What stomach diseases affect children

A few years ago, diseases of the digestive system, such as ulcers or stones in the bile ducts, were found mainly in middle-aged adults.

However, today, children’s doctors record an alarming trend – these pathologies are not only more frequent among children, but also significantly « younger ». They can be diagnosed at the age of 2-5 years.

In addition, the incidence of these ailments in Ukraine has tripled over the last 5 years.

Cholelithiasis is also young. Previously, it was diagnosed in 40, and now-from the age of 10.

What caused the youthful diseases explained by pediatric surgeons Igor Gulavsky and Bogdan Maliva and the gastroenterology of Okhmatdita Victoria Semen and Lyudmila Chekan.

Diagnoses rapidly younger

Previously, some diseases of the digestive system occurred mainly in adults. But the last 5 years are reality even for preschoolers. They are increasingly happening gastritis and Gastroduodenitis – inflammation of the gastric mucosa and areas that passes to the duodenum.

”They develop in children on the background of stress through training, control, dietary disorders, etc. We now record gastritis in children 4 years old, although recently they were patients 12-13 years old« , – says pediatric surgeon Igor Gulavsky.

But there are also more serious states, such as Ulcerative disease and Perforations. That is, children have defects on the gastric mucosa or duodenum, or even through the walls of these organs to the abdominal cavity are formed.

These conditions can be detected on fibrogastroscopy when examining the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum with an endoscope.

Gastroenterology Victoria Semen adds that this method of diagnosis now has to be prescribed even to young patients, because this has become a necessary.

”There are times when the baby gets to the hospital with acute abdominal pain. According to the mother, the baby is healthy, nothing worries. But during diagnosis on fibrogastroscopy we see erosion or ulcers. Previously, such patients were a rarity and now part of everyday life « , – says the specialist.

If the ulcer is not complicated by bleeding, then it is treated with certain drugs, but in the case of deterioration, such patients require immediate surgery.

Stones in the biliary ducts or in the bladder have been considered a problem of middle -aged people until recently. But now it is increasingly diagnosed with 10-year-old children.

And these are not isolated cases gallstone disease per year, and several patients per month. Some of them even have to remove the gallbladder.

Gallstones. Illustrative photo

cukugede/depositphotos

As a result, patients are disrupted by the pancreas, and bile peritonitis may even occur – a condition when bile enters the abdominal cavity, explains the pediatric surgeon Bogdan Maliva.

At the same time, doctors can detect an increase in the density of bile and its stagnation. With prolonged course, a foul can be formed – a precipitate in the gallbladder, from which stones are subsequently formed. The causes of these disorders are the same as in ulcers and perforations. They are the consequences of stress, a sedentary lifestyle, fast food abuse, soda and energy drinks, self -medication and antibiotic consumption.

The main factor is stress

Experts interviewed are convinced that a key trigger for many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in children was stress, which began with the Covid-19 pandemic and deepened during a full-scale invasion.

”Children are in a state of emotional exhaustion and chronic stress. After the epidemic has completed the number of diseases that are associated with impaired stomach motility, esophagus, bile, acidic content. This is called GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease or irritant intestinal syndrome.

With the onset of the war, ulcers and erosion have become increasingly diagnosed. The clinic of the disease has not changed, but it became more difficult for patients to be introduced into remission. Any emotional overload again triggers a relapse. Therefore, we are often forced to involve neurologists, psychologists and even psychiatrists, «  -says Gastroenterologist Lyudmila Chekan.

Children often need a psychologist’s help during stressful situations

Stock.Sokolov/Depositphotos

According to Victoria Semen, it is increasingly greeted by children with deep ulcers that do not occur through Helicobacter (a bacterium that can cause infection in the duodenum or stomach), but against emotional overload. Especially – in families of servicemen and internally displaced persons.

”The girl of 6 years had multiple ulcers of the duodenum, although it was eating properly. Mom is a teacher, and Dad is in the war. When his father was injured, everything was actively discussed at home. The child took it too close to the heart and was very worried« , – says the doctor.

But no less stress for children is learning – atmosphere in the classroom and communication with peers, and also – control, exams or answers in certain lessons.

”There are many stories when children say they are not comfortable at school. But parents wave their hand, they say, nothing, will survive. But sooner or later this stress in a child is transformed into gastrointestinal diseases« , – says Victoria Semen.

She adds that parents often do not pay attention to children. Or – they do not even know about it because children are silent.

Unhealthy food and energy

Malnutrition is the second cause of the spread of gastroenterological diseases. Currently, children regularly consume food with artificial flavors, dyes, sweeteners and flavor enhancers. This forms food behavior in which fast food becomes the norm and home nutrition is an exception.

Victoria Semen notes that much depends on the habits of the family about food, water consumption, physical activity. After all, modern children lead a « sedentary lifestyle »-they spend a lot of time with gadgets and are moving little. As a result, it leads to violations of weight, constipation and stagnation of bile.

« It is extremely important to form a food culture. If parents drink beer and eat chips in the family, then the child will do the same.

This leads to gallstone disease, gastric ulcers and 12 duodenum, as well as many other complications with which we, doctors, fight daily« , – says Bogdan Maliva.

Immediate surgery is required by patients with perforations and ulcers

Center for Pediatric Medicine. Ohmatdit Hospital

Separate pain is to use energy drinks. They cause addiction, provoke insomnia, panic attacks, And in some cases – the loss of consciousness. Doctors point out that there have been cases where children were resuscitated after such drinks.

”Energy contains guarana – a source of caffeine at a concentration of up to 40 mg per gram. Children become more active after consumption, but are subsequently depleted physically and emotionally. It’s not just a drink, but a stimulator that causes addictive« , – explains the gastroenterologist Lyudmila Chekan.

It adds that carbonated sugary drinks generally do not benefit from the baby, because they consist of dyes, sugars, flavors, flavor enhancers and more. And because of the high content of carbohydrates, they disrupt metabolic processes in the young body.

Igor Gulavsky points out that energy drinks are toxic to the pancreas and liver and can become one of the factors in the development of diseases of these organs.

How to recognize and not miss: red flags and prevention

The most dangerous situation is that when parents do not notice or ignore the complaints of the child. Often, they explain all the worms, the change in the weather, or they do not even believe their own child.

« At the reception it happens that mom assures – nothing is worried about her child, and her daughter or son tells her that she is constantly hurting her stomach. It becomes news for her parents »– recalls Victoria Semen.

Symptoms to pay attention to:

• abdominal pain after eating or empty;

• spastic abdominal pain, which pass after antispasmodics (for example, « no-spa »), but their frequency increases;

• lack of appetite or refusal of food;

• nausea, vomiting;

• constipation, changes in feces.

« If the child has severe pain, the intensity of which increases, it occupies a forced position of the body, there is a fever, weakness, intoxication, then you should consult a doctor immediately.

The baby can get to the hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding, perforations of the stomach or duodenum. Such conditions do not develop in one day, but are the result of prolonged malaise ”– says Ludmila Chekan.

Why gastric illnesses affect children more and more

Izhdanov/Depositphotos

Gastroenterology Victoria Semen adds that the so -called « dumb » ulcers have increased lately, when children have not worried or ache for children for a long time. But suddenly there is vomiting with blood and sharp abdominal pain.

Treatment of severe covid-19 also affected the work of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. This weakened the natural barrier and caused a wave of nonspecific diseases.

In addition, drugs have side effects. For example, taking some antibiotics causes thickening of bile. Many children have complained of pain in the right hypochondrium. Ultrasound was visible stones in the bile ducts.

”It is important that parents do not self -medicate. Often, abdominal complaints are given by analgesics or decide to « drive away worms ». We were reached by children who received 5-6 courses of anthelmintic therapy in a year. And exceeding the doses of these drugs also adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract ”, – says the doctor.

Doctors advise not to neglect preventive examinations from specialists and to undergo at least ultrasound diagnostics every year.

Victoria Andreeva, « Up. Life »