Malabsorption syndrome is a pathological condition that occurs as a result of improper absorption of nutrients, vitamins, microelements in the small intestine. Often, malabsorption syndrome occurs in children.
Mechanism of disease development
There are primary and secondary malabsorption syndrome. Primary begins to appear already in the first months of life of the baby and is hereditary. Secondary malabsorption in children occurs, primarily due to the defeat of the gastrointestinal tract, and also because of:
- genetic disorders are the causes of malabsorption syndrome, in which the development of enzymes involved in the process of digestion of products is disrupted. As a result, the child develops metabolic disorders.
- diseases associated with a lack of lactase, disaccharides, suffering from cystinuria, cystic fibrosis.
- various complications after enteritis, malignant formations, circulatory disorders, dysbacteriosis or increased motor function of the intestine.
All these reasons can lead immediately to several processes that cause the development of such abnormalities as violations of cavity and parietal digestion, a sharp decrease in the activity of small intestine enzymes, syndrome of chronic malabsorption.
Symptoms of malabsorption
Very often, the symptoms of malabsorption are diverse, that is, the manifestation of this disease can be different. They depend mainly on the physiology of the child. The main symptoms of malabsorption in children are:
- stool with admixtures of fat;
- a stool with a sour smell, with a foaming texture;
- watery rumor;
- alternation of a mushy stool and constipation with a loose stool in a child ;
- a combination of a liquid stool and vomiting .
Also, there may be increased bleeding, visual impairment, brittle hair and nails, cramps and muscle pain, impaired immunity.
Treatment of malabsorption syndrome
The basis for treating malabsorption syndrome in children is a diet that excludes intolerable foods. In some cases, a complex course of the disease requires a fairly long observation of the child in the hospital to restore normal status. After passing the medication prescribed by the doctor, the sick child may also require substitution enzyme therapy.