Causes and prevention of gastrointestinal disorders in children

Gastrointestinal diseases in children are among the most prevalent in developing countries.

In many countries, gastrointestinal infections of children have been identified as an important cause of malnutrition, especially in children with intestinal parasites.

As nutrition is associated with intestinal parasites, parasite-related diseases are associated with reduced growth and development.

Children and families suffering from malnutrition are most likely to become ill if they develop infections of the intestines or the central nervous system.

There are several reasons why children may develop stomach and intestinal problems. These include consuming unhygienic or unbalanced diet, being exposed to contaminated foods or water, excess consumption of milk and foods containing artificial flavours and colours, hormonal imbalance, drinking soft drinks, smoking and incorrect use of medicine.

If you cannot control your health conditions, these can create a problem and also reduce the quality of life of children.

At the same time, parents should also be cautious about the foods they feed to their children as according to a research, low-quality diets were shown to cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract such as asthma, irritable bowel syndrome and impaired growth.

The data suggests that if a child has a poor diet of unprocessed foods, he/she will have a higher risk of getting gastrointestinal diseases.

Types of Gastrointestinal diseases in children

Upper GI tract infections

Urinary tract infection

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Gastrointestinal Tract infection (GERD)

Food allergies

Causes of gastrointestinal diseases in children

Although it is not proven, there are a few ideas that have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of GI diseases in children:

Insufficient oxygen in the blood

Insufficient nutrient supply

Metabolic imbalances

Organized germ cell damage

How does obesity affect GI tract?

Obesity increases the risk of certain GI tract disorders in children, such as:

IBD

Organ damage, especially to the lining of the GI tract

Risk of asthma, food allergies, and food allergies.

Obesity causes inflammation in the intestines. This may lead to other issues, such as IBD, asthma, and allergy. Inflammation in the intestines also leads to a reduction in the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream, which may cause weight gain.

Prevention of GI diseases

Parents can take some action if they wish to avoid these disorders. They should take care of what they eat as the food of your choice should not be easy to digest and it should not contain a lot of refined carbohydrates like white flour, high-fructose corn syrup and unhealthy fats.

Avoid eating anything that is cooked in oil or butter. Also, try to avoid the excessive consumption of high-calorie foods and follow a balanced diet that is low in fat, sugars and salt. This will keep the whole digestive tract healthy and free from problems. Children should not take milk and dairy products for the first one to two years.

Milk and dairy products contain significant amounts of sugar and starch. Milk should be avoided at a time when a child is just learning to eat solid foods. Also, a child should be advised to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables so that they keep healthy.

Once one has overcome an illness, it is recommended to take extra care in order to prevent another gastrointestinal problem. It is important for parents to understand the reasons why children have some GI diseases.

Cured meats

Although smoked meats are typically safe for consumption, smoking itself is a major source of the carcinogen nitrosamines. The best bet for parents is to avoid processed meats such as ham, salami, bacon, etc.

Dairy

It is recommended to drink milk in moderation, and be sure to consume raw milk for the best nutrition. Yogurt, buttermilk, etc. – yogurt contains Lactobacillus acidophilus that are considered to be beneficial for improving the health of the GI tract.

Milk – although it is best not to give children full fat milk as it is likely to increase lactose intolerance, there are some people who do not tolerate lactose. Full fat milk does contain the enzyme lactase that helps the body to break down lactose. Children and adults can develop lactose intolerance if they drink too much milk.

Alcohol

Regular consumption of alcohol may increase the risk of developing intestinal infections in children. The best option for adults is to drink water with a drop of vodka, rather than alcohol itself.

Macrobiotics

There is a macrobiotic diet that has been associated with reduced incidence of GI infections in children. The diet includes a diet high in probiotics, which have been linked with reduced risk of GI infections in children.

Vitamin D

In order to prevent gastrointestinal diseases, parents should ensure that their children are getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D from the sun. As this deficiency has been linked to an increase in bowel diseases and inflammation in children, it is recommended that children are fed a high amount of vitamin D.

Vitamin D has a large impact on inflammation and is an important nutrient for the development of a healthy immune system. Vitamin D also stimulates the growth of new blood cells, which is especially important for patients who are living with cancer.

Medicine

Children should be taken to getcells that promote nutrient absorption and fight against infections.

Fruit

It is recommended to choose a variety of fruits to ensure that there is enough nutrients available for the body and to boost digestion.

Fermented products

Mainly kimchi, yogurt, miso soup, etc.

Coffee and tea

If the child drinks coffee or tea with milk, then this will provide the child with important minerals such as calcium.

Green vegetables

This is an easy way for children to consume sufficient amounts of vitamins A, C, and E, as these vitamins can be found in many vegetables.

It is important to note that all patients will have a unique underlying medical condition that affects their risk of developing GI disorders. It is important to seek the advice of a physician for this.

A team approach consisting of a GI, endocrinology, nutrition, and infectious disease doctor is the best option for GI conditions, as these specialized medical experts will have a good understanding of how to deal with the symptoms of a GI disorder in children.

Children with these diseases should be made to feel comfortable and not made to feel guilty, and should not be told that they are getting sick simply because of bad lifestyle choices. The patient will recover most of the time, so they should let children know that there is nothing wrong with them, and that they should not feel guilty.