Intestinal colic in adults. Symptoms and treatment of intestinal colic in adults Treatment of intestinal colic in adults medications

Unfortunately, today there are practically no completely healthy people. From time to time, some problems with the body disturb everyone. In this article, I would like to talk about what intestinal colic in adults is: symptoms, treatment of this problem.

What's this?

At the very beginning, you need to understand the terminology. So, intestinal colic in medicine is also called intestinal dyskinesia. This is a complex of disorders that are the result of a violation of the motor function of the intestine. At the same time, there are no organic changes in it. To put it simply, intestinal colic is an attack of severe sharp pain. These sensations develop due to spasm of the large or small intestine. It is also worth noting that colic is not a separate disease, but a symptom of a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

The reasons

1. Helminthization of the body. That is, a similar phenomenon can occur in those people who have worms.
2. As already mentioned, colic is a symptom. It may accompany one of the following diseases: pancreatitis, cholecystitis, colitis, etc.
3. Colic can occur if the patient has such diseases of the abdominal cavity that require urgent surgical intervention.
4. It can occur when overeating, consuming low-quality, “heavy” or junk food. Also, do not consume food that has just been taken out of the refrigerator. It is difficult for the body to cope with food at low temperatures.
5. May occur with diarrhea or flatulence.
6. Colic occurs during acute infection of any part of the intestine.
7. It can also occur in case of intestinal obstruction.
8. The cause may also be nervous overstrain stressful situations.

Symptoms

What are the main signs of intestinal colic?

1. Severe sharp pain. Comes in waves (spasms).
2. Possible bloating, flatulence. The abdomen often becomes hard. Discomfort when touched.
3. Chair disorder. Both constipation and diarrhea are possible. You can also find mucus (white ribbons) in the feces. Often characteristic of intestinal colic is a violation of fecal formation.

About pain

We further study the topic "Intestinal colic in adults: symptoms, treatment." So, I would like to say a few words separately about pain. Most often they are localized in the navel or lower abdomen. Less commonly given to the lumbar region. Spasms. The duration of colic can vary from a few seconds to tens of minutes. In the most severe situations, colic can last for days. Between bouts of pain, patients have other symptoms.

Differences

Is it possible to independently correctly determine that the patient has acute intestinal colic, and not another problem? So, you just need to be able to correctly differentiate this problem.

1. Acute gastritis. Symptoms uncharacteristic of intestinal colic: nausea, vomiting, bloating, coated tongue. There is also an aversion to food.
2. Lead colic. Symptoms uncharacteristic of intestinal colic: the appearance of a lead-gray border on the gums, a grayish color of the face and skin of other parts of the body.
3. Intestinal obstruction. Symptoms uncharacteristic of intestinal colic: vomiting, pain, difficulty in passing feces, gases. The pain does not have a typical localization. And in the intervals between contractions completely passes.
4. Abdominal crisis. It is also accompanied by severe sharp pains in the navel. However, with this disease, hemorrhagic rashes on the skin (bruising) also appear. There may also be blood in the stool.

This information is important, since very often intestinal colic is confused with these diseases.

The main thing

As mentioned above, intestinal colic is a symptom of a disorder in the gastrointestinal tract. How can this problem be countered? Proper nutrition is very important for intestinal colic. So, the patient is recommended to strictly adhere to a special diet.

1. It is necessary to completely abandon the consumption of foods that contribute to gas formation (legumes, cabbage, etc.).
2. It is also necessary to reduce the consumption of sweets and muffins as much as possible.
3. You need to reduce your salt intake. Dishes should be as fresh as possible.
4. You also need to give up pickles, marinades, canned food.
5. It is completely necessary to exclude smoked meats, seasonings, ketchups and mayonnaises from the diet.
6. The diet should contain as much fiber as possible. Useful fresh vegetables and fruits.
7. Method of cooking: steamed, boiled or stewed.
8. Eggs are very useful for colic: scrambled eggs or soft-boiled.
9. It is also good to drink warm sweetened teas. Fennel tea will help to cope with colic.
10. Help to cope with intestinal colic dill and cumin. Of these, you can make decoctions or infusions and take it orally.
11. Mucous porridges and rice boiled in water are very useful.
12. It is necessary to refuse soda, "colored" drinks, coffee, alcohol.

Diagnostics

What to do if there is such a problem as intestinal colic in adults? Treatment in this case should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor. After all, self-medication can do great harm to your body. Which doctor should you go to?

1. Gastroenterologist. In most cases, you need to turn to him for help, because intestinal colic is a symptom of a malfunction in the digestive tract.
2. Traumatologist. In the event that colic was caused by an injury to the abdominal cavity.
3. Gynecologist. If colic torments a pregnant woman.

At the specialist

Considering the topic - intestinal colic in adults: symptoms, treatment - you need to talk about what the doctor will do with the patient.

1. Inspection. At the very beginning, the doctor will lay the patient on the couch and examine his abdominal cavity. It is very important at this moment to indicate exactly where it hurts and what the nature of pain is.
2. The study of anamnesis.
3. The doctor will also give a referral for a stool test. This is necessary in order to examine the feces for the presence of worms and to find out the state of the microflora of the stomach.

Possible studies:

1. Gastroscopy. It will be needed if the doctor has suspicions of stomach diseases.
2. Analysis of urine. Needed if the doctor has a suspicion of problems in the work of the kidneys. Also, using this analysis, you can determine whether there are inflammatory processes in the body.

These are the main activities. However, in some cases, doctors may prescribe other studies.

Treatment

So, intestinal colic in adults. Treatment will depend on the cause of the symptom. However, now I want to talk about those remedies that will help relieve pain:

1. Warm relaxing bath. It can significantly reduce colic and allow a person to rest. It is important to remember that the water should not be hot.
2. Attention: in case of intestinal colic, a hot heating pad should not be placed on the stomach. If it is biliary colic, you can put a heating pad with ice on the abdominal cavity.
3. If colic is caused by the intake of poor-quality food, in this case, you need to induce vomiting (this is necessary in order to free the stomach from the remnants of the product).
4. You can also take antispasmodics. That is, funds that help relieve pain. So, it can be the following drugs: "No-shpa", "Spasmalgon".
5. It is also important to take funds that help the work of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, it may be the drug "Smecta".
6. If poisoning is the cause of intestinal colic, it is also good to take a drug such as Enterosgel. It will remove toxins from the body, significantly speeding up the healing process. In parallel, the doctor may also prescribe an enema to cleanse the intestines.
7. If the patient has intestinal colic, what should be done to alleviate the condition? So, if this symptom is a consequence of a viral disease, it is enough to limit yourself to taking the drug "Activated charcoal", a complex of vitamins and a diet.

ethnoscience

What can you advise people who want to know how to treat intestinal colic? So, if there is no desire to resort to the use of drugs, you can turn to traditional medicine. What can help in this case?

1. Dill. This green will do the job perfectly. To do this, prepare a milk broth from its seeds (one tablespoon per glass of milk).
2. Collection. You need to take one tablespoon of calamus, angelica and oak bark, pour a liter of boiling water and leave for a day. You need to take the medicine two tablespoons before each meal. This tool will not only eliminate colic, but also relieve bloating.
3. Motherwort juice. Great for relieving spasms. To do this, one teaspoon of juice should be diluted in a glass of warm boiled water.
4. Pomegranate peels. Studying the topic "intestinal colic: symptoms and treatment", I would like to say that pomegranate peels can perfectly cope with the problem. To do this, take one teaspoon of crushed crusts, pour a glass of boiling water and boil over low heat for half an hour. This medicine is taken three times a day before meals, 30 ml.

Prevention

What else can be said to those who want to have more information about what intestinal colic is, the symptoms and treatment of the problem? Preventive measures will also be important to avoid this problem:

1. Proper nutrition. It is necessary to abandon products that promote gas formation. It is also best to stick to the usual diet of a healthy person (you need to completely abandon fast food, convenience foods and "harmful" foods).
2. Daily regime. To avoid colic, a person's day should be quite active. If the work is sedentary, it is necessary to do a little exercise during breaks, and once every two hours go out for at least 10 minutes in the fresh air.
3. Exercise can help relieve colic. The swing of the press works especially well in this direction.
4. And, of course, you need to avoid stressful situations and emotional overstrain.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, no matter for what reasons, are accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the abdomen, which are called cramps. They can be manifested by a feeling of heaviness, turning into pain, and other extremely uncomfortable conditions.

If we consider spasms as a reaction of the body, this is a spontaneous contraction of the walls of the stomach. This organ has a well-developed muscular system for softening food in order to further transfer it to the next stage of processing in the intestine.

The stomach produces contractile movements on its own, and the person does not feel them. But when the organ is exposed to factors not related to digestion, the movements resume. Then contractions bring a feeling of discomfort, because gastric juice is produced, and there is nothing to digest in the stomach.

The reasons

Spasmodic pains that appear in the abdomen indicate the presence of serious problems in the body that can subsequently lead to surgical intervention.

There are many reasons why patients feel discomfort. These include:

• pain on the right or in the navel area - this may indicate inflammation of the appendix;
• stagnation of feces in the intestine is accompanied by pain in the left side;
• acute pain in the lower back, a possible cause is renal colic;
• infringement of a hernia;
• inflammation of adhesive scars, etc.

The above causes of abdominal pain require a medical examination, do not self-medicate.

Particular attention should be paid to pregnant women. In recent months, cramps in the lower abdomen may indicate that the pregnancy may be terminated. The pain is accompanied by bloody or liquid secretions, immediate hospitalization is necessary. But often spasms in expectant mothers appear as a result of diseases of the urinary system: pyelonephritis, cystitis, etc.

If there is discomfort in the abdomen, a medical examination is required before treatment.

Discomfort in adults may appear in connection with liver failure and gallbladder dysfunction, for example, with cholecystitis. Bile does not move or there is a violation of its outflow. As a result of the ongoing inflammatory processes, the muscles of the bile ducts begin to contract, as well as the muscles surrounding it.

Cholelithiasis can cause abdominal cramps, but then surgery is certainly required, stones in the gallbladder provoke pain.

Similar symptoms appear with dysfunction of the urinary system, or rather, are caused by urolithiasis. The stones begin to move along the urinary tract, first the lower abdomen hurts, then the pain radiates to the back, to the intestines, to the inguinal region.

In infants, abdominal pain is caused by a digestive system that has not fully formed, dysbacteriosis, if the mother took antibiotics before childbirth.

An older child may have a stomach ache for reasons:

• intestinal disorders;
• nervous strain at school;
• infection;
• allergies to certain foods;
• inflammatory processes in the urinary system.

Inflammation of the urinary system

Intestinal colic is a common and common cause of abdominal cramps. Adults and children suffer from malaise. Improper diet, dysfunction of the digestive system, intestinal obstruction, causing intoxication of the body, as a result, painful sensations appear, diabetes also becomes a source of spasms.

Classification

Doctors divide pain in the abdomen into organic and functional.

The first classification of spasms is more common in adults with pre-existing gastrointestinal problems. Functional contractions of the stomach muscles are observed more often in the younger generation. This is due to the still weak nervous system and metabolic disorders. In infants, pylorospasm is observed, requiring immediate medical attention. This happens with contractions of the transitional zone of the stomach and duodenum, due to dysfunction of the neuromuscular apparatus of the baby's stomach.

Spasms of the abdominal muscles

This is one of the types of spastic pain caused by disruption of the digestive system, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle. A sharp contraction of the abdominal muscles can also be caused by an unexpected fright. Damage to internal organs, colic in the liver, in the genitourinary system, damage to the pancreas, stomach diseases. Colic in the intestines can be caused by a violation of lipid metabolism, diabetes mellitus, porphyrin disease. With spasms, the internal organs of a person and the circulatory system passing through the abdominal cavity suffer. Often the pain syndrome is associated with the appendix, becoming inflamed, the organ begins to contract, provoking pain.

Tonic spasms

Tonic pain is characterized by prolonged muscle tension. Such syndromes are accompanied by persistent hypertonicity of the muscular apparatus of the abdominal cavity, with the development of compacted painful muscle areas, called trigger points. The movement of the damaged muscle decreases, it begins to shorten and become denser. When you try to press on the compacted area, pain occurs that spreads to other parts of the human body: in the lower back, in the arm, leg.

The causes of tonic spasms are associated with injuries, with prolonged static muscle tension, and emotional stress.

The danger of tonic pain lies in the fact that with a constant pain syndrome, a person gets used to constant contractions and stops paying attention. But pain is a protective function of the body, warning of problems with the normal functioning of internal organs. Inattention to such spasms can lead to the development of complex diseases:

• the damaged muscle is not provided with sufficient blood flow, which means that blood circulation is disturbed for nearby organs;
• the body works in "idle", supplying the seal with an increased amount of oxygen and nutrients;
• the presence of a damaged area and not treatment leads to a negative impact on the psyche, physiology and the body system as a whole;
• the muscle in which the violation occurred does not perform musculoskeletal functions.

Clonic spasms

This is a spontaneous muscle contraction, but occurring in periods (periods of tension and periods of muscle relaxation). The body begins to twitch involuntarily.

The cause of such spasms can be renal failure, dysfunction of the adrenal glands, uremia, intoxication.

The use of medications to help a patient with an attack of clonic muscle contractions is not recommended. The doctor prescribes medicines, taking into account the peculiarities of the effects of specific drugs on the body of an individual patient. It is permissible to provide first aid before the arrival of the doctors: lay it on a level place, put something soft under the head, try not to let the person injure himself.

Symptoms

Symptomatic phenomena accompanying spasms can be serious. It is worth paying special attention to the signs:

• the duration of the muscle contraction period is more than 60 minutes;
• loss of consciousness due to pain;
• pale skin;
• a person has not urinated for more than 10 hours;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• the patient has difficulty breathing;
• pregnant women have vaginal bleeding;
• an increase in body temperature, a person has a fever;
• there is blood in the feces and vomit.

If it hurts on the left side of a woman, the cause may be an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, an ambulance is called immediately.

Treatment of spasms

The use of drugs for spasms can lead to a response of the digestive system. The appointment of medication should be done by a doctor.

Medical treatment

Frequent involuntary muscle contractions can lead to more serious illnesses than just pain. Medications can be used to make the situation worse.

To relieve symptoms for a while, antispasmodics are used, which reduce the tone of cells in the muscular system of the body. They relieve pain by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles.

The pharmaceutical industry produces drugs in the form of tablets, injections, and suppositories.

Pills for spasms - papaverine. Indicated for pain syndromes in the abdominal region, heart, blood vessels. Can be taken by pregnant women. Does not affect the human central nervous system. Side effect: drowsiness, allergies, possibly constipation.

Spasmalgon is available in the form of injections. With intramuscular injection, muscle relaxation occurs faster.

Folk recipes

Pain in men and women arise from gastrointestinal dysfunction, bad habits, alcohol abuse. Women experience discomfort during menstruation in the lower abdomen.

Traditional medicine in this case can help without harming other internal organs. Spasmodic plants are able to relieve the symptom one by one and relieve the pain.

medicinal chamomile

An infusion of this natural remedy can be taken continuously. Brew one tablespoon of herbs, let it brew and take two tablespoons every 2 hours during the day. If the pain is often disturbing, then a course is taken within a week.

The patient's menu should include more herbal products. If the pain is associated with the intestines, then it is better to boil, stew or bake vegetables. Also include onions, honey and carrots in your diet. Motherwort, oregano, mint, valerian, lemon balm can also be called as relieving symptoms.

Emergency relief of spasms

The main thing that should not be done in case of a sharp deterioration in the condition is to panic. After all, stress will only exacerbate the situation. It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor, since only a professional can correctly identify the problem and prescribe an effective treatment.

If the attack is of a prolonged nature, it is necessary to take strong spasmodic drugs or drink a decoction of mint, chamomile, valerian or calamus root. It is allowed to take medications only after consulting a doctor!

The stomach as an organ plays a huge role in the life of the human body. Along with the heart, it can be called a kind of engine - by processing food, it provides energy support to the whole organism, giving it the strength to function.

But, like any organ, the stomach is subject to various diseases or just temporary functional disorders. One such disorder is colic.

What is stomach colic

Gastric colic occurs due to disruption of the digestive tract.

Gastric colic is not a disease as such. They only indicate a violation of the functioning of individual organs of the gastrointestinal tract or the very mechanism of digestive processes.

Colic can be identified not as a single symptom, but as a complex of conditions that can manifest themselves singly and in various combinations.

The colic itself is spasmodic in nature. They are sharp contractions of the muscles of the stomach, which are accompanied by severe pain, general weakness.

Sometimes nausea and vomiting are added to these symptoms. The pain is usually so severe that the person involuntarily assumes the “embryo” position, pulling his knees up to his stomach and wrapping his hands around his stomach.

Gastric colic can last for various times. In one case, spasms are possible for several minutes, in the other, this condition may not go away for several hours. Pain in this case can have a diverse character:

1. periodic (paroxysmal) - between the moments of occurrence of pain there are states of rest;
2. cramping;
3. cutting;
4. stabbing.

The level of pain can also be different:

• mild pain;
• moderate;
• strongly pronounced.

Usually gastric colic is accompanied by a pronounced disturbing pain. In this case, most likely, there is some kind of functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. If the pain is weak, aching, on the contrary, it may indicate a serious lesion of one or more organs.

With colic in the stomach, pain can be felt not only in its area. It can irradiate to other organs and parts of the body, that is, it will seem that it is not the stomach that hurts, but, for example, the lower back. Reverse irradiation is also possible.

Because of this, determining the cause of colic is much more difficult. In addition, with a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, there are no physical changes or mechanical damage to the tissues and organs of the system, which also increases the complexity of determining the causes of spasms.

Why do stomach cramps occur?

Improper nutrition can cause colic in the abdomen.

All causes of stomach cramps can be divided into two large groups depending on the nature of the origin of colic.

Functional spasms are explained by a disorder of metabolic processes and the activity of the nervous system. Hence, among the factors causing the occurrence of colic, we can distinguish:

• malnutrition (unbalanced diet, insufficient fluid intake, eating habits - talking while eating, snacking on the go, skipping mandatory meals, overeating);
• frequent stressful situations;
• bad habits: use, alcohol and drugs, smoking;
• taking certain medications;
• chemical intoxication (work in conditions of hazardous industries, disturbed environmental ecology);
• allergic reactions;
• poisoning of various etiologies (food, alcohol);
• mechanical impact (consequences of operations on the digestive tract);
• a consequence of past illnesses;
• climate change and eating exotic foods;
• hypothermia.

Gastric colic of organic origin is provoked by damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract:

1. erosion processes;
2. gastritis;
3. gastroduodenitis;
4. ulcerative inflammation.

Depending on the sources of colic, the treatment program prescribed by the specialist will depend.

First aid

If you find colic in the abdomen, you must contact a medical institution.

At the first attack, it is necessary to take a comfortable position, relieve the pressure of clothing on the abdomen, you can drink an anesthetic. Among the recommendations can be found taking a warm bath, warm drink.

If the attack does not go away or recurs, you need to call a doctor. In any case, after an attack of colic, even a single one, you need to contact a specialist to find out the causes of spasms and determine further actions - what and how to treat.

Doctors do not recommend taking any action before their arrival, because by eliminating the symptoms, it is possible to complicate the process of finding out the causes of their occurrence, as well as warn against the use of painkillers and thermal procedures. In this case, it is better to apply a cold compress.

In order to determine the necessary therapeutic procedures, it is necessary to carry out a minimum diagnosis, which is done in any medical institution.

Diagnosis of the disease

A blood test will help determine the cause of colic in the abdomen.

When a patient is admitted with complaints of colic, first of all, the gastroenterologist collects and analyzes the anamnesis of the disease and the life of the person who applied, as well as the anamnesis of the life of his family. To do this, the doctor may ask the following questions:

• duration and nature of pain.
• The presence of problems with bowel movements (constipation, bleeding).
• The occurrence of nausea and vomiting, fever.
• The fact of taking painkillers and the presence of a positive effect from taking them.
• The patient's lifestyle, his eating habits.
• The presence in the past and present of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the patient and his family members.
• Further, if this is the primary appointment, the doctor examines the patient, performs percussion (palpation and tapping) of the abdomen and, especially carefully, the epigastric region (a section of the anterior abdominal wall corresponding to the projection of the stomach onto this wall).

The patient is then sent for lab testing. You may need:

1. general analysis of blood and urine;
2. blood chemistry;
3. analysis of feces for occult blood;
4. routine fecal analysis - coprogram.

To clarify the picture of the disease, the patient undergoes the necessary instrumental diagnostic procedures:

1. An ultrasound examination of the abdominal region allows you to assess the general condition of the organs.
2. X-ray examination does not give an accurate picture of the state of the tissues and organs of the abdominal cavity, but allows you to see the presence and distribution of gases and liquids in the picture. Based on this information, some conclusions can be drawn about the pathologies that occur in the studied area of ​​the patient's body.
3. Computed tomography is the most accurate and informative method of instrumental diagnostics. On a computed tomogram, the image of the organs is visualized in a three-dimensional projection. Images of individual organs are not superimposed on each other, unlike an x-ray. Each organ is visible in section, its shape, size, and condition of tissues can be assessed. Computed tomography allows you to determine the presence of foreign bodies in the studied part of the body, pathological changes in cells and tissues of organs.

Based on the data obtained during the examination of the patient, his doctor draws up a treatment program. It should be remembered that therapeutic procedures (including maintenance therapy) can stretch for quite a long time.

In this case, you need to periodically visit your treating specialist so that he can evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy and, if necessary, adjust the treatment.

General principles of treatment and preventive measures

No-shpa - to eliminate colic.

If during the examination of the patient diseases of the abdominal organs were revealed, then they are treated first.

Colic, as an accompanying symptom, can go away by itself. It is possible to prescribe painkillers to alleviate the patient's condition.

If the etiology of gastric colic is not clarified or it is established that their cause is a functional violation of the gastrointestinal tract, complex therapy is prescribed. It does not include a therapeutic diet, lifestyle changes if necessary, and drug treatment.

The diet includes the rejection of heavy foods, foods that cause flatulence and bloating: complex dishes, smoked meats, pickles, spices, animal fats, legumes, cabbage, sweet fruits, strong tea and coffee, carbonated drinks.

Dishes need to be steamed, boiled or stewed. Food is consumed in small portions, divided into 5-6 meals. It is advisable to adhere to a certain regimen - eat at about the same time. Dishes are eaten warm. Food needs to be chewed thoroughly.

A sufficient amount of liquid should be consumed per day (up to 2 liters), mainly clean water. Lifestyle should be quite mobile. It is recommended to take walks in the fresh air more often, to do simple physical exercises. Drug therapy covers several areas:

• Removal of pain (antispasmodics - No-Shpa, Drotaverine).
• Stress relief (antidepressants - Amitriptyline).
• Stimulation of digestion (prokinetics - Domperidone).
• Normalization of secretion (H2-antihistamines - famotidine).

As an aid, you can take decoctions from medicinal plants. Calamus root, chamomile flowers and angelica grass are mixed in equal proportions. 3 art. l. the mixture is poured with boiling water, brought to a boil, cooled and filtered. The decoction is drunk half a cup before meals.

Another option: chamomile flowers, valerian root and snake knotweed root in a ratio of 3: 4: 4 are mixed, poured with boiling water at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. mixture in a glass of water and insist in a thermos for 6 hours. Drink the infusion before meals in a glass 2 times a day. Lavender, oregano, motherwort also have a therapeutic effect. They are brewed with boiling water and taken before meals several times a day.

As a prevention of gastric colic, it is recommended to simply lead a healthy lifestyle: give up bad habits, move more, eat right and fully, and avoid stressful situations.

Knowing the symptoms of gastric colic and the principles of first aid, a person, faced with this situation, will not be at a loss and will do everything possible to alleviate the condition. It is important to remember that in any case, consultation with a specialist is necessary, even if there was no need to call an ambulance.

About colic in the stomach will tell the video:

Painful muscle contractions and abdominal cramps can occur for many reasons, however, correct diagnosis is essential for treatment.

The feeling of convulsive pain is associated with painful spasms in the intestines and needs proper therapy.

Constipation, viral infections, diarrhea and food poisoning, as well as many other factors, can cause stomach cramps.

When there are colic in the abdomen, what to do? The answer to this question will be to identify the causes of this condition.

The reasons

Although colic may only last a few minutes, it can be quite severe and make life literally unbearable for the sufferer.

Colic gives pain due to involuntary contraction of the abdominal muscles. When these abnormal contractions are accompanied by an increased frequency of bowel movements and diarrhea, one cannot but take this phenomenon seriously, since these symptoms signal the presence of an indigestion.

In some cases, colic is limited to a specific part of the abdomen, indicating that some organ in the abdomen is not working properly. It could be:

• gallbladder;
• pancreas;
• intestines.

However, if colic and similar pains affect a large part of the abdomen, it is often due to overeating and an inactive lifestyle that lead to gas, indigestion and bloating.

The causes of severe muscle spasms and stomach cramps can range from minor factors to serious problems.

Eating contaminated food can lead to food poisoning.

Infection with viral agents (eg, rotavirus) is also possible. Common symptoms of viral infections are diarrhea, muscle cramps, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.

Infections such as viral gastroenteritis, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.

Lactose intolerance is another cause of gastrointestinal problems. Lactose is present in milk and dairy products. Some people cannot tolerate lactose because the body cannot absorb it easily.

Intolerance to this substance can cause abdominal cramps in specific individuals. Other symptoms include flatulence, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea.

Lack of coordination between the muscles of the intestines and the nervous system causes irritable bowel syndrome.

The symptoms of this digestive disorder are cramps, colic, constipation, bloating, and nausea. In the initial stages of IBS, after a bowel movement, colic disappears, but after a while they return again.

Another cause of colic in the abdomen is gastritis. The perception of pain is first felt above the navel, and it moves downward, producing severe abdominal colic.

Other signs of spasm are nausea, diarrhea, bad breath and belching, and stomach pain.

In some people, gluten is hardly absorbed by the body and causes gluten intolerance. Consuming gluten can damage the small intestine if a person is suffering from celiac disease.

In this condition, the small intestine lacks the ability to absorb nutrients, leading to colic, dehydration, and fatigue.

Severe abdominal pain may be a symptom of colon cancer. The formation of a tumor in the colon causes obstruction, constipation appears.

Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) can also cause abdominal cramps and bowel dysfunction.

The pancreas is mainly involved in the production of enzymes and digestive juices that allow the body to digest the food that is swallowed.

It is believed that pancreatitis is often diagnosed in alcoholics. Regardless of what its cause is, the symptoms of pancreatitis that are observed in patients include:

• girdle pain in the abdomen;
• gas formation;
• nausea;
• diarrhea.

In cholecystitis, the gallbladder becomes inflamed. The main task of the gallbladder is to concentrate bile (digestive juice) from the liver and transfer it to the duodenum for normal digestion.

The formation of gallstones in the bladder and stones in the bile ducts are the most common causes of cholecystitis.

Patients with this disease often complain of colic in the right side of the abdominal region. As the condition progresses, it can affect the liver and cause jaundice.

Some studies show that people who have crossed the age of 60 tend to suffer from diverticulosis, a condition in which sac structures (sacs, also called diverticula) form on the inner wall of the large intestine.

In most cases, these multiple packets are found in the lower left side of the bowel. These formations are harmless and usually do not affect the normal functioning of the intestines.

Consequently, many people do not even realize that they have diverticula. However, when these sacs become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. It is characterized by colic, which usually occurs in the left side of the abdominal region.

Appendicitis causes inflammation of the appendix (a structure in the caecum). Colic, which causes severe pain in the right side of the abdomen, is the most well-known manifestation of appendicitis.

In addition to severe pain and fever, patients may also experience diarrhea or constipation.

Infections that are found in the digestive tract can also cause health problems such as stomach ulcers and gastroenteritis.

Intra-abdominal colic, along with diarrhea and vomiting, are common symptoms of many stomach diseases.

People with stomach problems often lose their appetite. Abdominal discomfort is often seen as a precursor to stomach ulcers.

Persistent diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramps can also indicate colon cancer. Until the tumor becomes large enough, symptoms usually do not appear, therefore, go unnoticed.

However, once the cancer has spread, there may be significant rectal bleeding in the form of bloody diarrhea.

Eating contaminated food often causes food poisoning, which can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Therapy and prevention

It is always possible to take preventive measures in the early stages of abdominal colic.

Eat healthy foods and follow a diet that includes fiber supplements and increased fluid intake. In addition, you can eat bran along with oatmeal.

It is important to protect yourself from anxiety and stress. Exercise and yoga are useful for maintaining a normal psychological state and avoiding abdominal discomfort.

Changes in a person's lifestyle through healthy and regular exercise will help him live a full life without health problems.

Colic in the abdomen can be easily eliminated if you pay attention to this condition in a timely manner.

Treatment for colic and abdominal pain can vary from one person to another, depending on the cause and overall health.

For a minor cause (excessive gas, for example), home remedies such as lemon and ginger can help relieve pain.

Ginger root tea has healing properties for intra-abdominal spasms and colic.

A diet high in fiber, avoiding junk food, and avoiding excessive alcohol intake can help avoid most digestive problems.

Consuming foods rich in probiotic bacteria, which help maintain a healthy intestinal flora, can help relieve the symptoms of constipation and colic.

The patient should still consult a doctor if he often suffers from pain and colic in the abdomen.

Only after the doctor knows the history of the disease and the type of symptoms, he can prescribe to identify the causes of colic and tell the patient what to do to get rid of the pain.

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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

The essence of intestinal colic and the mechanism of its development

Currently, there are two main types of intestinal colic - pathological and infantile. Pathological colic is always a sign of bowel dysfunction, and can develop in adults or in children from the age of eight months, regardless of gender. Infantile colic occurs only in infants between the ages of three weeks and six months, and is not a pathology. Thus, speaking of intestinal colic, one should always distinguish whether it is a pathology or an infantile norm.

infant colic is not a disease or a symptom of any pathology, but is a feature of the normal functioning of the organism of an early age. Colic in infants is not dangerous because they are not symptoms of the disease and do not lead to the development of any pathology. Currently, the causes of infantile colic have not been established, however, according to statistics, they develop in 30-70% of all children aged 3 weeks to six months. Presumably, colic is due to the immaturity of the nervous system and digestive tract, which during this period is still only adjusting its work, "learning" to digest food coming through the mouth, and not through the umbilical cord, as it was during fetal development. Infant colic resolves on its own and without a trace without any treatment by the age of 3 to 6 months.

Both infantile and pathological colic is an alternation of pain attacks with light intervals. Pain in intestinal colic is usually localized in the navel or in the lower abdomen, and more often on the left side. Attacks of pain occur abruptly, unexpectedly, suddenly, without connection with any factors. The pain is usually strong, sharp, forcing a person to take a forced position, clasping his stomach with his hands. The pain sensation usually does not last long - from a few seconds to a minute, after which a light interval occurs. The frequency of episodes of pain and their number during one attack of colic can be different. That is, with intestinal colic, a person may suffer from frequent bouts of pain that occur every 5 minutes and last for a total of several hours, or experience pain once every half hour.

Pathological colic begins suddenly, usually after eating or before the urge to defecate. The duration of the attack can be different - from several minutes to hours. If you do not take antispasmodic drugs, then an attack of colic usually ends on its own as suddenly as it began. Colic can disturb a person at any time, but more often it happens in the evening.

Infant colic stops as suddenly as it starts, and it happens without any treatment or intervention. As a rule, colic in babies lasts 2 to 3 hours, less often up to 6 hours, and always begins at about the same time. For example, in one child, colic can begin at 18:00 and end at 20:00, and in another, from 20:00 to 22:00, etc. Infantile colic can disturb the child daily or only sporadically. However, with the episodic appearance of colic, they occur at least 2 to 3 days a week. During an attack of colic, nothing helps the baby, he cries or screams angrily until the painful sensation passes. It is impossible to calm the baby, because neither motion sickness, nor feeding, nor other methods help to calm his crying, which parents just need to endure. As soon as colic ends, the child begins to smile and stops crying.

The mechanism of development of both infantile and pathological colic includes a strong effect on the intestinal wall and the nerve endings located in its mesentery. These factors can be influenced by:

• Stretching of the intestine with the expansion of its lumen, as a result of which the organ begins to compress the nerve endings of the abdominal cavity (for example, with bloating, flatulence, overeating, etc.);
• Spasm of the intestine with a sharp narrowing of its lumen, as a result of which the food bolus cannot move normally (for example, during stress or strong excitement, eating stale, low-quality or exotic food, gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, with helminthiases, etc.);
• Irritation of muscles and nerve endings located in the intestinal wall (for example, in case of poisoning with poisons, with intestinal infections, with influenza and SARS);
• Violation of intestinal motility, due to which the intestine either contracts too much and painfully, or, on the contrary, is practically paralyzed (for example, with irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis, etc.);
• An obstacle to the advancement of the food bolus present in the intestinal lumen (for example, tumor, polyp, obstruction, diverticulum, adhesions after surgery or inflammation, etc.).

Treatment of infantile colic is not carried out, because, firstly, there are currently no drugs that effectively eliminate this condition, and secondly, this phenomenon is not dangerous and does not harm the baby. Despite the lack of drugs that can stop colic in infants, various means to combat this phenomenon are widespread in everyday life, since parents believe that "something must be done, because the child is ill." However, all drugs and devices used to eliminate colic (dill water, Espumizan, Disflatil, Lactase-baby, gas tube, etc.) simply reassure parents who feel psychological satisfaction from trying to help the baby, but in no way stop colic. By the age of 3 - 6 months, infantile colic in a baby disappears on its own, and parents believe that finally some drug given to the baby last helped relieve him of discomfort. In reality, infantile colic does not need to be treated - you just need to endure this period, not paying attention to the angry crying of the baby.

Pathological colic is treated with various symptomatic drugs that stop spasms, for example, Spasmomen, No-Shpa, Buscopan, etc. But these drugs only eliminate abdominal pain and do not affect the causes of its occurrence. Therefore, antispasmodic drugs are only symptomatic, which can and should be used to relieve pain, but at the same time, a thorough examination should be carried out to identify the cause of colic and begin therapy for this underlying disease.

The reasons

Causes of pathological intestinal colic

• Gastritis;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum;
• Enterocolitis (inflammation of the small and large intestines);
• pancreatitis;
• Hepatitis and other liver diseases;
• Acute appendicitis ;
• Intestinal infections (cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis);
• Food poisoning (botulism, staphylococcal poisoning, escherichiosis, etc.);
• Poisoning with fungi or plant poisons (for example, when eating green potato tubers, berry seeds, etc.);
• Poisoning by products of animal origin (meat of poisonous fish, honey from poisonous plants, etc.);
• Poisoning by various chemicals and industrial poisons (for example, pesticides, nitrates, etc.);
• Poisoning with salts of heavy metals;
• Helminthiases (ascariasis, giardiasis, opisthorchiasis, enterobiasis);
• Systemic viral infections (influenza, SARS, parainfluenza, etc.);
• Intestinal obstruction due to the closure of its lumen by a tumor, fecal or gallstones, bezoars (lumps of hair or plant food fibers), balls of helminths or foreign bodies;
• Adhesions in the abdominal cavity, formed after surgery, peritonitis, radiation therapy, or infectious diseases of the pelvic organs or abdomen;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Stress or severe nervous tension (this factor, as a rule, causes colic in people who are impressionable, emotionally susceptible);
• Errors in the diet, such as irregular meals, eating "dry food" or "on the go", overeating, eating a large amount of yeast dough products, sour-milk and pickled dishes, as well as stale, low-quality products and too cold, spicy, smoked, spicy or exotic food.

Causes of infant colic

• Immaturity of the central nervous system of a child of the first year of life;
• Immaturity of the intestine, which does not completely digest the food that has entered it, as a result of which gas formation and peristalsis increase;
• Accumulation of gases in the intestines;
• lactase deficiency in a child;
• Deficiency of enzymes of the digestive system in a child;
• Deficiency of hormone-like substances that regulate the digestive tract (gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin);
• Lack of stable and formed intestinal microflora;
• Swallowing air due to improper feeding technique, greedy sucking or sucking on an empty nipple;
• Allergic reaction to formula milk;
• Increased anxiety of a nursing mother;
• Maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pathological intestinal colic in adults

With colic, the pain is usually intermittent, it occurs in episodic attacks. Such painful attacks are always unexpected, sudden and very strong in severity. An attack of pain can last a different period of time - from a few seconds to 1 - 2 minutes, after which a light period occurs. The duration of light intervals between attacks of pain can also vary - from several minutes to half an hour. The total duration of intestinal colic, when pain attacks alternate with light intervals, is also variable - from half an hour to 10 - 12 hours.

Against the background of a painful attack of colic, a person tries to find a position in which the pain is not so strong, but this fails. As a result, a person simply instinctively grabs his stomach with his hands and tries to cling to his legs bent at the knees. During pain, the abdominal wall is tense, and attempts to probe the intestines and other internal organs are sharply painful. After the passage of colic, a person is exhausted, apathetic and indifferent to others.

Intestinal colic disappears as suddenly as it appears. In some cases, colic ends with defecation, and in this situation, relief occurs after bowel movement.

As a rule, colic occurs suddenly, against the background of complete health and quite satisfactory well-being. A heavy meal, stress, emotional stress or physical activity can provoke the onset of colic. Most often, colic develops in the evening hours, although it can appear at any time of the day.

Intestinal colic always leads to a violation of gas formation and defecation, as a result of which, some time after the onset of pain or simultaneously with them, a person develops bloating, flatulence (increased gas formation), as well as nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting appear only at the peak of abdominal pain, and in the rest of the period of colic, these symptoms are absent. Flatulence and bloating appear either simultaneously with colic, or some time after its onset. A characteristic feature of flatulence and bloating is that they persist for some period of time after the end of intestinal colic itself.

Intestinal colic can be combined with other symptoms inherent in a particular disease or condition that caused its development. For example, with gastritis, intestinal colic is combined with nausea and vomiting, heartburn, sour belching, with pancreatitis - with girdle pain throughout the abdomen, diarrhea, indomitable vomiting, with intestinal infections - with fever and diarrhea. In a stressful situation, intestinal colic is combined with excitement, rapid pulse, high blood pressure, etc.

Symptoms of intestinal colic in women

Symptoms of intestinal colic in children

In children younger than 8 months but older than 3 weeks so-called infantile colic develops, which for them is a variant of the norm. The symptoms of such colic are described in detail in the subsection below.

Thus, speaking about the symptoms of intestinal colic in children, you must first determine the age of the baby. If he is older than 8 months, then he will have symptoms of pathological colic. If the child is younger than 8 months, then he will have symptoms of infantile colic.

Symptoms of infantile colic

First, you need to know that colic can only bother children from the age of 3 weeks to 6 to 8 months. Before three weeks and after 8 months, infantile non-dangerous colic in children does not happen. If a child older than 8 months has a stomach ache, then we are no longer talking about infantile, but about pathological colic, and in this case, you need to call a doctor to diagnose the disease. Therefore, it must be remembered that infantile colic can and should be diagnosed only in children 3 weeks - 8 months.

Secondly, it should be remembered that colic in newborns usually occurs in the evening, some time after eating or during feeding. Moreover, as a rule, colic in children occurs at the same time of day and has the same duration on different days. For example, in a baby, colic occurs at 20-00 and lasts for 2 hours, which means that every day or every other day from 20-00 to 22-00 he will scream and cry for no reason, suffering from colic.

Infant colic lasts from half an hour to 3 hours (occasionally up to 6 hours), appear at least three times a week and are fixed for at least three weeks in total.

With the development of colic, the child begins to cry for no reason, twists his legs and tries to press them to his stomach. Any attempts to calm the child are futile, he continues to scream and cry, no matter what the parents do (carried in their arms, rolled in a stroller, rocked in a crib). At the same time, the child has no objective reasons for crying - he is not hungry (no more than 3 hours have passed since the last feeding), his diaper or diapers are dry, his body temperature is normal, there are no signs of the disease (the throat is not red, the nose is not blocked, the ear does not hurt, etc.), the room is cool (20 - 24 o C). The only objective symptoms associated with infantile colic are a swollen abdomen, a tense anterior abdominal wall and a red face.

The child cries and cannot be calmed by any means until the colic has passed. After that, the baby smiles, becomes contented and calm, in other words, returns to its normal state.

Thus, we can say that the main symptom of colic in an infant is causeless crying, when there are no objective reasons for concern (wet diaper, hunger, colds, temperature, etc.), which lasts from half an hour to 3 - 6 hours continuously. At the same time, it is not possible to calm the baby in any way. Therefore, if the parents heard the crying of the child, but did not find the objective reasons for this behavior and attempts to calm the child for 15 minutes were unsuccessful, then we are talking about infantile colic.

An additional criterion for intestinal colic in infants is a good appetite, normal weight gain and age-appropriate development. That is, if a child screams for no reason at least three times a week for some time, and it is not possible to calm him down, but otherwise he develops well and gains weight, then he is worried about intestinal colic, and he does not suffer from any disease.

Combination of pathological colic with other symptoms

Intestinal colic and bloating. Bloating very often accompanies intestinal colic, regardless of the reasons for the development of the latter. The fact is that with intestinal colic, the movement of the food bolus through the intestine is disturbed, as a result of which, on the one hand, the process of increased gas formation begins, and on the other hand, certain sections of the intestine swell from excess contents and gases.

Intestinal colic and flatulence. Flatulence almost always accompanies intestinal colic, regardless of what kind of disease provoked its development. This is due to the fact that during colic, the process of normal digestion of food is disrupted, as well as the passage of the food bolus through the intestine, as a result of which excessive formation of gases begins. Therefore, we can say that flatulence and intestinal colic are related to each other, and the second provokes the first.

Intestinal colic and nausea. Nausea can occur with intestinal colic of any origin at the height of pain. In this case, nausea is short-term, not accompanied by vomiting and quickly disappears after the pain intensity decreases. Sometimes nausea, which appears at the peak of pain in intestinal colic, may be accompanied by a single vomiting.

In addition, nausea accompanies intestinal colic if it is caused by a disease that is characterized by nausea and vomiting, such as gastritis, hepatitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, intestinal infection, poisoning, or intestinal obstruction.

Intestinal colic and diarrhea. As a rule, intestinal colic is combined with diarrhea during intestinal infections and various poisonings, when the body tries to get rid of toxic substances that caused spastic contractions of the intestine and intoxication. In such situations, diarrhea is repeated.

In more rare cases, intestinal colic may result in a single episode of loose stools in the absence of poisoning or infection. In such situations, diarrhea is provoked by colic itself, due to which the intestinal contents are not digested properly, but quickly enter the large intestine, from where it is excreted in a liquid consistency.

Intestinal colic in adults

Treatment of intestinal colic should be comprehensive, aimed primarily at eliminating the causative factor. The colic itself, until the underlying disease has been cured or the cause eliminated, can be stopped with antispasmodics so as not to suffer from excruciating pain.

Intestinal colic as a result of gas formation: what foods lead to bloating, what to do with increased gas formation, recommendations from a nutritionist - video

Intestinal colic during pregnancy

Intestinal colic during pregnancy can be quite frequent, but always short-lived. After a short pain attack, a light gap always occurs, and no other symptoms of any pathology appear. Intestinal colic does not increase the tone of the uterus and does not increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth, and also does not provoke fetal hypoxia. That is why intestinal colic during pregnancy is considered a completely normal phenomenon that does not require treatment. However, if colic is poorly tolerated, then pregnant women can take No-shpu or Papaverine to stop it. But it is better to avoid taking medications, and to relieve abdominal pain, take a comfortable position and relax.

Safe intestinal colic must be distinguished from pain, which is a danger signal for a pregnant woman. If intestinal colic or any abdominal pain in a pregnant woman is not accompanied by bloody discharge from the genital tract, fever, deterioration in general well-being or severe dizziness, then it is not dangerous. If the pain is accompanied by any of these symptoms, then it is a dangerous sign, and in such a situation it is necessary to immediately call a doctor.

Intestinal colic in children

Pathological colic in children is more common than in adults, due to the lower resistance of their digestive tract to various negative influences, including unusual or poor-quality food. Therefore, the digestive tract of children more often than adults reacts to unusual, irritating dishes (carbonated water, onions, garlic, etc.) or poor-quality foods (yeast dough products, too salty or spicy dishes, etc.) with the development of symptoms poisoning or functional indigestion. Therefore, children often develop intestinal colic precisely because of nutritional factors, and not against the background of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Since the most common cause of intestinal colic in children is food, this symptom, as a rule, is not a signal of any serious diseases of the internal organs. As a consequence, pathological intestinal colic in children usually needs to be treated and eliminated as food poisoning or overeating.

In general, there are no differences in the course and approaches to the treatment of pathological intestinal colic in children and adults. The main difference between colic in children and those in adults is that in children, errors in diet, intolerance to any type of food or poisoning, rather than diseases of the digestive tract, are much more likely to be the causative factor of the symptom.

Intestinal colic in newborns

General characteristics of the phenomenon

Infant colic is a normal feature of the digestive tract in children and does not harm the baby. According to statistics, colic occurs in 30 - 70% of newborns in various countries.

Colic in newborns can appear from the age of three weeks, and in the vast majority of cases go away on their own by three months. In rare cases, colic continues until the age of 6 to 8 months.

Diagnosing infantile colic is quite simple, as they always meet the following characteristics:

• Appear between the ages of 3 weeks and 8 months;
• Appear at least three times a week or daily;
• They always begin and end at the same time of day;
• More often develop in the evening hours;
• Continue for at least three consecutive weeks;
• Develop either during meals or some time after feeding;
• They begin and end suddenly, against the background of full health;
• During colic, the child screams, cries, kicks his legs, tries to pull them to his stomach;
• The stomach of the child during colic is tense, swollen, he has gases;
• There are no objective reasons for crying (the child is not hungry, his diaper or diaper is dry, the temperature in the room is comfortable, there are no signs of any disease - that is, the throat is not red, there is no runny nose, etc.);
• Attempts to calm the child by any means do not give effect, he still cries and screams until the end of the colic;
• After the end of colic, the child calms down on his own, begins to smile and behave in the usual, familiar way.

The appearance of colic is a normal feature of children of the first year of life, they do not require treatment, are not dangerous for the baby and do not disrupt its development.

What causes colic in newborns?

• Accumulation of gases in the intestines;
• Overeating (the child eats too much food for him, which he is unable to digest);
• Overheating (the child is in a too hot room with dry air);
• lactase deficiency in a child;
• Swallowing air due to improper feeding technique, greedy sucking or sucking on an empty nipple;
• Allergic reaction to formula milk;
• Excessive emotional reaction of the mother to the crying of the child;
• Increased anxiety of a nursing mother;
• Maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Symptoms of colic in newborns

During colic, the child's stomach is tense, he twists his legs, tries to pull them to the tummy, he may pass gases. The passage of gases usually brings relief, but the child does not stop crying until the end of the colic.

At the time of colic, pediatricians advise taking the baby in your arms or trying to calm him in other ways for 15 minutes. If the child has not calmed down in 15 minutes, and he has no objective reasons for crying, then it is recommended to simply put him in the crib and let him scream. To relieve pain and provide emotional contact with parents, you can do a tummy massage.

If the nervous system of the mother or father cannot withstand the child's crying, then you can try to alleviate the suffering of the baby with the following safe, but ineffective means:

• Dill water;
• Preparations based on simethicone (Espumizan, Disflatil, etc.);
• Enterosorbents (Smecta, Enterosgel).

Intestinal colic - treatment

Treatment in adults

Considering that intestinal colic can be a symptom of a serious illness requiring urgent surgical intervention (for example, intestinal obstruction), when it develops for the first time, you must immediately call an ambulance, and before the arrival of a team of doctors, do not take any medication, do not apply a heating pad to the stomach and not to carry out any actions aimed at reducing the intensity of pain, as this can blur the overall picture and lead to incorrect diagnosis.

If colic does not occur for the first time, and its cause is precisely known, then symptomatic treatment can be carried out aimed at stopping the pain syndrome. For symptomatic treatment of intestinal colic, either a warm heating pad on the abdomen or various antispasmodic drugs that can stop spastic pain:

• Preparations of drotaverine hydrochloride (No-Shpa, Drotaverine);
• Papaverine preparations (Papaverine and others);

If colic is combined with flatulence and bloating, then for its relief it is recommended to take antispasmodics simultaneously with drugs containing simethicone (Espumizan, Disflatil, etc.), which reduce gas formation in the intestines. In addition, with colic with flatulence and bloating, it is necessary to refuse food for 12 hours, and then follow a diet in which foods that promote gas formation are excluded from the diet (peas, beans, lentils, corn, cabbage, etc.).

Treatment of intestinal colic in children

Remedy (medicine) for intestinal colic

1. Pain relief medications:

• Preparations of drotaverine hydrochloride (Bioshpa, No-Shpa, Nosh-Bra, Ple-Spa, Spazmol, Spazmonet, Spazoverin, Spakovin, Drotaverin);
• Papaverine preparations (Papaverine);
• Preparations containing belladonna extract (Becarbon, Bellalgin, Besalol);
• Preparations containing hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan).

• Means with simethicone (Espumizan, Disflatil, Sab simplex, Bobotik, Antiflat Lannacher).

• Enterosorbents (Smekta, Laktofiltrum, Polysorb, Polyphepan, Filtrum, Enterosgel, etc.).

Treatment of colic in newborns

General principles for the treatment of colic in infants

• Means with simethicone that reduce flatulence (Espumizan, Disflatil, Sab simplex, Bobotic, Antiflat Lannacher);
• Means containing lactase, which contribute to better absorption of food (Lactase-baby);
• Massage of the tummy with fingers;
• Warm heating pad on the stomach;
• Holding an infant in a prone position on an adult's arm.

Warmer for colic for newborns

For a child, a heating pad should be warm, not hot, so it is very important to choose the right temperature for it. The optimal temperature of the heating pad is determined as follows - the wrist of an adult is applied to it, and if the skin does not burn, but only pleasantly warms up for a minute, then this temperature is ideal for the baby. Having set the optimum temperature, you need to wrap the heating pad with a diaper, put it on your own knees and lay the baby on it with his tummy so that his back is on top. In this position, you need to hold the child for 15 - 30 minutes, then transfer him to the crib, and if necessary, after half an hour, put him again on the heating pad with his tummy.

Applying a heating pad to the stomach of a baby lying on his back is useless, since he will throw it off with active movements of the legs in a few minutes, and attempts to hold it will only lead to increased screaming and crying.

Massage

Massage of the tummy in a newborn is done as follows: the child is placed on his back on his own knees so that his head is at the level of the kneecaps, and the legs are thrown back on the adult's stomach. The head is supported with the left hand, and the wrist with the right hand, having put it between the legs of the child, rests against the pubis. Next, the fingers of the right hand make circular movements clockwise along the baby's tummy for 3 to 7 minutes. Actually, such stroking movements are children's abdominal massage.

Cure for colic in newborns

• Dill water (to drink the child during colic);
• Means with simethicone that reduce gas formation (Espumizan, Disflatil, Sab Simplex, Bobotic, Antiflat Lannacher);
• Means containing lactase, contributing to better absorption of food (Lactase-baby).

Colic in newborns: massage technique, gymnastics and other useful tips - video

Colic in newborns and infants: what is it, their causes and symptoms, what helps with intestinal colic (Dr. Komarovsky) - video

Intestinal colic in newborns and infants: description, reasons for what to do (massage, gas tube, simethicone for a child), advice from a pediatrician - video

Diet for intestinal colic

Colic in the abdomen that appears in an adult is not a problem, but rather a symptom of a pathology in the gastrointestinal tract.

Colic is characterized by severe periodic pain, which is provoked by spasms of the large or small intestine.

There are many reasons for the onset of symptoms and only a doctor can diagnose the condition.

Possible Causes of Colic

Unpleasant sensations in adults are caused by problems in the functioning of the abdominal organs, sometimes treatment can only be carried out by surgical methods. Often, colic is caused by an upset bowel.

A similar condition can be with strong physical exertion. There are many reasons that provoke colic, bloating, you can choose a treatment after a thorough diagnosis and testing.

Symptoms

The main symptoms in adults include the following:

1. There is an acute pain, of an intense nature, after a while, spasms. The pain syndrome increases rapidly, after which it radiates to the testicles in the male half and to the genitals in the female half. During touching the stomach, the muscles are relaxed, but there is strong pain. The pain does not go away for a long time from several hours to several days.
2. The patient does not have a fever, but the general condition worsens. The abdomen increases in size, gases linger, diarrhea is possible.
3. With acute gastritis, additional symptoms are possible in the form of nausea, belching and severe bloating.
4. Often there is diarrhea, which is accompanied by stomach cramps, there is mucus in the feces.
5. Appetite disappears, and weakness appears in the body and muscles.

When colic develops into obstruction, the patient begins to experience undulating abdominal pain, as well as heaviness throughout the abdomen, and severe vomiting begins.

After that, gases and stools are retained, bloating appears and pressure drops. It is not excluded a violation of the patient's orientation in the area, pallor of the skin, cold sweat.

In such a condition, it is urgent to call an ambulance and carry out a possible surgical intervention. Symptoms can lead to the death of a person.

Types of colic

In adults, there are various types of colic that you need to be aware of:

1. Rectal. There are false signals to correct the need, accompanied by pain.
2. Appendicular. Appears during the first time with inflammation of the appendix, the pain increases on the right side.
3. Lead. Occurs due to lead poisoning. Pain in the form of spasms, sharp, the abdomen is constantly tense, the temperature rises to 39 degrees, bleeding gums and a gray tinge appear.
4. Renal. Severe pain radiating to the groin and genitals. When walking, the symptoms become stronger, the temperature rises to 39 degrees, the pressure drops. With renal colic, in adults, urination becomes more difficult, vomiting and nausea appear. Fainting is not excluded if the pathology is in acute form.
5. Hepatic. The pain is localized under the ribs on the right, radiating to the shoulder and under the shoulder blade. There is a bitter taste, possibly nausea, vomiting of bile.
6. Pancreatic. In this condition, adults develop bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting. Initially, the pain syndrome appears in the upper abdomen, after which it flows into girdle pain.

Treatment of colic is carried out by different methods and it is necessary to know how to stop the symptoms at home, with medication and prevent the onset of symptoms with the help of a diet.

Treatment and diagnosis

Qualified medical workers are able to quickly identify the real cause in an adult, and then prescribe the correct treatment for the pathology.

To determine the cause, a complete diagnosis of the patient is carried out.

Initially, the doctor collects data on diseases that were before, for example, on the presence of gastritis, ulcers, cholecystitis and other diseases.

The field of activity is also specified in order to determine chemical poisoning. In addition, the symptoms of other family members are studied, because there may be a focus of infectious diseases.

Doctors listen very carefully and study the complaints of patients and the nature of pain, as well as where they give and where they appear.

After collecting information from the mouth of the patient, doctors perform palpation to determine the pathological cause.

After that, it is necessary to establish a diagnosis with an accuracy of 100%, for this, certain studies are used:

1. Laboratory. Blood, urine, stool samples are collected.
2. Instrumental. An ultrasound of the abdominal organs is done. A sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or computed tomography is performed.

In each individual case, the patient may be referred for examination to another doctor, for example, a urologist.

Subsequent treatment is based on the cause that causes bloating and colic. If the problem lies in the pathologies of the internal organs, then the therapy is aimed at treating diseases.

For food poisoning or intestinal infections, more serious measures are used. Patients are prescribed antibiotics, such as Ciprofloxacin, as well as antiseptic preparations for the intestines.

If obstruction is found in an acute form, as well as inflammation of the appendix, surgical treatment is necessary.

To relieve pain, doctors often prescribe antispasmodics, for example, Drotaverin, No-shpa. If it is necessary to provide urgent assistance to a person, then doctors use an injection of Atropine or Dimedrol.

When the pain in the abdomen passes, the patient is left in the hospital to monitor the condition, since further treatment is carried out based on the dynamics of the patient.

If the cause is an improper diet or lifestyle, then after the act of defecation and the release of gases, a person experiences a significant improvement in his condition.

Intravenous drugs are used only for exacerbations. These may include a complex of vitamins, saline.

Colic that appears during the flu and other colds is stopped with the help of antispasmodics, absorbents and a vitamin complex.

Quick help at home

At home, while the doctor is expected to arrive, the patient may need help, but it is forbidden to give enemas and apply heat (heaters, towels) to the stomach.

All this can hide the real manifestation of the disease, which significantly complicates the diagnosis and can lead to complications when it comes to inflammation of the appendix or obstruction.

If the cause is ordinary colic, then after consulting a doctor, it will be possible to take the following measures:

1. With frequent stress, sedative pills are used.
2. It is allowed to consume two No-shpy tablets, which can be washed down with mint broth. Instead of "No-shpa" you can use the powder "Smecta", which is diluted in 100 ml of water.
3. If colic is not caused by diseases, then the use of a heating pad to the stomach is allowed. The heat will relax the abdominal muscles and relieve pain.
4. At the end, you can use an enema, in which there will be a mint decoction or an infusion of lemon balm. As a rule, after cleansing, the pain will pass.
5. To remove colic, you can drink a decoction based on chamomile or immortelle.

After the procedures at home, the patient will need to give up food for half a day.

It is allowed to drink warm tea without sugar with a piece of cracker. A few days you need to limit yourself to food, which can cause gas in the stomach.

Folk remedies for colic

1. Pumpkin seeds. They must be taken in 2 tbsp. crushed. Seeds are poured with a glass of boiling water, and 2 tsp are added. Sahara. You need to drink the drug for 5 days.
2. Tansy flowers. Adds 1 tbsp to a glass of boiling water. flowers and after insisting apply throughout the day. It is necessary to drink infusion up to 3 days.
3. Lavender oil. Lavender oil is great for colic. It perfectly relaxes and relieves pain. 5 drops of oil are enough for a glass of water.
4. Decoction of wormwood. It will take 100 grams of wormwood to add a liter of plain water and leave for a couple of days. After 2 days, it is necessary to boil the infusion over low heat for about an hour. The finished mixture is passed through gauze, put 400 grams of honey and boiled again until the medicine begins to thicken. Take a decoction of 1 tbsp. 4 times a day.
5. Ginger tea. A drink is prepared from the root, which must be crushed and poured with boiling water. To remove bloating and colic in the abdomen, you will need to drink 3 cups a day. Drink hot tea.
6. Cabbage juice. You need to drink fresh juice before a meal and dilute it with a little water. To prevent other diseases and strengthen the immune system, beet or carrot juice is added to cabbage juice.

Diet

The essence of the diet is the rejection of junk food such as spicy, fatty, smoked, fried. You should reduce the use of spices, soda, muffins, sweets.

It is better to replace meat with a dietary type and eat more fish, cereals.

Vegetables can be used, but steamed ones are preferred. In the morning before breakfast, you can drink carrot juice, spinach juice.

You need to eat according to the schedule, but make sure that hunger does not appear. A dietitian can prescribe the exact nutrition, depending on the state of the body and the reasons that cause bloating and colic.

Preventive measures

In order for abdominal colic and bloating not to appear in adults, it will be necessary to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in a timely manner, which occur in a chronic form. From time to time, use drugs that improve digestion.

To prevent colic from appearing for no particular reason, doctors advise:

1. Move more and lead an active lifestyle. Walk and exercise more often.
2. Sleep should be full, the minimum amount of time for sleep is 6 hours, the optimal time is 8 hours.
3. All foods must be balanced in the diet. It is necessary to use less fried foods, reduce spicy and smoked. It is better not to use fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products.
4. No need to overeat and eat fractionally, in small portions, 5-6 times a day.

And of course, it is necessary to give up bad habits so as not to provoke colic and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Useful video

Gastric or intestinal colic is not an independent disease. Basically, such manifestations are a signal of the body about the course of diseases of the digestive system. Colic manifests itself as intense attacks, for which it is inherent, the main cause of which is stabbing pain in the stomach, in the small or large intestine. A number of factors can provoke colic in the stomach. Only a highly qualified doctor, namely a gastroenterologist, can determine the cause of the spasm. If you begin to suffer from stomach, intestinal colic and spasms, you should immediately consult a doctor to complete a full course of examination.

Etiology

Intestinal colic is accompanied by serious diseases that are directly related to the abdominal cavity. In some cases, it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. Intestinal colic refers to such a concept as an acute abdomen, which implies a deep lesion of the organic type or a functional disorder of the digestive system.

Intestinal, stomach colic occurs for the following reasons:

Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract

Basically, it is gastritis and ulcers, diseases of the gallbladder and liver, as well as the pancreas. These pathologies occur against the background of severe violations of the digestive function. Food that is not fully digested penetrates the intestines, which provokes spasms, pain.

Intestinal infection

The cause of the malaise can be the defeat of the body by harmful microorganisms, dysentery bacillus, salmonella and others. When they infect products, the stage of active reproduction begins, accompanied by increased production of toxic substances. When using such products, food toxicosis occurs. As for acute intestinal infection, it can be cholera, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, dysentery. Only an infectious disease specialist can detect an infection. This requires the delivery of analyzes and instrumental examinations.

Improper nutrition

The provocateur of intestinal colic is improper, irregular nutrition, consumption of fatty and spicy foods, dry food. In addition to all this, the cause of bloating and cramps can be stale, too cold or hot food. In some cases, cramps are triggered by a combination of foods that do not go well with each other.

Poisoning with heavy metals and their salts

Lead is recognized as the most dangerous metal that can negatively affect the body. The risk zone of poisoning includes people who work in chemical, hazardous production, as a gradual effect of toxins on the human body has been observed for a long time. When lead enters the human body, lead colic begins. It is manifested by intense spasms and pain, which are localized in the stomach area.

SARS and influenza

Cold pathologies can provoke gastric and intestinal colic. The virus affects not only the respiratory center, but also the gastrointestinal tract, settling in the lymph nodes of the peritoneum and contributing to the development of the inflammatory process. The nodes are localized in the small intestine, its mesentery.

Worm infestations

Intestinal obstruction

This disease is very dangerous. It manifests itself in the form of intestinal colic, spasms and pains of a cramping nature. There is also increased gas formation, lack of defecation. Obstruction occurs against the background of the presence of adhesions, stretching of loops or mechanical obstruction.

Food or drug poisoning

For an intestinal syndrome of this type, a mixed clinical picture is inherent. Colic in the abdomen occurs against the background of profuse diarrhea. Respiratory infection worsens (cough, runny nose, redness and sore throat). The pain syndrome present in the muscles of the abdominal cavity can noticeably worsen during movements. In this case, you need to consult a competent doctor.

Pathogenesis

As a rule, gastric and intestinal spasms are acute and intense. They can wax and wane. The pain intensifies rapidly, most often, it gives to the inguinal zone.

During palpation of the abdomen, there is no muscle tension. The pain syndrome is not short-term, it can last for several days. As for body temperature, it remains within the normal range. Against the background of pain, constipation and flatulence develop.

If the patient has an acute stage of gastritis, then such colic is complemented by dyspepsia, namely vomiting, diarrhea, belching, nausea, bloating and heartburn. There is a lack of appetite, weakness and severe apathy, as well as a general deterioration in the patient's well-being.

If stabbing pains in the abdomen are observed against the background of such a dangerous disease as intestinal obstruction, then the symptoms are supplemented by vomiting, nausea, lack of stool and intestinal gases, and a drop in blood pressure. Cold sweat appears, pallor of the skin is observed. In such a situation, the necessary emergency hospitalization and surgery. It is forbidden to self-medicate. It is important to urgently call an ambulance and wait for her arrival.

Classification of pathology

There are several forms, varieties of colic. One of them is appendicular colic. It is observed during exacerbation of appendicitis, increases rapidly, focuses on the right in the iliac region. The rectal form is accompanied by painful false urge to defecate. Of particular danger is lead colic, indicating poisoning with lead salts. It is characterized by cramping soreness, tension in the abdominal cavity, body temperature of about 39 degrees, the presence of bleeding gums, gray plaque.

Symptoms of renal colic are characterized by severe pain that radiates to the stomach, groin and lumbar region, as well as to the genitals. The intensity of the pain syndrome increases sharply during movement and walking. Body temperature rises and blood pressure falls. There is a failure in normal urination, vomiting and nausea develop. At the peak of the exacerbation, the person loses consciousness. The causes of the pathology are pyelonephritis, renal tuberculosis, tumor and urolithiasis.

Pancreatic colic accompanies diseases of the pancreas. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence and excessive gas formation are present. Initially, the pain is localized in the epigastric region, after which it acquires a girdle character. Causes: pancreatitis, cancer.

Hepatic colic often occurs. Spasms can be felt in the right hypochondrium. The pain can radiate to the right shoulder blade, as well as the shoulder. There is a bitter taste in the mouth. Excruciating vomiting with impurities of bile. The causes of the pathology are cholelithiasis, as well as acute cholecystitis.

How to improve your condition at home

There can be many reasons for pain in the stomach, before the ambulance arrives, you can not use a heating pad, put an enema or take drugs. If your doctor confirms simple colic, you can do the following:

• drink two tablets of No-Shpa, drink mint broth;
• apply a warm heating pad to the groin to relax the muscles and stop the spasm;
• make a cleansing enema with mint or lemon balm decoction;
• if stress is the cause of the attack, sedatives can be taken;
• drink a decoction of immortelle, chamomile;
• use a rectal suppository containing belladon or take a tablet of Becarbon, Besalon.

After such events, you need to refuse to eat for twelve hours. It is allowed to drink warm tea with white bread crumbs. After that, it is recommended to follow a diet, exclude from the diet foods that can provoke excessive gas formation.

Medical therapy

The course of treatment directly depends on the cause of the ailment. If internal pathologies act as a provocateur - cholecystitis, stenosis, urolithiasis, pyelonephritis, tumor or hepatitis, treatment of the underlying disease is required. With regard to gastric and intestinal colic, appearing with intestinal infections, urgent hospitalization in the infectious diseases department is necessary. In the case of appendicitis, emergency surgery is required.

Powerful antispasmodics help to stop abdominal pain - Becarbon, Drotaverine and Notensil. For first aid, an injection of Diphenhydramine, Papaverine or Atropine is prescribed. After the pain is eliminated, the patient is under the supervision of medical personnel. Against the background of toxic infection, antibiotic therapy is prescribed: Levomycetin and Gentamicin. Antiseptics help well - Furazolidone, Biseptol. If the case is severe, then you can not do without intravenous infusion of glucose and vitamins, blood plasma, saline solutions. When ARVI or flu acts as the cause, you need to take a vitamin complex, activated charcoal and powerful antispasmodics.

It is undesirable to fight colic on your own, as it can aggravate the course of the disease. You need to seek medical help to avoid complications.

Power correction

To get rid of stabbing pain in the stomach, you need to change the diet. To do this, it is desirable to use balanced products containing useful and nutritious elements. It is necessary to eat about five to six times a day in small portions, so as not to burden the inflamed stomach. It is recommended to use cereals, light soups, mashed potatoes, vitamins, boiled vegetables, pureed fruits.

Dairy products are of particular benefit. It is advisable to add a drink such as milk to coffee and tea. It is important that all dairy products have a low percentage of fat. You can consume no more than 3 thousand calories per day. Add olive oil to your diet, as it has a healing effect. Nutritionists strongly advise drinking mineral water without gas, herbal teas and decoctions.

Nutrition principles:

• last meal two hours before bedtime;
• do not starve, but do not abuse food;
• chew food slowly and thoroughly
• eat in small portions;
• food should be warm, but in no case hot, cold;
• it is forbidden to eat fried, spicy, spicy, salty, sour foods.

In addition, under the ban are: carbonated drinks, legumes, mushrooms, sweets, fresh pastries, conservation, sausage and sausages.

If the stomach colitis, then antibiotics are prescribed for treatment, they are taken according to strict instructions so as not to harm the body. The minimum course of treatment is fourteen days. The doctor may then prescribe re-treatment by prescribing pills, injections, diet, and appropriate exercise. When prescribing a diet, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, identify comorbidities, and pay special attention to age-related changes.

Stinging pain in the stomach may be the result of malnutrition, stress and fear, or may indicate a serious illness that requires urgent treatment. If you are concerned about unpleasant and stabbing sensations, as well as other symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor.