Symptoms of intestinal colic in children. Intestinal colic. Symptoms, causes, treatment. How long does intestinal colic last?

Description:

Intestinal colic - sharp paroxysmal pain caused by certain changes in the intestine.

Symptoms:

The most striking clinical signs of this disease: 1) paroxysmal, spasmodic pain in the intestines; 2) bloating and rumbling of the intestines; 3) stool disorder (constipation or diarrhea); 4) secretion of mucus in the form of white ribbons or tubes. The allergic nature of mucosal colic is confirmed by the presence of eosinophils and pointed crystals in the feces (as in sputum in bronchial asthma).

Attacks of colic come after nervous shocks, conflict situations. During an attack of colic, palpation of the abdominal cavity establishes a spasmodically contracted large intestine, very painful. However, there is no muscle tension, the temperature remains normal. The duration of an attack of mucosal colic is different - from several minutes to a day. Outside of an attack of colic, patients remain constipated with the release of "sheep's" feces.
When lead poisoning develops lead intestinal colic, characterized by bouts of severe pain, while the stomach is drawn in, the abdominal wall is tense. There are prolonged constipation, a gray border on the gums, other signs of lead are revealed.

Causes of occurrence:

The pathogenesis of intestinal colic is very complex. In some cases, the pain is associated with stretching of the intestinal loops with their peritoneal cover, in others - with irritation of the nerve endings in the intestinal wall due to the tension of the mesentery of the small intestines. But the main role in the mechanism of intestinal pain is played by impaired intestinal motility: tone, peristalsis, stretching and spasms of intestinal loops.

So, for example, with intestinal obstruction, pain is associated with increased stenotic peristalsis in the segment of the intestine located above the obstruction site. In colitis and enterocolitis, they are associated with stretching and peristaltic contractions of the intestinal wall, altered due to the inflammatory process.

Treatment:

For treatment appoint:

Intestinal colic can and should be removed. For this, drugs already known to us are used - antispasmodics, but with some "intestinal accent" (i.e., predominantly acting on the intestine). Unlike biliary & nbsp & nbsp and renal colic, with intestinal colic (if not), drugs are taken orally. It is possible to apply the following treatment options at home:

   1. 2 no-shpy tablets, drink a glass of warm mint broth;
   2. "dry belladonna" extract (in "gastric tablets", "becarbon", "besalol", "bellalgin" and "bellataminal" preparations - 1-2 tablets, as well as in rectal suppositories);
   3. papaverine tablets with platifillin - 1-2 tablets;
   4. warm healing enema with a decoction of mint or lemon balm (200 ml);
   5. Smecta preparation (1 powder per 100 ml of water).

"Simple" intestinal colic after such treatment disappears, often after passing gases and a single liquid stool.

The patient should not eat anything for 6-12 hours after that; you can drink warm weak unsweetened tea with crackers.

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 infant 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 crying of the child, 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 (Smecta, 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 laid on his back on his own knees so that his head is at the level of the kneecaps, and the legs are thrown back onto 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).

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Diet for intestinal colic

Intestinal colic is a cramping pain in the abdomen that is caused by spasms of the large or small intestine. It should be noted that intestinal colic is not a single pathology. As a rule, this is a pronounced exacerbation of a pathological process, or simply one of the symptoms of a serious pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Accordingly, treatment should be aimed not only at stopping the pain syndrome itself, but also at eliminating the cause that led to the development of this pathological condition in a particular clinical case.

Be that as it may, if cramping abdominal pain occurs, you should seek professional medical help for the sole reason that this manifestation may be associated with a pathology requiring immediate surgical intervention. So, first you should determine the cause of abdominal pain, and only then carry out treatment (in the event that you do the opposite, you can only disrupt the clinical picture, on which the entire clinical diagnostic program will be built). The only situation in which the relief of pain may precede the implementation of diagnostic measures is the presence of a chronic disease in a patient, exacerbations of which occur periodically.

A few words about what a spasm is, which is actually the cause of the development of a pain symptom that has a cramping character. The contraction of the muscular layer of the intestinal wall (meaning peristalsis) alternates with its relaxation. In the event that relaxation does not occur for some reason, muscle spasm occurs. Taking into account the fact that the functioning of smooth myocytes is in no way controlled by human consciousness, it is impossible to eliminate this condition on your own.

What causes the symptom in question?

There are a great many pathologies that can contribute to the development of intestinal colic in adults. What is most dangerous is that this symptom can be caused by both a functional digestive disorder (that is, a pathology that is associated exclusively with a violation of the physiological processes that are assigned to the gastrointestinal tract), and a disease that has a certain surgical pathology (then is associated, one way or another, with a violation of the anatomical integrity of the body). In principle, the signs of intestinal colic in adults are very similar to the acute abdomen syndrome, with the only difference that the pain in the above syndrome is more or less specific in terms of localization and can be migratory, while the pain sensations that testify in favor of intestinal colic, spread throughout the abdomen.

So, what pathologies in the vast majority of cases become the causes of a sharp diffuse pain in the abdomen?

In addition, it must be understood that intestinal colic in children and adults in terms of origin has some differences. Naturally, in pediatric practice, it can be encountered much more often (especially in young children). The most common causes of colic in children are malnutrition (switching to another mixture or lack of breastfeeding), increased gas formation and age-related imperfection of the digestive system. A common pathology of younger childhood is Hirschsprung's disease, which consists in a violation of the innervation of a certain part of the intestine, followed by the accumulation of feces in this place.

It is very important to remember about some acute viral infections, which are accompanied by severe dyspeptic syndrome and the manifestation of severe intestinal spasms. We are talking about rotavirus infection and the disease caused by the Norfolk virus.

According to statistics, colic often occurs during pregnancy. The reason for this is the compression of the internal organs, which the fetus has in late pregnancy.

Typical symptoms of intestinal colic

Naturally, the most characteristic manifestation is a pain symptom, which has several fundamentally important characteristics:

1. The pain is diffuse. It is the lack of a clear localization that makes one think in favor of intestinal colic;
2. Characteristic irradiation to the pubic area, which sometimes simulates a hernia. During pregnancy, irradiation is often not observed at all;
3. Depending, of course, on the cause that served as an incentive for the development of colic, there are also other manifestations of dyspeptic syndrome - nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.

In addition, in the case of colic, which is a symptom of obstruction of the intestinal lumen, a pronounced violation of the stool (constipation) and very vivid symptoms will be characteristic. If similar manifestations occur during pregnancy, then it will be necessary to conduct an ultrasound diagnosis of the abdominal organs.

Classification of the symptom in question:

• Rectal form - observed as a sign of intestinal obstruction, characterized by false urge to defecate and severe pain in the abdomen;
• Appendicular form - exactly simulates all the manifestations of the symptom of acute appendicitis, although in fact the inflammatory process does not occur;
• Lead colic - partly imitates signs of poisoning with salts of heavy metals, since this symptom is characterized by an increase in temperature to febrile values, nausea and vomiting;
• Hepatic colic is, let's say, a mixed option, since in this case intestinal spasm is associated with pathology of the liver or gallbladder (as a rule, we are talking about cholecystitis). It should be noted that the liver itself almost never hurts - all these dysfunctions affect other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, pain is localized in the right hypochondrium;
• Pancreatic colic - similar to the above case, only with the condition that the pathology covers mainly the left hypochondrium and colic is associated with functional pancreatic insufficiency.

Some researchers consider it necessary to single out colic during pregnancy as a separate form, since its relief is somewhat specific (many effective drugs cannot be used).

How to diagnose etiological factors (root cause) and prescribe the correct treatment for intestinal colic?

This question is somewhat rhetorical, since there are certain contradictions between patients and doctors in terms of what treatment is needed to eliminate the symptom in question - the former claim that they urgently need to stop the pain syndrome, while the latter insist on the need for a number of diagnostic studies that will identify the cause of this condition.

The most rational tactic of management would be the hospitalization of absolutely all patients, no matter what, in the hospital of the surgical department, followed by a comprehensive examination and the appointment of the therapy that will be aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease. It will definitely be necessary to perform a diagnostic laparoscopy, since only in this way it will be possible to get rid of doubts about the etiological factor that became the direct cause of the disease. In addition, the results of a general blood test, a biochemical blood test (determination of the renal-hepatic complex, electrolytes and alkaline phosphatase) should be obtained. Based on the data of these studies, it will already be possible to assert what exactly caused the spasm of the intestinal muscles and the subsequent pain syndrome.

In the event that no pathology is detected that requires immediate surgical intervention, it will be necessary to conduct drug treatment in order to relieve pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nimesil, ibuprofen tablets) and anti-spasm drugs (no-shpa or drotaverine) are best suited for this. You can, to all this, add the use of a solution of calendula - one glass of decoction prepared at the rate of two teaspoons of calendula flowers per one glass of water.

There are some healers who believe that using calendula can stop a pain attack. They are somewhat wrong, as calendula does not have the properties of a pain reliever. Calendula can be used in the treatment of the considered pathological process only as an adjuvant.

conclusions

Intestinal colic in adults is a manifestation of some primary pathology, which can be both functional and organic in nature. In order to prescribe effective treatment, it is necessary to clearly understand the nature of the pathology. In the event that only symptomatic treatment is used, significant damage to the patient's health can be caused due to the fact that the cause of this process has not been eliminated. Particular attention will need to be paid to intestinal colic that occurs during pregnancy, since this condition can be caused not only by a physiological process, but also by a disease of an organic nature (and its treatment will require urgent intervention).

Attacks of sharp pains in the abdomen occur for various reasons. Specialists do not associate the so-called colic in the abdomen of a child with a particular disease. Spasms are usually attributed to special sensations that manifest themselves in a baby in certain circumstances.

In children of the first months of life, the appearance of intestinal colic is usually “written off” by physicians for an underdeveloped digestive tract. But for parents concerned about the prolonged crying of their beloved child, the causes of pain are important. And besides, they need to know how to help the baby and alleviate his suffering.

And now let's dwell on this in more detail.

How do intestinal colic manifest in children?

Symptoms of intestinal colic in children usually last two to three hours. They appear at a certain time every day, sometimes two or three times a week. It is not difficult to understand that a child has colic. If you try to calm a crying baby by offering him a bottle or breast, he will refuse. Neither motion sickness nor rattle toys help to stop his crying.

What to do if the newborn cries after feeding, read more here. Experienced parents advise to be patient and just endure the loud "perturbations" of the crumbs. As soon as the colic is over, he will smile and forget about the painful spasms.

Causes and symptoms of colic in the abdomen in children, how many months will cramps torment?

Infant colic is unique to babies. Not a single pediatrician will undertake to unequivocally answer until what age children have colic. Usually intestinal spasms bother babies aged from two to three weeks to six months. So far, the reasons for their occurrence have not been precisely established. Explanations of doctors "lie on the surface": the body of a newborn, deprived of intrauterine nutrition, learns to receive nutrients in a new way.

Meticulous moms and dads prefer to consider three sources of intestinal colic:

• medical;
• emotional;
• nutrition related.

Usually colic disturbs babies aged from two to three weeks to six months.

How to understand that a month-old baby has medical colic?

The most serious consequences can cause colic, the source of which was the health problems of the baby. In such cases, you need to seek medical help. Parents should be alert:

• the development of children's crying into a heart-rending roar;
• tension in the abdominal muscles during spasms;
• loose, offensive stools with mucus.

Before visiting a doctor, you should watch:

• what is the duration of the pain attacks;
• when the baby starts colic;
• what is the behavior of the baby during seizures;
• what is the nature of the baby's stool.

Emotional background

There is an opinion that in some children the observed colic is a pattern of behavior. In such cases, the joint afternoon sleep of mother and child helps - sometimes it negates the evening attack. The body of such a baby (and his intestines) relaxes if you carry the baby before a night's sleep in your arms. How to organize a joint,.

Restless children with disturbed biorhythms often behave as if they were in spasms. During peculiar bouts of pain, they give vent to the tension accumulated during the day. Doctors explain this phenomenon by a lack of a “sedative” hormone.

The baby receives the hormone from the mother's placenta. There is an assumption that gradually it loses its effect.

Food Addiction

A loving mother knows the secrets of proper nutrition and. Helping a child with colic in the abdomen can be excluded from the diet of "harmful" food:

• "gas-forming" products (cabbage, legumes);
• dairy products;
• certain nuts;
• caffeinated drinks.

Pain in the tummy in a baby can also be caused by his diet. The cause of intestinal colic sometimes becomes elementary overfeeding. An excess of milk contributes to the release of excess gas in the stomach. Your baby's digestion can improve if you feed him small meals often.

There is an opinion that the appearance of colic in infants is directly related to the allergic reaction of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract to nutrients. Not so long ago, a hypothesis was put forward that intestinal spasms in infants are a special form of migraine. Some associate infantile colic with weather dependence. And yet, the main cause of intestinal colic in children is considered to be excessive stretching of the intestinal walls with accumulated gases and feces.

Important! Elimination of signs of intestinal colic in infants should begin with a review of the nutrition of a nursing mother.

What to do and how to help the baby?

Many mothers are concerned about the question of how many months the child will have colic. Infantile colic passes without a trace without any treatment by the time the child reaches six months of age. But helping babies cope with pain is necessary when they appear.

Proper feeding

Proper nutrition of infants, of course, is not a cure. But you can try to alleviate the condition of the children and prevent the formation of excess gases in the intestines. There are some simple guidelines:

1. The lips of the child should tightly cover the nipple of the breast;
2. When using liquid from a bottle, make sure that the baby grabs the nipple in its middle part. At the same time, the bottle must be held at an angle so that air bubbles collect at the bottom;
3. During meals, the crumbs are recommended to be kept at an angle of 45 °, and about half an hour after eating - in a vertical state ("column"). Information on how to properly pick up a newborn baby;
4. It is necessary to make sure that the child burped air after eating;
5. Between meals, you should “starve” for at least two hours. Too frequent feeding provokes the appearance of undigested food in the intestines.

Gymnastics and massage

You can try a free and completely harmless method - gymnastics and massage:

• massage the baby's tummy with the palm of your hand in a clockwise direction;
• grab the shins of the baby lying on the back with your palms and slowly press the legs with your knees to your stomach. This exercise can also be performed when the baby is lying on his stomach. He will seem to get up on all fours, taking an excellent position for the release of excess gases from the intestines;
• put the baby on the ball and shake it a little;
• lay the child on the pillow so that the legs hang down. Under the pressure of the baby's own weight, the tummy will receive the necessary impact.

Gymnastics and massage will not only help the child calm down and relieve pain in the tummy. Mom will be sure - she is not helpless, she is not inactive.

soothing warmth

Observant parents know what to do if the child has colic. Heat will help to pacify a restless stomach. You can surround your baby with warmth in different ways:

• attach it to the mother's chest with the stomach. The child will warm the sick tummy and receive a positive message, feeling a tactile connection with the dearest person;
• put a heating pad on the baby’s tummy - ordinary or made in the form of a linen bag filled with cherry bones (the bones are heated in the oven or in the microwave). A diaper heated with an iron can also become a heating pad.

Gas removal

The last measure is the gas outlet tube. Its tip is moistened with baby cream or petroleum jelly and carefully placed in the anus (maximum two centimeters). The procedure should not last longer than five minutes. At the slightest resistance of the child, the gas outlet tube should be discarded.

The treatment is conservative and non-traditional, what to give the baby if colic begins?

Treatment of intestinal colic in children may include the use of medications. However, the choice of medications must be agreed with the doctor. Commonly used for colic:

• medicines (not absorbed in the intestines, contribute to the natural removal of gases -;,).

Chamomile and fennel have proven themselves well for intestinal colic. Chamomile decoction helps to remove air from the baby's body. But you can give it only with colic in a month-old baby and an older baby. You should start with a teaspoon, slowly increasing the dosage.

Many parents are concerned about the question: A decoction of fennel, unlike chamomile, can be given to children from colic from the first days of life. Fennel is a pharmacy dill, the most famous "grandmother's" remedy for intestinal colic. To prepare, pour a teaspoon of fennel with a glass of boiling water. Let the broth brew for about an hour, strain. Give the baby a teaspoon to drink three times a day before feeding.

The question of why a child has colic is still open. But they indicate that the activity of the whole organism is disturbed. Help and relaxation are waiting for all the organs of the baby and, above all, his tummy.

How to properly massage with intestinal colic is shown in this video:

Parental experience shows that in order to cope with colic, it is advisable to delete the factors that cause them from the baby's life. Don't overfeed your baby. But it is supposed to “walk” it longer and more often. It is recommended to put the baby to sleep in a cool, well-moistened room. And the atmosphere in the family should be filled with care and love.

Causes of colic

Painful intestinal colic can occur in children of different ages against the background of various adverse factors that cause severe irritation of the intestinal mucosa and, as a result, a strong spasm of its muscles, which is always accompanied by a sudden onset of acute pain.

Aerophagia

Increased swallowing of air during meals is characteristic of newborn children under one year of age who are breastfed or artificially fed. In the first months of life, babies have difficulty emptying the intestines and passing gases (this is a completely natural state of the developing digestive tract). Therefore, a large amount of air that has got inside with food causes severe bloating and, as a result, painful colic. Usually they pass after the discharge of feces or gases (when using a gas outlet tube).

Improper nutrition of a child or a nursing mother

The unbalanced composition of the mother's menu negatively affects the still fragile digestive system of the baby. Ingestion of a large amount of poorly digested food into the small intestine (in cases of overeating) also causes fermentation in the intestines and increased gas formation, painful bloating. In such a situation, intestinal colic in children is a common condition.

Lactase intolerance

Causes intestinal colic, mainly in children of the first months of life. The condition is characterized by the inability of the body to break down the milk sugar that enters it due to a lack of a special enzyme (lactase). In this case, when milk enters the body, it is not broken down by intestinal enzymes, but by microbes in the intestines. As a result, there is severe bloating, colic, which usually disappear after the act of defecation.

Helminth infection

Worms and roundworms that enter the intestines cause severe irritation of its mucous tissue. In this case, intestinal colic is a very common occurrence, which is complemented by nausea, poor appetite, itching of the anal area.

Viral infections (ARVI, ARI)

With colds, viruses affect not only the respiratory, but also the digestive system. Pathogenic microflora settles in the lymph nodes of the abdominal cavity (in the mesentery of the small intestine), which subsequently become inflamed, causing irritation in the small intestine. This is expressed in muscle spasm, severe pain. In newborns, unlike adults, intestinal colic occurs in every second case when the body is infected with a viral infection, since the body does not yet have sufficient immunity.

Disorders in the work of the digestive tract

Dyspepsia, ulcers, gastritis, pathologies in the structure of the liver and pancreas in children disrupt normal digestion. As a result, poorly digested food enters the intestines, which causes severe irritation of its walls and colic.

food poisoning

When pathogenic microbes or their poisons enter the child's weakened body, along with spoiled food, they can provoke intestinal diseases or food toxicosis, which also causes severe intestinal irritation and, as a result, muscle spasm (colic).

Nervous tension

Nervous spasms with intestinal colic are most often diagnosed in school-age children when the situation changes and when adapting to a new school life.

Acute intestinal obstruction

Occurs with complete or partial blockage of the intestinal duct, which causes intoxication of the body with feces. Intestinal colic occurs suddenly. Severe pains are cramping in nature and are accompanied by nausea and vomiting, which does not bring relief. With intestinal obstruction, the condition can quickly worsen. Pain in spasmodic muscles only increases with time. In some cases, a deceptive phase of well-being occurs when colic disappears due to muscle fatigue. But such a condition is actually very dangerous, since it indicates the initial stage of peritonitis (severe inflammation in the intestines), which is a very dangerous symptom. Therefore, if you suspect an intestinal obstruction, you should immediately call for medical help.

Symptoms and clinical manifestations

Signs of intestinal colic in children are conditionally divided into two groups:

• Infantile colic - occurs mainly in children under 8 months. Severe pain appears either immediately after feeding, or 15-30 minutes after it. The baby becomes restless, cries a lot, twists his legs, strains, but at the same time, fecal masses or gases do not pass. On palpation of the abdomen, excessive tension of the anterior abdominal wall is felt. The condition is considered normal. Colic usually resolves with massage or the use of a gas tube.
• Pathological colic - can occur in children of any age. Unlike infants, they have a slightly different clinical picture. An attack of pain begins suddenly at any time of the day (it all depends on the root cause that caused it). Pain is localized in the lower abdomen or covers the entire abdominal cavity. Pain attacks occur sporadically. Over time, they can become stronger, and periods of rest are shorter.

If intestinal colic develops against the background of any diseases, they always have additional symptoms:

• High body temperature - if the cause is a viral infection, then the condition is complemented by a cough, runny nose, sore throat. In cases where the temperature rises due to an intestinal infection, it rises to 40 0 ​​C. When taking antipyretics, it quickly returns to its previous level.
• Bloating - is formed when the movement of feces through the intestinal ducts is difficult, causing severe gas formation. The cause may be disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, various obstructions in the intestinal ducts, their torsion.
• Nausea, vomiting - can be the result of muscle spasm against the background of an intestinal infection, disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract.
• Stool disorders are a characteristic symptom of intestinal colic, which accompanies numerous pathological phenomena in the body. At the same time, even a baby can experience both severe constipation and frequent diarrhea mixed with mucus or blood.
• Loss of strength, headaches - characteristic of colic that occurs against the background of food poisoning, intestinal infections and intestinal obstruction.

If intestinal colic in children does not go away for a long time (2-3 hours or more), while its condition worsens rapidly, is complicated by vomiting, fever, loose stools, or vice versa, severe constipation, you should immediately seek emergency medical help.

Compared with adults, in children the clinical picture of serious poisoning, intestinal infections and acute obstruction develops much faster and requires immediate medical intervention, since there is a high risk of dangerous complications and death (with complete intestinal obstruction).

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of intestinal colic is carried out taking into account suspicions of possible diseases of the digestive tract. This includes:

• collecting information about the symptoms that accompany the disease state by interviewing parents or the child himself;
• physiological examination, palpation of the abdomen;
• complete blood count - to identify possible anemia and inflammatory processes in which the quantitative composition of the blood changes;
• urinalysis - to identify possible deviations in the work of important digestive organs;
• coprogram - to detect possible dysbacteriosis, infection with helminths, intestinal infections and to determine enzymatic activity.

An instrumental examination is carried out to obtain additional information necessary to clarify the diagnosis in case of suspected disorders in the structure of the organs of the digestive tract and intestinal obstruction. In this case, the specialist prescribes the following procedures:

• sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy - a visual examination of the intestine from the inside with the help of special equipment. The procedure for young children is carried out only under general (intravenous) anesthesia;
• FGDS - examination of the walls of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. For children under 3 years old, the procedure is performed by the transnasal method (a tube is inserted through the nose); from 3 years and older, as well as adults;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• abdominal x-ray - children are rarely prescribed for suspected severe inflammatory processes in the intestines and mechanical obstacles that interfere with the discharge of feces and gases.

Only after receiving the results of a complete examination, the specialist will be able to prescribe treatment tactics.

Treatment of intestinal colic in children

If the baby’s condition, in addition to severe pain during colic, is aggravated by vomiting, nausea, high body temperature, loss of strength, upset stools, you should immediately call a doctor, as this indicates the presence of the development of the disease, against which there was a spasm of the intestinal muscles. In this case, mandatory hospitalization is required.

In other cases, the treatment of intestinal colic consists in normalizing the nutrition of a child or a nursing mother, light massage of the tummy, and taking medications. Surgical operations are performed only in emergency cases. One of these is complete intestinal obstruction (the last stage).

Intestinal colic in young children is a normal phenomenon associated with the structural features of their body. If with a strong spasm there are no aggravating symptoms, then you can help the child at home.

Elimination of airbrushing

In order for the baby not to swallow a large amount of air during meals, it is necessary:

• do not feed the baby in the supine position;
• after eating, hold it with a “column” until it burps the air that has got inside the stomach;
• when artificial feeding, make sure that the nipple on the bottle is age appropriate.

Massotherapy

1. Place the palms of your hands on the baby's stomach (make sure they are warm) and lightly stroke its surface.
2. With your middle and index fingers, lightly press on the lower left side of the abdomen and move in a circular motion up to the ribs, then down to the right side. Then move from right to left just below the previous path.
3. Next, do a massage in the very center of the abdomen (describing a circle clockwise around the navel).
4. Make a "bicycle" by alternately pressing the baby's legs to the stomach.
5. You can finish the massage by rubbing the abdomen with the palm of your hand in a clockwise direction. If possible, it is better to use a fitness ball and, putting the baby on it (on the stomach), roll for 2-3 minutes, gently supporting it.

Elimination of increased gas formation

Intestinal colic in children under 1 year old very often occurs due to increased gas formation. To alleviate the condition, you can use a vent tube or a small rubber bulb-syringe. The tube or pear is lubricated with petroleum jelly or baby cream and inserted into the rectum no deeper than 3 cm.

In no case should you use a thermometer or pieces of baby soap, placing them in the baby's anus to facilitate the discharge of gases. Soap makes the mucous membrane of the rectum dry, which can cause cracks and abrasions during the act of defecation. The thermometer can also damage the intestinal wall from the inside.

Food

With artificial feeding, the baby should be fed strictly at the same time. When breastfeeding, you should not give a new portion of milk earlier than 2-2.5 hours after the previous one. When introducing complementary foods, you should carefully monitor the reaction of the baby to a new type of food. New products can be introduced only after the previous ones have been fully assimilated and not given in large quantities.

Children over three years of age and nursing mothers should follow a special diet aimed at preventing colic, eliminating increased gas formation and fermentation processes in the intestines.

Meals should be frequent, up to 5-6 times a day, portions are small. In this case, the products must be served in liquid, semi-liquid, pureed, puree form and only warm. Food in cold and hot form is prohibited.

Medications

Of the medicines, children under 1 year old and older can be given.