Recovery of microflora after antibiotics in children
Antibiotics have firmly entered our lives. For any reason, a person tries to put a saving pill in his mouth. And if a child gets sick, then it is important for the parent to quickly destroy all pathogenic viruses and bacteria that have entered his body. And many adults don't realize that viral infections can't be cured with antibiotics. And potent drugs deprive the children's body of beneficial bacteria, the action of which is aimed at protecting it. After taking antibiotics, short or long, it is important to restore the child's microflora as quickly as possible.
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What is dysbacteriosis, how does it manifest itself
The action of antibiotics is aimed not only at the destruction of pathogenic microbes. Under the sword of Damocles, those microorganisms that help the intestines process food, fully absorb it, also fall. The child begins to suffer from the fact that undigested residues are deposited in the bowels of the intestine, rotting. As a result of this, rumbling occurs in the abdomen, heaviness is felt due to the accumulation of a large amount of gases. Children suffer from diarrhea or constipation. As a result, toxic substances are released into the blood. The body is released from them with the help of vomiting.
The habitat of beneficial bacteria that protect against the penetration of infections are the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, middle ear, larynx, and genital organs. After antibiotic treatment, sluggish dysbacteriosis reduces the child's immunity, hence the constant colds with cough, fever. An organism devoid of beneficial microorganisms cannot fight pathogenic bacteria, as well as fungi. If chronic forms of a runny nose, bronchitis become a companion of a baby, then it is necessary to pay attention to the state of his microflora. To cope with serious inflammation of the lungs, bronchi, we need not only antibiotics, but also probiotics. They will help strengthen the defenses of the child's body, put up a barrier to the penetration of inflammation, infections.
Common complications of antibiotic treatment
Among the consequences of antibiotic treatment are:
- stomatitis - inflammation of the oral cavity, in which the mucous membrane swells, wounds appear on it;
- thrush, or candidiasis, with a white coating on the mucous membrane of the mouth;
- allergic reactions in the form of a rash, redness all over the body;
- general weakening of the immune system, leading to an increase in colds;
- intestinal infections, accompanied by signs of poisoning - vomiting, diarrhea, high fever;
- beriberi due to lack of B vitamins, vitamin K;
- frequent constipation leading to the occurrence of cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia.
Having discovered the symptoms of the consequences of antibiotic therapy, parents need to consider how to restore the intestinal microflora after antibiotics to the child. It is best to consult a pediatrician on this issue.
Ways to restore microflora in children
Starting the treatment of a child with antibiotics, you must immediately take care of maintaining the normal functions of the digestive tract.
For children up to a year, only breastfeeding is left, canceling any kind of complementary foods. It is necessary to continue this diet even after treatment, until the intestines begin to function normally.
It is important for an older child to give more fluids by reviewing the diet. Emphasis should be placed on small portions of food, excluding excessively fatty foods, fried foods from the menu. Preference is given to steamed products by boiling and stewing.
In order for the assimilation of food to pass faster, completely, they give the child a run, play with peers.
Recovery of microflora after antibiotics occurs in different ways:
- Of the drugs, preference is given to probiotics. They are based on beneficial bacteria that create a barrier to infection. Medicines help the production of vitamin K, biotin, folic acid. Their effectiveness is high in the treatment of candidiasis, dysbacteriosis, allergies, gastritis, and intestinal infections.
- The use of curdled milk made from natural milk normalizes the work of the digestive tract. You need to give a sour-milk drink once a week. Before this, it is necessary to check the reaction of the child's body to the product.
- Aloe leaf puree will return health to the intestines. Honey is added to the crushed leaves of the plant. Children can be given a teaspoon of the drug after breakfast.
- Replenishment of the supply of vitamins occurs within a month after antibiotic therapy. A complex of vitamins B, C, A, E is prescribed. The children's body especially needs substances such as calcium and selenium.
- The organization of proper nutrition for the child will play a positive role in the normalization of microflora. Exceptions from the diet require products with a large number of preservatives, flavor enhancers. Do not give children mayonnaise, carbonated drinks, confectionery products based on white flour and margarine. The diet should contain cottage cheese, whole grain cereals, lean meat, fish. It is useful to drink tea with honey, not sugar.
It is possible to treat dysbacteriosis only under the supervision of a specialist, based on his advice.
Probiotics for Children
The very name of the group of biologically active drugs reflects their purpose - for life.
The best such medicine for babies will be mother's milk - a source of lacto- and bifidobacteria. For those who are bottle-fed, they produce milk mixtures enriched with beneficial bacteria. They will help restore the number of beneficial microorganisms after antibiotic therapy.
To avoid problems with stools, flatulence, intestinal colic, skin rashes, you need to know what to give your child after antibiotics for microflora.
The best probiotic is Linex. One gram of powder contains a mixture of biomass of live lactic acid bacteria. Their value for biochemical processes in a children's organism is great. Take the capsule with the medicine after a meal with a small amount of water. Assign a remedy from the newborn age, when it is enough to take one capsule three times a day. From two years, it is possible to increase the dose twice. For convenience, small patients pour the powder from the capsule into a spoon, mixing it with baby food, juice, boiled, but not hot water. The duration of therapy depends on the individual characteristics of the child, the severity of the course of dysbacteriosis. Carefully and after consulting a doctor, take Linex if the child suffers from prolonged diarrhea, his body temperature is above 38 degrees.
For children of the first and second year of life, Liveo Malysh is recommended. Fifteen drops of the active nutritional supplement are added to the child's mouth during meals or mixed with food. The duration of treatment is a week.
An additional source of bifidobacteria is Bivestin, which is produced in the form of a milk emulsion. The drug is taken half an hour before or after a meal with a plastic straw. The dosage for children from one year to six years old is calculated starting from one milliliter, adding one each year. You can dilute the solution with juice, water, taken in a small amount.
Acidolac is an effective remedy, the action of which is aimed at restoring the microflora after taking antibacterial drugs. The powder is dissolved in the proportion of one sachet per hundred milliliters of liquid - water, yogurt, milk. Use immediately after breeding. Start taking a probiotic during antibiotic therapy, continuing after its completion for two to three weeks.
Enterol is given in case of diarrhea as a consequence of taking antibiotics. It is shown to children from one year. Assign a daily intake of one capsule twice a day for five days for children under three years old, a week for older children.
All signs of dysbacteriosis, thrush, allergies, intestinal dysfunction will pass on their own after the restoration of beneficial microflora.
The intake of probiotics should be supervised by medical professionals.