned food, spicy, spicy, fatty and fried foods, onions, garlic, radishes, alcohol and carbonated drinks are completely excluded from the diet. After the cessation of diarrhea, you should eat dietary foods for another 3 to 4 weeks, avoiding carbonated drinks, alcohol, milk, fatty, fried and smoked foods. The complete restoration of the digestive capacity of the intestine after an infection occurs only after 3 months.

Taking antibiotics, sorbents, probiotics, antipyretic drugs and other drugs is not at all necessary for the treatment of any intestinal infection, and in some situations it is even harmful. So, antibiotics for intestinal infection should be taken only in the following three cases:

• Severe cholera;
• Admixture of blood in the feces;
• Prolonged diarrhea against the background of giardiasis.

In all other situations, antibiotics for intestinal infection do not need to be taken, since they will not be beneficial and will not accelerate recovery, but will only destroy the remnants of their own normal intestinal microflora.

Painkillers for intestinal infection cannot be taken, since increased spasms and pains are a signal for the development of complications, in which an urgent need to be hospitalized in a hospital. And if a person takes painkillers, then he simply will not feel the intensification of spasms and will miss the moment when complications develop. Complications of an intestinal infection can lead to serious consequences, up to and including death.

Sorbents and probiotics for any intestinal infection can be taken at will. The high effectiveness of these funds has not been proven, however, a number of doctors and scientists believe that these drugs are useful for the treatment of intestinal infections. And since probiotics and sorbents are not harmful, they can be used as desired. In other words, if a person wants or considers it necessary to take sorbents and probiotics for the treatment of intestinal infection, then he can do it.

Antipyretic drugs are the only remedies that are recommended for an intestinal infection if the body temperature is above 37.5oС. High temperature accelerates the loss of fluid in the body, because the skin is cooled by the evaporation of moisture. Accordingly, to reduce fluid loss, you need to lower your body temperature, for which you should take antipyretic drugs. Optimal for lowering body temperature are drugs with paracetamol, ibuprofen and nimesulide.

No other medications are used for intestinal infections.

Thus, in summary, we can say that the treatment of intestinal infection consists in mandatory rehydration therapy (replenishment of fluid loss) and adherence to a diet. In addition to diet and abundant drinking of saline solutions, the following medications can be used additionally (at the request of the patient himself) to treat intestinal infection:

• Sorbents (Polysorb, Polyphepan, Smecta, etc.);
• Probiotics (Enterol, Bactisubtil);
• Intestinal antiseptics (Enterofuril, Intetrix, etc.);
• Enzymes (Pancreatin, Mezim, Creon, Panzinorm, etc.);
• Antipyretics with paracetamol, ibuprofen, or nimesulide;
• Antibiotics are indicated only (see above).

In addition, it is necessary to separately highlight the activities and actions that categorically cannot be performed if an intestinal infection is suspected:

• Taking painkillers - they can mask pain, which will serve as an obstacle to the timely identification of complications.
• You can not take antiemetic (Cerucal, Metoclopramide, etc.) and fixing agents (Loperamide, Imodium, etc.), since diarrhea and vomiting are necessary to remove toxic substances from the body. If you stop diarrhea and vomiting with medication, then toxic substances will accumulate in the body, which will significantly worsen the patient's condition, slow down recovery and increase the risk of complications.
• You cannot do an enema yourself, especially with warm or hot water.
• You can't warm your stomach - heat will only intensify the inflammatory process and make the infection worse.

Drug treatment

Currently, the following groups of drugs can be used for intestinal infections:

• Antipyretics containing paracetamol, ibuprofen, or nimesulide. Antipyretics are recommended to be taken at a body temperature above 37.5oС, since normalization of body temperature will minimize the loss of fluid and salts by the body. These medicines are taken as needed.
• Rehydration solutions (Regidron, Trisol, Glucosolan, Orasan, Humana Electrolyte, etc.). They are taken without fail until the end of diarrhea and vomiting in order to replenish the volume of lost fluid and salts to prevent dehydration.
• Enterosorbents (Polyphepan, Polysorb, Enterosgel, Smecta, Lactofiltrum, Filtrum, Activated carbon, White coal, etc.). Accepted until the end of diarrhea and vomiting at the request of the patient. Enterosorbents do not accelerate recovery, but provide a subjectively better state of health for the patient.
• Intestinal antiseptics (Intetrix, Enterol, Entero-sediv, Intestopan, Enterofuril, Furazolidone, etc.). It is taken at the request of the patient until the end of diarrhea and vomiting. Contribute to the destruction of pathogenic microbes that caused intestinal infection.
• Probiotics (Bactisubtil, Enterol, Linex, etc.). They are taken at the request of the patient, since they contribute to the destruction of pathogenic microbes and the restoration of the intestinal microflora.
• Enzymes (Micrasim, Mezim, Creon, Panzinorm, etc.). They are taken at the request of the patient, promote the digestion and assimilation of food.
• Antibiotics (Levomycetin, Tetracycline, etc.). Accepted only on indications!

Antibiotic use

Antimicrobial therapy for intestinal infections is used only in extreme cases. Usually, basic therapeutic methods are sufficient to completely eliminate the disease. You can not arbitrarily give a child to drink drugs of this group without the consent of the doctor.

Antibiotics have a detrimental effect on the intestinal microflora, and in most cases their consumption is completely pointless and ineffective. The World Health Organization has approved a list of pathological conditions in which it is allowed to prescribe an antibacterial agent:

• hemocolitis (the presence of blood in the vomit and feces);
• severe cholera;
• persistent diarrhea (including with giardiasis).

Nutrition and diet for intestinal infection

A diet for intestinal infections in children is a mandatory method of therapy that allows you to restore the impaired functions of the digestive system and speed up the healing process. Many parents are interested in how to feed a child with an intestinal infection.

The first day after infection, it is better for the baby to eat nothing at all. If the child has an appetite, he can be given rice water, older children - a crouton.

The diet menu for intestinal infections in children should consist of easily digestible and pureed food. Products such as whole milk, black bread, fermented baked milk, yoghurts, cream, milk porridge, beets, legumes, citrus fruits, meat and fish broths, fatty meats, poultry and fish are prohibited.

The menu for intestinal infection in children should be based on food such as porridge on the water - corn, rice, buckwheat, and lean meat - turkey, chicken breast, veal, rabbit meat. Then, fermented milk products are gradually introduced into the diet, vegetables and fruits can be eaten after the unpleasant symptoms of the digestive system have disappeared. It is recommended to solder the child with rosehip broth, weak tea, rice broth, dried fruit compote, but without prunes.

The menu might look like this:

1. Breakfast - semolina porridge cooked in water, a glass of unsweetened tea.
2. Snack - a steam soufflé made from homemade fat-free cottage cheese.
3. Lunch - light broth from lean chicken meat, steamed veal meatballs, fruit jelly.
4. Afternoon snack - 200 g of rosehip broth, rye bread rusks.
5. Dinner - lean steamed fish, unsweetened tea.
6. Before bed, you can give your child a glass of low-fat homemade yogurt.

Various recipes for the diet for children after an intestinal infection will allow parents to avoid problems with the choice of suitable dishes for the still weakened body of the child.

Steamed chicken soufflé

To prepare a dish according to this recipe for an intestinal infection in children, you will need boiled chicken breast, an egg, 4 tbsp. l. chicken broth, 1 tbsp. l. flour. Follow the following sequence for preparing soufflé after an intestinal infection for a child according to this recipe:

Pass the boiled chicken breast through a meat grinder;

• Combine chopped chicken meat with egg yolk, whipped protein, add a spoonful of flour, salt and mix;
• Stir the mass thoroughly, put it in a dish greased with vegetable oil, and steam.

Slimy soup

To make a slimy soup, use this recipe for this dish for an intestinal infection in children:

1. Put a saucepan with 2 liters of water on the fire, add ½ cup of washed oatmeal there.
2. Finely chop the onions and carrots, add to the soup, add a little salt, boil for another 15 minutes and remove from the stove.
3. When the soup has cooled slightly, it should be rubbed through a sieve, if desired, you can add a spoonful of vegetable oil.

Blueberry jelly

You can use this dietary recipe for children with intestinal infection to make blueberry jelly:

1. 2/3 cup blueberries must be rinsed with running water.
2. Pour 4 glasses of water into a saucepan, put on fire, bring to a boil.
3. Add 2 tbsp. l. Sahara. Stir 1 tbsp in a glass of cold water. l. starch, gradually pour into the sugar syrup.
4. Place the washed blueberries in a saucepan, stir.
5. Reduce heat, bring to a boil, and remove from heat.

Vegetable salad

At the end of the course of the disease, when the symptoms of intestinal infection begin to gradually disappear, fresh vegetables can be introduced into the child's diet. If you do not know what to cook for a child with an intestinal infection, this recipe diversifies the baby's diet menu:

1. Boil carrots, cauliflower, and zucchini.
2. Cut all vegetables into small cubes, salt a little, mix well, season with 1 tbsp. olive oil.

Forecast

With most etiological variants of intestinal infection in children, there is a favorable course of clinical symptoms and a tendency to complete recovery in short periods of time. The prognosis for the child's recovery and the restoration of intestinal function is influenced not only by the use of drug treatment methods, but also by the observance of the water-drinking regime and a special menu for intestinal infection in children. When therapeutic measures are not applied in full or the treatment regimen is not pathogenetically justified, an unfavorable prognosis of the disease can be observed in the form of the development of chronicity of pathological processes in the intestine and the development of bacterial carriers.

A feature of the course of intestinal infection in children is the tendency in 25% of cases to form the pathology of the digestive tract in the form of enzymatic insufficiency, dysfunction of the biliary tract, the development of intestinal dysbiosis, and functional dyspepsia.

With a complicated course of intestinal infection, both complete recovery and death can be observed, therefore, with the development of the first signs of complications, it is necessary to begin an emergency medical correction. The most common variant of a complicated course of intestinal infection in children is the development of dehydration syndrome, which can proceed in varying degrees of severity, which predetermines the prognosis for recovery. The extreme degree of dehydration of the child's body with intestinal infection is the development of dehydration shock, which is characterized by a high mortality rate.

In a situation where the development of an intestinal infection in a child is associated with the activation of a pathogenic viral infection, there is a risk of developing an infectious toxic shock, which is an extremely unfavorable clinical prognostic marker. Relatively rare complicated variants of intestinal infection in children is uremic, in which clinical and laboratory signs of renal failure are observed, which are quickly stopped by taking medications.

Prophylaxis

Mostly, non-specific prophylaxis is used. For this, it is very important to adhere to some rules, which will eliminate the danger of getting infected.

1. Observe hand hygiene.
2. Boil whole milk before serving.
3. Do not eat raw eggs.
4. Heat the meat in sufficient quantity.
5. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.
6. Store prepared food in the refrigerator.
7. Keep track of the expiration dates when purchasing products.
8. Do not feed unboiled whole cow or goat milk to babies.
9. Maintain a clean home.
10. If one of the family members is ill, provide him with a separate dish and disinfect it when washing.

If treatment is not given and the child is not getting better, do not expect a miracle and hope to cope with it on your own. This is especially true for very young children. Ideally, if the child does not get a little better during the day, then urgently go to the hospital. Overlooking dehydration can cause great harm to the baby's body. And by listening to preventive measures, in most cases, it is possible to protect yourself and your child.

- a group of infectious diseases of various etiology, proceeding with a predominant lesion of the digestive tract, a toxic reaction and dehydration of the body. In children, intestinal infection is manifested by an increase in body temperature, lethargy, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Diagnosis of intestinal infection in children is based on clinical and laboratory data (history, symptoms, excretion of the pathogen in feces, detection of specific antibodies in the blood). With intestinal infection in children, antimicrobial drugs, bacteriophages, enterosorbents are prescribed; during the period of treatment, it is important to adhere to a diet and conduct rehydration.

General information

Intestinal infection in children - acute bacterial and viral infectious diseases accompanied by intestinal syndrome, intoxication and dehydration. In the structure of infectious morbidity in pediatrics, intestinal infections in children rank second after ARVI. The susceptibility to intestinal infection in children is 2.5-3 times higher than in adults. About half of cases of intestinal infection in children occur at an early age (up to 3 years). Intestinal infection in a young child is more severe, may be accompanied by malnutrition, the development of dysbiosis and enzymatic insufficiency, and a decrease in immunity. Frequent recurrence of episodes of infection causes impairment of the physical and neuropsychic development of children.

The causes of intestinal infection in children

The range of pathogens of intestinal infections in children is extremely wide. The most common pathogens are gram-negative enterobacteria (Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia, Yersinia) and opportunistic flora (Klebsiella, Clostridium, Proteus, Staphylococcus, etc.). In addition, there are intestinal infections caused by viral pathogens (rotaviruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses), protozoa (lamblia, amoebas, coccidia), fungi. The common properties of all pathogens that determine the development of clinical manifestations are enteropathogenicity, the ability to synthesize endo- and exotoxins.

Infection of children with intestinal infections occurs through the fecal-oral mechanism through alimentary (through food), water, contact and household routes (through dishes, dirty hands, toys, household items, etc.). In weakened children with low immunological reactivity, endogenous infection with opportunistic bacteria is possible. The source of OCI can be a carrier, a patient with an erased or manifest form of the disease, pets. In the development of intestinal infection in children, an important role is played by the violation of the rules for the preparation and storage of food, the admission to children's kitchens of persons carrying infection, patients with tonsillitis, furunculosis, streptoderma, etc.

Most often, sporadic cases of intestinal infection in children are recorded, although group and even epidemic outbreaks are possible with the food or water route of infection. The rise in the incidence of certain intestinal infections in children has a seasonal dependence: for example, dysentery occurs more often in summer and autumn, rotavirus infection in winter.

The prevalence of intestinal infections among children is due to epidemiological features (high prevalence and contagiousness of pathogens, their high resistance to environmental factors), anatomical and physiological features of the child's digestive system (low acidity of gastric juice), imperfection of protective mechanisms (low concentration of IgA). The incidence of acute intestinal infection in children is facilitated by the disruption of the normal intestinal microbiota, non-observance of the rules of personal hygiene, and poor sanitary and hygienic living conditions.

Classification

According to the clinical and etiological principle, among the intestinal infections most often recorded in the pediatric population, shigellosis (dysentery), salmonellosis, coli infection (Escherichiosis), yersiniosis, campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, rotavirus infection, staphylococcal intestinal infection and other are distinguished.

In terms of the severity and characteristics of the symptoms, the course of intestinal infection in children can be typical (mild, moderate, severe) and atypical (erased, hypertoxic). The severity of the clinic is assessed by the degree of damage to the gastrointestinal tract, dehydration and intoxication.

The nature of local manifestations in intestinal infection in children depends on the lesion of one or another part of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore gastritis, enteritis, colitis, gastroenteritis, gastroenterocolitis, enterocolitis are distinguished. In addition to localized forms, in infants and weakened children, generalized forms of infection can develop with the spread of the pathogen outside the digestive tract.

During the course of intestinal infection in children, acute (up to 1.5 months), protracted (over 1.5 months) and chronic (over 5-6 months) phases are distinguished.

Symptoms in children

Dysentery in children

After a short incubation period (1-7 days), the temperature rises sharply (up to 39-40 ° C), weakness and weakness increase, appetite decreases, vomiting is possible. Against the background of fever, there is a headache, chills, sometimes - delirium, convulsions, loss of consciousness. Intestinal infection in children is accompanied by cramping abdominal pain localized in the left iliac region, symptoms of distal colitis (soreness and spasm of the sigmoid colon, tenesmus with rectal prolapse), symptoms of sphincteritis. The frequency of bowel movements can vary from 4-6 to 15-20 times per day. With dysentery, the stool is liquid, containing impurities of cloudy mucus and blood. In severe forms of dysentery, hemorrhagic syndrome may develop, up to intestinal bleeding.

In young children with intestinal infection, general intoxication prevails over colitis syndrome, hemodynamic, electrolyte and protein metabolism disorders occur more often. The most mild intestinal infection in children is caused by Shigella Zone; heavier - Shigella Flexner and Grigoriez-Shiga.

Salmonellosis in children

Most often (in 90% of cases), the gastrointestinal form of salmonellosis develops, proceeding according to the type of gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastroenterocolitis. Characterized by a subacute onset, febrile rise in temperature, weakness, vomiting, hepatosplenomegaly. Stool with salmonellosis is liquid, abundant, feces, the color of "swamp mud", with admixtures of mucus and blood. Usually, this form of intestinal infection ends with recovery, however, in infants, death is possible due to severe intestinal toxicosis.

Influenza-like (respiratory) form of intestinal infection occurs in 4-5% of children. With this form, Salmonella is found in the inoculation of material from the pharynx. Its course is characterized by febrile temperature, headache, arthralgia and myalgia, symptoms of rhinitis, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis. From the side of the cardiovascular system, tachycardia and arterial hypotension are noted.

The typhoid-like form of salmonellosis in children accounts for 2% of clinical cases. It proceeds with a long period of fever (up to 3-4 weeks), severe intoxication, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system (tachycardia, bradycardia).

The septic form of intestinal infection usually develops in children in the first months of life with an unfavorable premorbid background. It accounts for about 2-3% of cases of salmonellosis in children. The disease is extremely difficult, accompanied by septicemia or septicopyemia, violation of all types of metabolism, the development of severe complications (pneumonia, parenchymal hepatitis, otoantritis, meningitis, osteomyelitis).

Escherichiosis in children

This group of intestinal infections in children is extremely extensive and includes coli infections caused by enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, enterohemorrhagic escherichias.

Intestinal infection in children caused by Escherichia occurs with subfebrile or febrile temperature, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, persistent vomiting or regurgitation, flatulence. Characterized by watery diarrhea (profuse, splashing yellow stools mixed with mucus), quickly leading to dehydration and the development of exsicosis. With escherichiosis caused by enterohemorrhagic escherichias, diarrhea is bloody.

As a result of dehydration, the child develops dry skin and mucous membranes, decreases the turgor and elasticity of tissues, sinks a large fontanelle and eyeballs, decreases urine output by the type of oliguria or anuria.

Rotavirus infection in children

It usually proceeds as an acute gastroenteritis or enteritis. The incubation period lasts on average 1-3 days. All symptoms of intestinal infection in children develop within one day, while the gastrointestinal tract is combined with catarrhal symptoms.

Respiratory syndrome is characterized by throat hyperemia, rhinitis, sore throat, coughing. Simultaneously with the defeat of the nasopharynx, signs of gastroenteritis develop: liquid (watery, foamy) stools with a frequency of bowel movements from 4-5 to 15 times a day, vomiting, a temperature reaction, and general intoxication. The duration of the course of intestinal infection in children is 4-7 days.

Staphylococcal intestinal infection in children

Distinguish between primary staphylococcal intestinal infection in children associated with the consumption of food seeded with staphylococcus, and secondary, due to the spread of the pathogen from other foci.

The course of intestinal infection in children is characterized by severe exsicosis and toxicosis, vomiting, increased stool frequency up to 10-15 times a day. The stool is loose, watery, greenish in color, with a slight admixture of mucus. With a secondary staphylococcal infection in children, intestinal symptoms develop against the background of the leading disease: purulent otitis media, pneumonia, staphyloderma, tonsillitis, etc. In this case, the disease can take a long undulating course.

Diagnostics

Based on the examination, epidemiological and clinical data, the pediatrician (pediatric infectious disease specialist) can only assume the likelihood of intestinal infection in children, however, etiological decoding is possible only on the basis of laboratory data.

The main role in confirming the diagnosis of intestinal infection in children is played by bacteriological examination of feces, which should be carried out as early as possible, before the initiation of etiotropic therapy. With a generalized form of intestinal infection in children, blood culture is performed for sterility, bacteriological examination of urine, cerebrospinal fluid.

Serological methods (RPHA, ELISA, RSK), which allow detecting the presence of Ab to the pathogen in the patient's blood from the 5th day from the onset of the disease, are of a certain diagnostic value. The study of the coprogram allows you to clarify the localization of the process in the gastrointestinal tract.

With intestinal infection in children, it is required to exclude acute appendicitis, pancreatitis, lactase deficiency, biliary dyskinesia and other pathology. For this purpose, consultations are held with a pediatric surgeon and a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Treatment of intestinal infections in children

Comprehensive treatment of intestinal infections in children involves the organization of medical nutrition; oral rehydration, etiotropic, pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.

The diet of children with intestinal infection requires a decrease in the amount of food, an increase in the frequency of feedings, the use of mixtures enriched with protective factors, the use of mashed, easily digestible food. An important component of the therapy of intestinal infections in children is oral rehydration with glucose-saline solutions, drinking plenty of fluids. It is carried out until the end of fluid loss. If oral nutrition and fluid intake are impossible, infusion therapy is prescribed: solutions of glucose, Ringer, albumin, etc. are injected intravenously.

Etiotropic therapy of intestinal infections in children is carried out with antibiotics and intestinal antiseptics (kanamycin, gentamicin, polymyxin, furazolidone, nalidixic acid), enterosorbents. The administration of specific bacteriophages and lactoglobulins (salmonella, dysentery, coliprotein, klebsiella, etc.), as well as immunoglobulins (anti-rotavirus, etc.) is shown. Pathogenetic therapy involves the appointment of enzymes, antihistamines; symptomatic treatment includes taking antipyretics, antispasmodics. During the period of convalescence, it is necessary to correct dysbiosis, take vitamins and adaptogens.

Forecast and prevention

Early detection and adequate therapy ensure complete recovery from intestinal infections in children. Immunity after OCI is unstable. In severe forms of intestinal infection, children may develop hypovolemic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, acute heart failure, and infectious toxic shock.

At the heart of the prevention of intestinal infections in children is the observance of sanitary and hygienic standards: proper storage and heat treatment of food, protection of water from pollution, isolation of patients, disinfection of toys and dishes in child care facilities, instilling in children personal hygiene skills. When caring for a baby, the mother should not neglect the processing of the mammary glands before feeding, processing the nipples and bottles, washing hands after swaddling and washing the baby.

Children who have been in contact with a patient with intestinal infection are subject to bacteriological examination and observation for 7 days.