Intestinal spasm is a paroxysmal abdominal pain caused by bouts of intense contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestinal wall and is the most common condition in pediatric acute abdominal pain. In small infants, the presence of intestinal cramps can be understood by the degree and intensity of the crying noise.
Triggering causes.
I. Gastrointestinal factors
(1) Excessive intestinal gas production
There are four major sources of intestinal gas: swallowed gas; produced by neutralization of gastric acid; diffused from the blood; and produced by bacterial fermentation.
(2) Increased intestinal power
(3) Gastrointestinal hormones
(4) Dietary factors
Some studies have shown that the occurrence of intestinal cramps in breastfed children is related to the mother’s milk consumption, and that food allergies may be a cause of intestinal cramps.
(5) Other factors
(2) Non-gastrointestinal factors
Symptoms of intestinal spasm
The main manifestation of intestinal spasms in small infants is continuous, hard-to-soothe crying and fussiness, which may be accompanied by vomiting, flushed cheeks, tumbling, and curling of both lower limbs. The cry is accompanied by flushed face, distended and tense abdomen, and upward curling of the legs, and the attack may be terminated by exhaustion or defecation. In young infants, the seizures can be recurrent and self-limiting.
Judgment of intestinal spasms
In small infants, the main manifestations of intestinal spasm attacks are
1, paroxysmal abdominal pain, each pain interval of several minutes to dozens of minutes episodes, each lasting about 3 to 5 minutes ranging, may be recurrent episodes.
2, the location of abdominal pain is not fixed. When parents gently press the abdomen with their hands, there is no fixed pressure point, and sometimes they can palpate strips of spastic intestinal tubes. abdominal examination mostly shows abdominal bulge without abdominal muscle tension (all soft on the stomach).
3. The baby will have persistent, hard-to-soothe crying, which may be accompanied by flushed cheeks, tumbling, and curling of both lower limbs. The face is flushed when crying, the abdomen is distended and tense, and the legs are curled upward. But no symptoms of fever, diarrhea, vomiting.
4, there will be abdominal pain when the baby will have crying, irritable performance, but the non-painful period of the baby is in good spirits, can eat normally. And can be terminated by the child’s exhaustion or defecation.
Prevention of intestinal spasms
To prevent intestinal cramps, parents must pay attention to the reasonable arrangement of children’s diet and living during the holidays, and avoid children eating excessive cold drinks and indigestible food. Once the phenomenon of abdominal pain occurs, you should immediately contact a health care provider for early treatment.
1. Breastfeeding mothers should eat less foods that cause flatulence, such as: milk, apples, melons.
2. usually massage the baby’s tummy clockwise more often, or gently help him when he cries.
3, you can use a hot water bag to warm up when crying, but be careful not to make the temperature too high, you can also rub your hands together and press on the baby’s tummy to warm it up.
4, try not to let the baby cry, because when crying will inhale air to cause flatulence.
5.Do not give your baby a pacifier without special needs.
6, after eating milk must pat the back more to let the baby spit out the air eaten.
7. Feed your baby regularly, about once every 3 hours for a 2-month-old baby, and once every 4 hours for a 3-month-old baby or older, and feed your baby water if he or she is upset in the middle.
Diet care
1, artificial feeding of the baby initially to a small number of meals
The concentration ratio is appropriate, gradually increase the amount and concentration of milk, to achieve regular feeding, conducive to the maturation of gastrointestinal motility function and secretion of digestive juices.
2, breastfeeding mothers, try to eat less stimulating food
Some easy to produce gas, spicy, alcohol, coffee and other stimulating foods, metabolites in the mother will enter the baby’s body through the breast milk, they will have a negative stimulation of the baby’s central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
3. It is best to pick up the baby and place it in a head-high, foot-low position when breastfeeding
Keep the bottle at an angle of 30-40 degrees to your baby’s jaw, and don’t make the pacifier hole too big or too hot.