Danat Al Emarat’s resident paediatric gastroenterologist, Dr Kamal Hassan, explains to Yalla parents common digestive health issues in children and when it’s time to see a doctor
WHAT DOES NORMAL DIGESTIVE HEALTH LOOK LIKE IN A CHILD?
The main function of the digestive system in children is safe intake and utilisation of food to provide adequate fluids, nutrition and growth. So, normal digestive health should reflect as normal ability to chew and swallow food, normal digestion and absorption of nutrients leading to good health and growth.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON DIGESTIVE ISSUES KIDS FACE?
The most common digestive problems in children are vomiting, diarrhea, recurrent abdominal pain, failure to thrive (poor weight gain and growth) and chronic constipation.
WHAT ARE SIGNS OF POOR DIGESTION IN KIDS?
Parents are advised to look for the symptoms mentioned above and seek medical advice early if they suspect there is a problem.
WHAT CAN A PAEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGIST DO?
The gastroenterologist assesses the condition after taking a comprehensive medical history and performing a careful physical examination. He/she will also plot the weight and the height of the child on the growth chart to make sure that both are appropriate for the child’s age. After this initial assessment, the gastroenterologist will decide if there is a need to arrange some investigations to rule out the possibility of an organic problem. The commonest investigation done are blood and stool tests, abdominal ultrasound, contrast radiological images of the digestive tract and endoscopy. Therapy will be given following the clinical assessment and the results of the investigations.
WHEN IS A CHILD CONSIDERED CONSTIPATED?
Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.
WHAT ADVICE COULD YOU PROVIDE ABOUT NUTRIENTS AND GROWTH?
This depends on the child’s age and nutrition and if there is an underlying medical condition. A diet should contain adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and trace elements. Families are referred to a dietician for an assessment and proper advice.
NEWBORNS CAN SUFFER FROM COLIC. HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Colic is an episode of excessive crying that appears to be due to abdominal pain. Typically, the crying episodes can last for more than three hours a day, three days a week, and for three weeks in an otherwise healthy child. It is a common problem during a newborn’s first 4 months and is called infantile colic. Usually there is no obvious cause but sometimes it can be due to cow’s milk protein allergy, so a period free of dairy products is worth trying. If the mother is breastfeeding, she should cut dairy out of her diet. If the baby is bottle fed, a hypoallergenic formula should be used. The protein in such formulas is broken down to very small peptides or amino acids that are easily absorbed without causing allergy. There is no evidence that anti-colic herbal therapies like a Gripe water are of much help. Parents should also remember that not all crying in infants is due to colic and other causes of excessive crying could include hunger, cold, heat, tiredness, or a wet nappy.
By Dr. Kamal Hassan, Consultant, Pediatric Gastroenterology at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, Abu Dhabi.
Learn more at danatalemarat.ae
