Diagnosis:
Pediatric gastroenterology is quite rare specialty. But obviously it is needed. The number of children with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is growing every year.
Serious pathologies such as ulcer disease, severe colitis, hepatitis, cholelithiasis are unfortunately “rejuvenating” today.
The etiology is varied: a polluted environment, a busy school program, an unbalanced diet.
It is important to diagnose the disease in time, any abdominal pain should alert the parents.
The main symptoms, with the advent of which it is necessary to go to a consultation at a pediatric gastroenterologist:
• Recurrent abdominal pain;
• Nausea, vomiting, pyrozis, belching;
• Loss of appetite;
• Smelly sweating;
• Stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea, unstable stool);
• Flatulence;
• Unstable stool;
• Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Pediatric gastroenterologist listens to complaints, examines your child's eating habits and prescribes further treatment. If necessary, further examination will be made: abdominal ultrasound, stool analysis, blood analysis, and others.
It is known that every second child is disturbed by intestinal microflora, every third child is infected with parasites, one in five is a carrier of Helicobacter pylori.
Why worm, protozoa infections and intestinal dysbiosis are dangerous?
Intestinal dysbiosis - is manifested by excessive microbial colonization of the small intestine and changes in intestinal microbial community structure, which is affecting normal intestinal flora.
Helicobacter pylori - the bacterium that causes inflammation of the gastric mucosa leading to gastritis, ulcers, cancer. Possible modes of transmission - using shared dishes, cutlery, common toothbrush, by kisses. It is possible (and very common) to infect with Helicobacter in cafes, restaurants.
Ascaridia - worms up to 40 cm. Each female lays about 200 thousand eggs per day. They can descend and ascend along the bowel, enter the stomach and then penetrate into the esophagus and throat getting into the respiratory tract and even frontal sinuses.
Toxocara - worms that affect the circulatory system, heart, liver. Toxocara larvae can be localized in the kidney, muscles, thyroid gland, brain. The main source of infection for humans are dogs.
Opistorhia - flatworms that affects the liver and pancreas. Infection with opisthorchii is very simple, because the parasites larvae are located on freshwater fish muscles, and in the case of processing the fish meat (using a knife, plate) kitchen inventory and other products are infected.
Trichinella – tiny, roundworms that live in the intestines and muscles. Trichinella are highly resistant to different methods of decontamination. Are not dying from smoking and salting processes. They remain alive even in fried and boiled meat. There have been cases of human infection from use of bacon, ham, cooked meat, sausages, grilled meat.
Lamblia - widespread protozoa, affecting the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. Infection occurs through contaminated food or water, when we eat with dirty hands, or when we go to the pool, etc.
Echinococcus granulosus - lenticular worms, which form a cyst in various sizes from small to large, located in the liver. As a result it causes atrophy of the organ. It can also spread to the lungs. The main source of infection - dogs. Echinococcus granulosus needs only surgical treatment.
Detecting the presence of intestinal worms, protozoa, intestinal dysbiosis is possible by performing the following tests:
1. Analysis of stool for dysbacteriosis and sensitivity to bacteriophages
2. Analysis of stool antigen for Helicobacter pylori
3. Microscopic examination of faeces (intestinal worms and protozoa detection)
4. Scrape analisys on Enterobiasis
5. Specific analysis of blood
Tests and analyzes for detecting worms, protozoa, intestinal dysbacteriosis should be done if your child has:
• Irritability, weakness, fatigue, malaise
• Headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances
• An increase in temperature
• Pain, bloating, "rumbling" in the gut
• Unstable stool, diarrhea and alternative
constipation
• Bad sweating
• Dryness and itching skin
• Reduced or increased appetite, appetite for sweets and cookies
• Lack of weight gain, with a good appetite
• Anaemia in result of blood test
• Ultrasound examination to check if liver and spleen are enlarged
The presence of these symptoms in your child is a good reason to call a pediatric gastroenterologist. After necessary investigations, the doctor will suggest an effective treatment regimen that will help you to get rid of "unwanted guests".
Consultation: +373 22 837063 | +373 60211160
