Green feces with mucus in the baby. Bacterial and viral infections. What's the matter

Many parents are faced with problems of stool disorders from the very first days of a child's life. After all, the ideal option is when the baby eats well, sleeps calmly and for a long time, does not cry or act up, poops normally, is extremely rare. With any deviations and changes in the stool, mothers usually begin to panic.

Mucus in the feces of the baby is present quite often, and this is not considered a pathological phenomenon. These stools are light in color and have a jelly-like or watery consistency. With the help of mucus, the intestines are protected from the effects of aggressive substances such as alkalis and acids, so the presence of mucus in the feces is absolutely normal. However, at the exit, it should not be noticeable, since normally it should be mixed with feces even in the large intestine. Therefore, the presence of individual fragments of mucus that stand out strongly and are visible to the naked eye should alert parents.

If the appearance of mucus in the feces is a very rare phenomenon, and its amount is small, then there is no particular cause for alarm. In the event that mucus elements are present with each emptying, as well as a sharp, strong unpleasant odor, sleep disturbance, frequent regurgitation, weight gain, diarrhea and blood inclusions in the stool, we can talk about serious health problems for the baby. At the same time, the absence of other symptoms, in addition to the presence of mucus in the stool, most often indicates that the causes of its appearance are milder.

Symptom: mucus in the feces of the baby

The appearance of mucus in the stool in infants may be associated with the following problems:

1. If mucus is found in the feces of a child who is breastfeeding, it is first necessary to check the mother's milk for sterility. For this, there is a special analysis. However, this does not mean that you need to stop breastfeeding your baby. Even if any microorganisms are found in the milk, breastfeeding is most often continued. But in this case, the mother and baby will have to undergo a certain course of therapy.
2. One of the causes of mucus in the feces is lactose deficiency.
3. It is also worth reviewing the diet of a nursing mother, because mucus in the feces of a baby may manifest intolerance to certain foods or an allergic reaction. It is also advisable to do a blood test to detect allergens (MAST test). A food diary can help mom determine which foods the baby has such a reaction to.
4. Mild diarrhea and mucus in the feces may appear in the baby after the introduction of new foods into his diet. Especially often, babies react this way to vegetable purees. If there is a reaction to complementary foods, it is worth abandoning the new product for a while or reducing the single serving.
5. If diarrhea and mucus are not associated with the introduction of complementary foods, then they can be symptoms of a digestive disease. You can check this by passing tests to determine the intestinal microflora.
6. In the first few days, the formation of mucus in the stool in newborns is associated with transient dysbacteriosis. This condition does not require treatment.
7. In rare cases, the appearance of mucus in the feces occurs with respiratory diseases, for example, with a runny nose.
8. The cause of mucus may also be taking certain medications, for example, Espumisan.

Thus, when mucus appears in the feces, it is first necessary to check the mother's milk and review the diet of the nursing mother. Then, in the absence of results, they proceed to the examination of the baby. If there are any health problems, it is necessary to diagnose and start treating the disease immediately, without delay, because otherwise you can lose time and aggravate the pathology. The correct course of examinations will be compiled by a specialist, including all the required tests. If it is not possible to immediately go to the doctor, then you can give the baby probiotics and Smect.

Normally, at birth, the baby's gastrointestinal tract is sterile. After he begins to eat, even mother's milk, various microorganisms appear in the intestines, a certain microflora develops. Beneficial microorganisms are considered bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. There are also conditionally pathogenic microbes, saprophytic and pathogenic microorganisms.

In the first month of a child's life, in his intestines there is a "struggle" for the predominance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria. By the end of this period, such a balance should normally be resolved in favor of lacto- and bifidobacteria. And the threat of colonization of the intestines by pathogenic microorganisms must be eliminated.

The period of struggle is characterized by a transitional chair. At this time, mucus in the stool and a greenish color are not considered a pathology. By the end of 3-4 weeks of the baby's life, the stool should improve, acquire a natural color and texture. But there are various situations that go beyond the norm, which can affect the color, frequency, consistency and the appearance of various impurities, such as mucus in the stool.

What problems can mucus in the stool be associated with, and when should you pay special attention to it?

Intestinal dysbacteriosis

This deviation from the norm is one of the most common causes of stool problems in young children. Pathogenic bacteria (clostridia, staphylococci, klebsiella, enterobacteria and others) in the baby's intestines can multiply and prevail over beneficial microorganisms, resulting in various stool disorders. With a mild form of dysbacteriosis, a child usually has mucus in the feces, flatulence and constipation. In more severe cases, diarrhea is noted, lumps of curdled milk, a lot of mucus and streaks of blood may appear in the feces. If red mucus is found in the feces, this indicates ulceration of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract.

Treatment of dysbacteriosis is complex and rather lengthy. First, the baby's intestines are sanitized using drugs such as stop-diar, Enterofuril, or various bacteriophages. After that, a monthly course of microflora restoration is carried out with the help of Bifiform, Primadophilus, Linex, Normoflorin or other means as prescribed by a doctor.

Dysbacteriosis can easily recur, even correct and thorough treatment does not give a full guarantee that the disease will not recur. This can be prevented only with the help of proper feeding and careful rational care of the child.

Acute intestinal infections of bacterial or viral origin

Mucus in the stool in infants often becomes one of the manifestations of intestinal infections. The baby can get dysentery, salmonellosis, intestinal flu, toxoinfections and other diseases. In such cases, fragments of mucus in the feces indicate the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the intestines. To differentiate intestinal infections from dysbacteriosis, you need to see a doctor and test for infections by sowing feces.

For children under one year old, with noticeable changes in the stool, a consultation with an infectious disease specialist is indicated. You should not refuse the proposed hospitalization, because this can affect the health and even the life of the baby, especially with obvious signs of dehydration.

Intestinal invaginitis

This pathology is considered one of the most dangerous diseases. If you suspect it, you must urgently call an ambulance. Intestinal invaginitis is characterized by the formation of partial intestinal obstruction. This condition occurs as a result of squeezing a section of the intestine with another part of it. Symptoms of the disease are severe pain during feeding and after eating, uncontrollable vomiting "fountain". The stool is at first frequent, having a liquid consistency and impurities of blood and mucus, gradually it begins to lose its fecal character. A day later, the baby's feces are lumps of mucus with bloody streaks.

In this disease, the treatment is carried out by the surgeon, straightening the compressed intestine with a barium enema. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, then the baby may die from pain shock, sepsis or dehydration.

Incorrect introduction of complementary foods, errors in the nutrition of the baby

The reasons for the change in the stool may also lie in the improper organization of the child's nutrition. Lack of fluid, abrupt introduction of complementary foods, too long intervals between feedings - all this can cause the appearance of mucus in the stool, as well as various dyspeptic phenomena. Often the cause of such changes is the introduction of vegetable purees. In addition to mucus in the stool, in such cases, the consistency and color of the stool may change. If this happens, then you need to review and adjust the diet and daily routine of the baby. It may be better to give up complementary foods for a few days (until the stool normalizes), and then try to introduce a new product again, but more smoothly.

lactase deficiency

Another problem that can lead to the appearance of mucus in the stool in infants is lactase deficiency. The enzyme lactase is necessary for the body to ferment milk, more precisely lactose (the sugar it contains). A child may have a congenital deficiency of this enzyme, in addition, lactase is destroyed in the presence of a large number of pathogenic microorganisms in the small intestine. The result is fermentation processes in the intestines, which are manifested by abdominal pain, flatulence, gases, diarrhea, milk lumps and mucus elements appear in the feces.

For diagnosis, a test for the content of carbohydrates in feces is used. Treatment consists in a special diet that excludes all dairy products. Also, the baby is prescribed drugs with lactase, if he is breastfed, artificial people are selected with a mixture that does not contain lactose.

Celiac disease or gluten deficiency

Pathology is in many ways similar to lactase deficiency, but in this case, lactase deficiency is not primary. The deficiency of other enzymes of the body, which forms gluten deficiency, becomes more pronounced. Modern medicine with its diagnostic methods allows you to determine this condition, and the selection of the right diet to cope with it.

Allergic reactions, atopic manifestations

The first manifestations of an allergy are usually skin lesions, which can be peeling, weeping, rash on various parts of the body, more often on the cheeks, face, head. However, an allergic reaction can also affect the mucous membrane of the digestive system, causing the appearance of mucus in the feces of the baby.

Runny nose

Small children still cannot clear their nose of mucous secretions with a runny nose. Therefore, most of the mucus enters the throat, rolls down it and is swallowed. This can cause clear mucus to appear in the stool.

Medications

Not always mucus in the feces is a sign of pathology. Her appearance can be triggered by taking drugs for bloating, such as Bobotik, Bebikalm, Espumizan and others. After the end of the use of the drug, the mucus impurities will disappear.

Thus, if any changes in the baby's stool appear, and even more so mucus in the feces, causing suspicion of pathology, it is worth consulting with the district pediatrician. Only a qualified physician will be able to determine whether active intervention, dietary changes, or a thorough examination are required.

A child's stool is one of the main indicators of not only the functioning of the digestive system, but also the health of the body as a whole. Fecal masses begin to form in the small intestine, where nutrients and nutrients are absorbed, and then move into the colon and rectum. In children of all ages, feces are made up of waste products, bacteria, toxins they produce, and undigested food. The exception is the original feces (meconium): it contains a fairly large amount of mucus, prenatal hair, bile and other substances that the intestines of the fetus digested during fetal growth, as well as amniotic fluid.

Any stool disorder in childhood is a signal that some organs are not functioning properly. Pathology may be associated with malnutrition, emotional stress and other factors that do not require medical treatment, but in some cases the child may have alarming symptoms of serious illnesses. One of these symptoms is diarrhea with mucus. If a child has loose stools with mucus, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician, since normally the child's feces should have a different consistency and appearance.

Normal stools in children older than 1 year should have an oblong, elongated sausage shape, a homogeneous structure, and an average density. Small cracks are possible on its surface, but without dense inclusions and particles. If the child has eaten too many foods that cause stool hardening, feces may come out in the form of separate soft pieces, but the bowel movement should not be painful. If the stool looks like small, hard, dry lumps, the child is diagnosed with mild constipation. The same diagnosis is made if the stool comes out in the form of a sausage, consisting of dense balls.

With diarrhea, the stool in children becomes watery, liquid, has an unformed consistency, may contain mucus, foam. If such stools occur more than three times a day, the urge to defecate becomes painful, and the amount of excrement reaches 100-150 g, the child is diagnosed with functional diarrhea. With infectious diarrhea, feces often acquire a greenish tint, which is one of the main signs of the growth of pathogenic flora in the intestinal lumen. Normal stools should be brown or dark yellow in color.

Important! If the baby's stool is black and viscous, sticky, you need to seek medical help immediately - this may be a sign of internal bleeding. Until the examination by a specialist, it is better to keep the child in a horizontal position (including the period of transportation if the parents decide to get to the hospital on their own).

Liquid feces with mucus: what can be the cause in children under one year old?

Loose stools in infants are a variant of the physiological norm if the child is less than 5-6 months old. This is due to the immaturity of the digestive tract and temporary fermentopathy - a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the necessary enzymes, or their activity is insufficient to digest certain substances. In most babies, feces have the consistency of gruel, which may contain lumps of undigested milk, a small amount of mucus, and cheesy blotches. If the amount of mucus exceeds a tenth of the total volume of excrement, it is necessary to find out the cause and, if a pathology is detected, consult a doctor.

The abundance of cereals in the diet or their intolerance

Almost all types of cereals (especially wheat and oatmeal) contain gluten, a complex protein that has a sticky texture (gluten). If an infant's diet contains a large amount of grain-based foods, mucus may appear in his stool, which is released as a result of the breakdown of gluten. The overall consistency of the stool usually does not change, but in some children the stool may become thinner without changing color or smell.

Another reason associated with the introduction of cereals as complementary foods is gluten intolerance. The disease is called "celiac disease", is a genetic pathology and is characterized by damage to the villi of the small intestine, which respond with increased mucus production.

Important! If a child has gluten intolerance, it is not necessary to completely exclude cereals from the child's diet. Special gluten-free cereals and pasta are on sale, which can be used as a therapeutic and preventive food for children in the first months of life.

Video - Baby chair: what is normal and what is not

lactose intolerance

Most often, milk sugar (lactose) intolerance is temporary, as the body begins to produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down milk lactose molecules, only by the age of six months. True lactase deficiency is quite rare (prevalence less than 5%) and requires a complete rejection of milk and products based on it, which can be replaced with soy milk.

Signs of lactose intolerance in infants include:

• liquid stools with foam or mucus, occurring mainly after breastfeeding or formula milk;
• intestinal spasms and colic;
• rumbling in the abdomen during feeding;
• anxiety while eating (the child can kick his legs, turn away from the bottle or breast, while his need for nutrition remains unsatisfied).

With temporary lactase deficiency, children who are breastfed or mixed are recommended to take drugs containing artificially synthesized lactase, for example, " Lactazar" or " Lactase Baby". For children under 12 months, 1 capsule is diluted in 20 ml of milk or mixture and given during feeding. Before this, it is necessary to insist the remedy for 5-10 minutes (for fermentation).

If the baby is bottle-fed, the pediatrician will select an adapted milk formula that does not contain milk sugar.

Teething

Loose stools with a small amount of mucus during the appearance of the first milk teeth (usually four incisors) is a variant of the norm, if it is not accompanied by other pathological symptoms: high fever, abdominal pain, vomiting. Dilution of feces occurs due to increased activity of the salivary glands and increased production of saliva, the excess of which flows into the stomach and from there enters the intestines, being digested with the rest of the food. If the condition of the child is normal, there is nothing to worry about.

Older children: causes of loose stools with mucus

In children older than 1 year, one of the main causes of mucus in the feces is nutritional errors. It can be:

• binge eating;
• non-compliance with the diet (long intervals between meals);
• abundant food intake after a long period of fasting;
• the use of foods that can irritate the walls of the stomach and intestines and adversely affect the digestive function (carbonated lemonades, chips and crackers with the addition of flavors, sausages, smoked sausage, etc.).

To adjust the chair in childhood, it is necessary to adjust the children's diet, taking into account the needs of the child and the recommendations of nutritionists for children of this age category. If, despite this, the child has periodic stool disorders, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist to rule out chronic diseases of the digestive system, some of which are listed in the table below.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which stools with mucus may appear

Disease	Image	What it is?	Other symptoms
		Inflammation of the gastric mucosa and submucosa caused by chronic contamination with spiral-shaped bacteria Helicobacter pylori	Heaviness in the stomach, feeling of pressure and fullness in the epigastric space. Bad breath (most pronounced with the infectious nature of inflammation), belching, heartburn, dull or dagger-like pain in the upper abdomen. All symptoms usually occur 20-40 minutes after eating.
		Damage to the pancreas (the Latin name for the pancreas), accompanied by a violation of the transport of enzymes to the small intestine and their accumulation in the tissues of the organ	Pain of varying intensity in the epigastric zone, less often in the abdominal space. Dry lips, constant feeling of thirst, heartburn, sensation of a foreign body in the throat (the child constantly tries to swallow a lump)
		Inflammation of the intestinal wall, which may be infectious, mechanical or traumatic in nature	Pain in the lower abdomen, stool disorder, flatulence with flutulence syndrome (“explosive” discharge of odorous gases), intestinal spasms. Possible fever, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite

Important! If a child has loose stools with mucus that does not go away within 1-2 days, it is necessary to take stool and blood tests. A general blood test will help identify signs of leukocytosis, which is characteristic of inflammatory processes, and a coprogram will help evaluate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and determine the chemical composition of feces.

If the temperature rises

Mucous loose stools in combination with high fever in children is most often a symptom of food poisoning or an infectious lesion of the gastrointestinal tract. Acute intestinal infections are among the three most common "children's" diseases, so parents should teach their child personal hygiene from an early age.

Causes of intestinal infections can be:

• poor hand hygiene after contact with potentially hazardous substances and surfaces (sand, water in puddles, earth);
• infected domestic and street animals;
• stale meat contaminated with E. coli, salmonella and other bacteria;
• eating rotten eggs and dairy products that are past their expiration date.

Vomiting is almost always the first sign of infection. It is usually plentiful, indomitable, poorly stopped by drugs. Within 15-40 minutes after the first attack of vomiting, diarrhea appears with foam or mucus. Feces with infectious diarrhea have a pungent odor and a light yellow or greenish color. The child's temperature rises, painful cramps appear in the abdomen, signs of dehydration become pronounced (pale skin, dry lips). In children with diseases of the heart and blood vessels, the heart rate may change, blood pressure may decrease.

What to do?

Acute dehydration is the main cause of childhood death from intestinal infections, so before the arrival of the ambulance, it is necessary to provide the child with plenty of fluids. You can not force to drink a lot of water at once - this will only provoke a new attack of vomiting and lead to a deterioration in the condition. It is best to give the child clean water or special saline solutions to drink (" Hydrovit», « Regidron”) 1 teaspoon every 5 minutes.

The classic treatment regimen for acute intestinal infections includes the following drugs:

• antispasmodics to relieve pain and spasms (" Drotaverine», « Spazmonet», « Papaverine»);
• antidiarrheals with antibacterial and antimicrobial action (" Enterofuril»);
• enterosorbents for removing toxic substances from the intestines (" Neosmectin», « Polysorb»);
• antipyretic at high temperature (" Paracetamol», « Panadol», « Cefekon»);
• antiemetics for intractable vomiting (" Motilium for children»).

Important! Older children can be treated on an outpatient basis under the supervision of a local pediatrician. Treatment of infants under 1 year of age is carried out in an infectious disease hospital due to the high risk of dehydration.

Black mucus appeared in the stool

This is a very dangerous symptom that may indicate internal (hidden) bleeding or tumor processes in various parts of the intestine. If the phenomenon is one-time, it is possible that the change in the color of feces and mucus is associated with the intake of any vitamin complexes or preparations (for example, activated charcoal), but with the periodic appearance of dark mucus in the child's excrement, it is necessary to go to the hospital.

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Pathology is dangerous because it can proceed without pronounced symptoms until it reaches a severe stage that threatens the life of the child. The situation is complicated if the child is less than 1 year old, and he cannot explain what exactly worries him.

Signs of occult bleeding in the intestines or stomach include:

• abdominal pain;
• fever (not always);
• black feces of mucous consistency, odorless;
• nausea;
• refusal to eat;
• lowering blood pressure;
• increase in heart rate.

Treatment of pathology requires the use of surgical methods (including drainage). For a favorable prognosis, the speed of hospitalization of the patient is important.

Intestinal polyposis

Polyps are tumors that can have a flat or elongated shape, formed by epithelial tissue cells. Polyposis is a benign disease, but with a long absence of the necessary treatment, pathology can become a provoking factor for the development of more serious diseases, such as intestinal ulcers.

If a child is diagnosed with polyposis, the doctor may recommend observation, but only if there are single small polyps. With multiple polyposis, tumors must be removed using an endoscope.

colorectal cancer

The most dangerous bowel disease, the survival rate for which is less than 8% among patients of any age. Timely diagnosis is of great importance, therefore, for any symptoms that may indicate bowel cancer, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Such signs may include:

• stable stool disorder;
• poor appetite;
• frequent dyspeptic disorders (flatulence, flatulence, heaviness and bloating);
• increase in rectal temperature;
• pain in the lower abdomen of unknown etiology.

Older children may complain of constant weakness, drowsiness, their academic performance decreases, absent-mindedness appears in the classroom. The skin is usually pale, on the lower half of the body, areas of cyanosis (cyanosis) can be determined.

Treatment of colorectal cancer is carried out in several stages. First, the surgeon resects the part of the intestine where the tumor is located, along with the surrounding tissues, to eliminate the possibility of re-growth of malignant cells. In most cases, to ensure defecation, an intestinal stoma is removed - a fistulous opening on the surface of the abdomen through which feces are excreted. The stoma is closed with a special gasket, to which a sealed colostomy bag is attached.

After surgical treatment, the child may be prescribed a course of chemotherapy, radio or radiation therapy, which is carried out according to a special protocol. The scheme of conservative treatment includes antioxidants, alpha-fetoprotein, hormonal drugs.

Stool with mucus in childhood is not the norm. Despite the fact that sometimes the causes of pathology can be harmless, parents should not ignore the appearance of this symptom. In some cases, slimy loose stools are a dangerous sign of serious illness, so the best solution in this situation would be to see a doctor and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis.

All children, both infants and preschool children, suffer from indigestion. It is characterized by liquefaction of feces, an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, and the presence of pathological impurities.

Attention! Diarrhea with mucus in a child can be a health hazard, as it is accompanied by the removal of a large amount of fluid from the body, the loss of nutrients and electrolytes, which leads to dehydration, intoxication and depletion of the child's body.

What causes mucosal diarrhea in children?

The process of digestion in babies has its own characteristics, since every day the child's body gets acquainted with new foods, harmful compounds, and is also influenced by various microbes. Therefore, diarrhea with mucus is a fairly common occurrence in infants and young children. An upset stool or diarrhea is not considered by specialists to be independent diseases, but is a sign of some digestive disorders, as well as one of the symptoms of a number of diseases.

So, the baby can develop due to the following reasons:

• violation of the diet of a nursing mother when breastfeeding;
• or intestinal dysbiosis that occurs when digestion is disturbed;
• binge eating;
• lactase deficiency;
• intolerance to cow's milk or artificial nutrition (mixture);
• intestinal infections;
• intolerance to certain foods;
• incorrect introduction of supplementary feeding or complementary foods;
• teething period;
• congenital pathologies of the digestive system;
• transferred infectious and inflammatory diseases in severe form.

If a baby who is breastfeeding has mucus impurities, this may be due to poor-quality or non-sterile breast milk. You can fix the problem by conducting a laboratory analysis of the mother's milk, and changing the diet, eliminating foods that cause diarrhea. As you can see, in babies, stool disorder is caused by a change in diet and a violation of microflora.

Improper introduction of complementary foods can provoke diarrhea with mucus in infants

In older children, diarrhea occurs due to exposure to external factors or the development of a number of diseases. The causes of diarrhea with mucus in an adult child may be:

• the use of expired products or low-quality food;
• overstrain or stressful conditions;
• fermentopathy;
• enterocolitis;
• food poisoning;
• acute intestinal infections;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• dysbacteriosis caused by antibiotics.

A common and rather serious cause of diarrhea with mucus in children is a viral or bacterial nature, in particular, enteritis, enterocolitis. In this case, there is an addition of symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever.

With the development of dysentery, the stool acquires a mucous character with streaks of blood and a characteristic greenish tint, and in the case of Salmonella infection, the mucous stool contains orange flakes and is accompanied by a fetid odor.

What to do if mucous diarrhea occurs in children?

If the child has diarrhea with mucus, and the mother does not know what to do, you should consult a doctor. Most likely, after questioning, he will indicate the need for a number of therapeutic measures to stop it. First of all, you should remain calm and not panic. After assessing the severity of the child's condition, treatment can begin. At home, doctors recommend the following actions:

• limit the child's food intake, which, however, does not apply to infants;
• replace food with a plentiful drink of mineral water, rehydron solution, herbal teas from fennel and chamomile;
• ensure regular intake of sorbents - smectite, atoxyl, activated carbon. Along with the use of electrolytic solutions, the intake of these drugs is considered mandatory, regardless of the reasons that caused the bowel disorder.

Important! Throughout the entire period of treatment, the child must follow a strict diet, which includes the following set of products: tea, crackers, boiled potatoes, rice water or boiled rice, buckwheat porridge, vegetable broths, bananas, infusions of wild rose and blueberries.

Methods for determining and eliminating mucous diarrhea in children

If the therapeutic measures taken were ineffective, you should call a pediatrician at home or contact the clinic. Here, the child will be diagnosed based on laboratory tests that include:

You should contact your pediatrician or gastroenterologist if your child has any of the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• temperature increase;
• the appearance of weakness and apathy;
• increased stool;
• change in the nature of bowel movements;
• refusal of the child to eat and drink;
• the appearance of signs of dehydration: drowsiness, dry skin.

With diarrhea with mucus, the diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory tests of blood and feces.

Treatment

As the main treatment, the doctor prescribes drug therapy. Depending on the cause that caused the development of diarrhea with mucus, he may recommend taking enzyme preparations - festal, mezim, creon. In case of a disorder, drugs are considered effective -:, enterol, lactomun,. If diarrhea is accompanied by pain, you can prescribe paracetamol, which will alleviate the condition of the child.

Recently, bacteriophages, such as interstibacteriophage, have been used as therapeutic drugs for staphylococcal or Klebsiella diarrhea. For some diseases, the doctor may prescribe the use of intestinal antiseptics nifuroxazide.

With the advent of a newborn in the house, young parents expect many joyful and anxious moments. In the early days, the most questions are the nutrition of the baby, as well as a direct consequence of this process - defecation. The look that a chair has sometimes greatly surprises moms and dads, especially if mucus is present in it. Let's figure out what reasons can lead to its appearance.

Stages of development

The stool of newborn babies is called meconium. It is a dark green (almost black) homogeneous odorless mass, consisting of amniotic fluid, intestinal epithelial cells and the secretion of the digestive glands.

After three or four days, defecation becomes more frequent, and the bowel movements become more liquid and light. There is a small amount of mucus in the feces due to transient dysbacteriosis, a physiological phenomenon that occurs during the formation of the intestinal microflora of a child.

On the fifth or sixth day, the stool of breastfed newborns acquires a creamy consistency, yellow color and a sour smell. White flakes may be noticeable in it - the result of incomplete digestion of milk. Over time, the gastrointestinal tract of the baby adapts, and the food will be completely absorbed.

The feces of "artificial" babies are characterized by a denser texture, a pale yellow color and a sour smell. After the introduction of complementary foods, the properties of feces change: it becomes thick and brown.

Normal frequency of bowel movements: in the first two months - after each meal, then - 3-4 times, after six months - 2 times a day. In a formula-fed infant, bowel movements are less common.

Norm and pathology

A small amount of mucus is present in the feces of every infant. It protects the intestinal lining from aggressive substances and is expelled during bowel movements. Until the age of one month, almost all babies have a lack of lactase, an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar. This is also the reason for the presence of jelly-like inclusions in the stool. As the baby grows older, their volume gradually decreases.

But there are situations when mucus in the feces is an alarming sign, namely:

1. it is allocated a lot during each act of defecation
2. there is diarrhea with green and sharp-smelling stools, and sometimes with blood
3. the baby eats poorly, loses weight, cries, shows anxiety
4. body temperature rises

The following reasons can lead to this condition of the child:

1. nutritional errors
2. dysbacteriosis
3. gastrointestinal infections
4. lactase deficiency

Nutrition problems

The most common cause of stool problems in a breastfed infant is an imbalance between foremilk and hindmilk. At the moment of application to the breast, a liquid with a large amount of water and lactose begins to be released first, which performs the functions of drinking, and only then comes fatty milk. If the meal is interrupted too early, the baby will not receive enough nutrients. As a result, mucus and foam will appear in his stool. To solve this problem is simple - you need to feed the baby for at least 15-20 minutes.

Another factor affecting the baby's stool is the mother's diet. Jelly-like inclusions can occur due to the presence of highly allergenic (caviar, chocolate) or very fatty foods (walnuts, whole milk) on the woman's menu. A nursing mother needs a reasonable diet, especially in the first months, when the crumbs' enzymatic system is just maturing. It is best to adjust the diet together with the pediatrician.

Stool with mucus in an "artificial" baby may be the result of an incorrect choice of mixture. It is desirable that it includes pre- and probiotics, which help digest food.

Changes in the composition of feces after six months are a consequence of the introduction of complementary foods. The products that the baby tries for the first time are not fully digested, and their particles come out along with the mucus. If the baby feels well and there are very few inclusions in the stool, then there is no need to cancel complementary foods. This measure should be taken only in case of a very violent negative reaction of the body.

Dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis (dysbiosis) of the intestine is a violation of the microflora, characterized by an increase in the number of pathogenic microorganisms. Its symptoms in infants are mucus in liquid green stools, flatulence and colic.

The main causes of dysbacteriosis in a child are taking antibiotics, eating disorders of a nursing mother, and so on. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a fecal analysis. As a treatment, complexes of beneficial bacteria or special adapted mixtures are usually prescribed. Dysbiosis is not considered a reason to stop breastfeeding, but it may be necessary to change the mother's menu in a healthier direction.

lactase deficiency

When the activity of an enzyme called lactase, which is responsible for the breakdown of milk sugar (lactose), decreases, it begins to accumulate in the intestines and creates an acceptable environment for the reproduction of bacteria. As a result, the baby has greenish frothy stools with mucus and increased gas formation.

In this case, it is worth conducting a coprological study - an analysis of feces for carbohydrates. If it shows a deviation from the norm, then the menu of the nursing mother is first adjusted: fresh milk is excluded, and sometimes fermented milk products. "Artists" are assigned a lactose-free mixture. In severe situations, lactase enzyme intake is recommended.

infections

An intestinal infection in a child is manifested not only in the form of mucus in the feces. As a rule, there is a pungent odor and an uncharacteristic color of stools, blotches of blood, fever, pain in the tummy and a violation of general well-being. These symptoms may indicate the development of a serious illness, such as dysentery or salmonellosis, so if they occur, you should definitely consult a doctor.

In addition, problems with bowel movements in infants can be caused by microbes that enter their intestines along with mother's milk due to mastitis or another infection. In this case, you will need to analyze the milk for sterility and subsequent treatment.

Finding mucus in a child's stool is not a cause for panic. The task of parents is to carefully monitor the condition of the baby. If he feels great and is gaining weight normally, then most likely there is nothing to worry about. But if there are a lot of jelly-like impurities in the feces, and something worries the baby, then it should be shown to the doctor and examined.

We offer you a video about the features of digestion in the first year of life

Parents are faced with a violation of the stool in an infant from the first days of life. At the same time, mucus in the feces of the baby is found quite often. This is not a pathology. Such feces are colored light in color and have a jelly-like or watery consistency. The intestines are cleansed from the action of acids and alkalis with the help of mucus. The presence of mucus is absolutely normal. However, when exiting, it should not be visualized, since even in the intestines, mucus normally mixes with feces. Therefore, its obvious presence, which stands out among the feces, should be alarming.

If mucus in the feces is rarely found and its amount is small, then you should not worry. If the mucus is in each serving of feces and at the same time the smell of feces is unpleasant and pungent, there are sleep disturbances and constant regurgitation, the child does not gain weight, there is blood in the feces, then you should think about severe disorders of the child's health.

You need to pay attention to the following points:

The appearance of mucus in the stool in an infant may be preceded by the following conditions:

If mucus is found in the baby's feces, it is first necessary check the mother's diet and test breast milk for sterility. If this is not the reason, you will need to check the baby's digestive tract and conduct adequate treatment.

Causes of mucus in the stool in infants

At birth, the gastrointestinal tract of an infant is normally sterile. After the first meal (including mother's milk) the intestines are colonized by microorganisms, forming a certain microflora. Beneficial microorganisms are lactobacteria and bifidobacteria. There are also opportunistic and pathogenic microbes.

For the first three days, the newborn has black-green or black feces, the consistency of which is similar to thick sour cream. Then its color becomes lighter (gray or gray-green), and the consistency is semi-liquid. A week after birth: becomes yellow or brown, reminiscent of liquid semolina. When breastfeeding, unusual colored inclusions in the feces may be found if the mother ate brightly colored fruits or vegetables.

In the first months of a baby's life in his intestines going on "struggle" between pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms for dominance. At the end of the first month of life, under normal conditions, the intestines are populated with beneficial microflora. The period of formation of the microflora, as a rule, is accompanied by an unstable transitional stool. At this stage, green stool with mucus is not a pathology. By the third or fourth week of life, the stool should be back to normal color and consistency, and any impurities should be gone.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis

This condition is quite common in infants. A variety of pathogenic microorganisms (staphylococci, enterobacteria, klebsiella, clostridia and others) can multiply in the intestinal tract of a child and prevail over beneficial bacteria. As a result, various stool disorders occur. If the dysbacteriosis is insignificant, the baby develops flatulence, mucus in the feces and constipation. For more severe diarrhea occurs, streaks of blood, a large amount of mucus or curdled milk in the form of numerous lumps are found in the feces. If reddish mucus is present in the stool, this is a sign of ulceration on the mucosa of the digestive tract.

Therapy of dysbacteriosis is a rather lengthy process. First, the child's intestines are sanitized with the help of drugs: « Enterofuril » , « stop diar » and various bacteriophages. Then begins a thirty-day course to restore the microflora with drugs « Linex » , « Bifiform » , « Normoflorin » , « Primadophilus » and so on. Dysbacteriosis is prone to frequent relapses. Even careful and adequate therapy does not guarantee that the disease will not recur. Prevention of dysbiosis comes down to proper nutrition and caring for the baby;

Acute viral or bacterial intestinal infections

Often the appearance of mucus is a sign of intestinal infections. The child can get sick with salmonellosis, dysentery, intestinal flu and so on. In these cases, mucus in the feces indicates the occurrence of inflammatory processes. A stool culture is performed to confirm the diagnosis of an intestinal infection. For children under one year old, the occurrence of any changes in the stool requires consultation with an infectious disease specialist.

Intestinal invaginitis

They are considered to be the most dangerous diseases. At the slightest suspicion of this pathology, it is necessary emergency medical care. Intestinal invaginitis is characterized by partial intestinal obstruction. This condition can occur when parts of the intestine are squeezed together. Pathology manifests itself with severe pain during and after feeding, as well as vomiting « fountain » . The stool is at first frequent and liquid, containing mucus and streaks of blood, then its fecal character is lost. A day after the development of the disease, the stool is a lumpy mucus with bloody streaks.

Treatment of this pathology is carried out in surgery, performing a barium enema to straighten the intestines. In the absence of timely treatment, the child may die from dehydration, sepsis or pain shock.

Improper feeding

The causes of the presence of mucus in the feces and dyspepsia can be malnutrition, dehydration, abrupt introduction of complementary foods, large intervals between meals. In addition to the admixture of mucus, the color and consistency of feces may change. To treat such manifestations, it is necessary to normalize the baby's nutrition, cancel the introduced complementary foods, and after the condition improves, introduce it again, more smoothly.

Lactase deficiency

Often becomes the cause of mucus in the feces of infants. Lactase is an enzyme necessary for the fermentation of lactose (sugars), which is part of milk. The cause of an insufficient amount of lactase can be its congenital absence or the destruction of the enzyme in the small intestine under the influence of a large number of pathogenic bacteria. As a result, fermentation occurs in the intestines, the consequence of which is flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea, the appearance in the feces of mucus and lumps of fermented milk.

To diagnose this condition, it is necessary to conduct a test that determines the presence of carbohydrates in the feces. For the treatment of lactase deficiency, it is necessary to follow a diet (exclusion from the diet of any dairy products) and the use of special drugs with lactase (if the baby is breastfed) or lactose-free mixtures (for artificial people).

The causes of mucus in the stool are also: