Digestive disorders are a common disease in children, affecting the child’s digestive system, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, etc. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), every year there are about 1.7 billion children with diarrhea worldwide. This is not only an annoying problem leaving an impact on children’s daily activities, but can also lead to serious consequences such as malnutrition and weakened immune systems. Therefore, preventing digestive disorders is crucial to protect health and help children develop comprehensively.
Digestive disorder is a common disease in children
According to statistics, in reality, there are several causes of digestive disorders in children such as viral infections, allergies or due to an unreasonable diet, lack of hygiene. Therefore, understanding these causes allows parents to have appropriate prevention and treatment measures for their children.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children, most children under 5 years old are infected with Rotavirus at least once. When children are infected with this virus, they will penetrate the digestive system, causing damage to the intestinal mucosa, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, etc. Rotavirus is quite durable, they can survive on hands for hours and on wooden and metal surfaces for days. Therefore, acute diarrhea caused by Rotavirus is very dangerous. This disease is easily transmitted and difficult to treat. According to UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO): “Rotavirus is considered the main cause of 40% of all hospitalizations due to diarrhea in children under 5 years old. According to statistics, globally, each year there are 100 million cases of acute diarrhea caused by Rotavirus infection and 350,000 to 600,000 deaths”. In the United States, before the Rotavirus vaccination program, there were more than 2.7 million cases of intestinal Rotavirus infection each year, 60,000 children were hospitalized, and about 37 died.
Rotavirus is very dangerous for children, vaccination is an effective disease prevention measure
Next, food allergies are also a common cause of digestive disorders in children. This is a condition in which the child’s immune system reacts abnormally to certain foods and is common in children under 3 years old. About 90% of all reported food allergies involve the following foods: cow’s milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, seafood, soy, tree nuts, etc. When children have food allergies, they may have symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, rash, hives, difficulty breathing, etc. According to statistics, about 85% of children are allergic to eggs and milk, and about 50% of children no longer have allergic reactions between the ages of 8 and 12.
Some common food allergies
Another cause of digestive disorders in children is an inappropriate diet. A diet lacking in fiber can lead to constipation in children, or eating too much spicy and greasy food can cause diarrhea, bloating, and indigestion in children. In addition, giving children solid foods too early when their digestive system is not yet fully developed can also lead to digestive disorders in children.
Finally, parents need to note that poor food hygiene is one of the main causes of food poisoning in children, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. Food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites due to improper storage and poor processing will lead to poisoning in children. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, foodborne diseases found in children under 5 years old account for nearly one-third of all deaths.
Parents need to pay attention to food safety for children
Understanding the above causes allows parents to take appropriate measures to prevent digestive disorders in children. Below are some effective measures to best care for children’s health. Let’s share this information with relatives and friends who have young children to raise awareness about the importance of preventing digestive disorders in children.
Breastfeeding is not only a natural action but also a medical recommendation based on scientific evidence. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast milk provides all the energy and nutrients needed for children in the first months of life and continues to contribute up to half or more of the child’s nutritional needs in the second half of the first year, and one third in the second year of life. Children who are breastfed score higher on intelligence tests, less likely to be overweight or obese, and are less likely to develop diabetes later in life. In addition, women who breastfeed are also likely to reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancer. This shows the importance of breastfeeding not only for the baby’s health but also for the mother’s long-term health.
Breastfeeding: Healthy baby, happy mother
A balanced and healthy diet is the foundation for healthy growth in children. Nutritionists recommend that children eat a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and a variety of protein foods. Consuming fiber-rich foods such as vegetables and fruits not only provides essential vitamins and minerals but also helps maintain a healthy digestive system.
A reasonable and balanced diet is the foundation for children’s healthy development
Food safety is an important factor in preventing disease and maintaining the health of children. Washing hands before food preparation and raw food consumption enables removal of bacteria and parasites, reducing and eliminating the risk of digestive disorders in children.
Personal hygiene is an integral part of child care. According to the Global Progress Report on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2023, UNICEF estimates that every year, 1.4 million people, including nearly 400,000 children under the age of 5, die from diseases related to dirty water, poor sanitation and lack of hygiene including diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARIs), soil-transmitted helminths and malnutrition. Maintaining good personal hygiene, including regular hand washing and bathing for children may reduce this risk.
Washing hands with soap for children – little habit, great benefits
Finally, the use of probiotics in health care for children is increasingly gaining attention and is gradually becoming indispensable in the process of raising children. Some studies have shown that probiotics can shorten the duration of acute diarrhea by about 25 hours. Probiotics have also been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of antibiotic use in children. However, the use of probiotics should be based on the guidance of a doctor or nutritionist to ensure safety and effectiveness.
A powerful assistant in providing probiotics for children is the nutritional product Metacare Opti 2+. The product was researched and developed by scientists from Nutricare and the Nutricare Medical Nutrition Institute – USA (NMNI-USA), possessing a breakthrough in Postbiotic technology, supplementing 30 billion Postbiotic probiotics (Postbiotic LBiome and Postbiotic L. Lactis probiotics) to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, enhancing the natural immune system. In particular, Postbiotic Lbiome probiotics are recommended for use by the Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and have been proven through 50 clinical studies to help: prevent the invasion of pathogens thanks to their ability to compete for adhesion sites on the intestinal surface; neutralize and inhibit unwanted harmful bacteria; prevent the invasion of other pathogens; restore the natural balance of the intestinal microflora and promote the proliferation of probiotic strains.
In addition, Metacare Opti 2+ also adds HMO and fiber to support a healthy digestive system, prevent the risk of constipation, and enable balance of the intestinal microflora. 24-hour colostrum from the US in the product also helps strengthen children’s resistance. In addition, the product provides children with up to 60 essential nutrients with easily absorbed Whey protein, lysine, and zinc that allow children to eat well, gain healthy weight, and at the same time, a trio of calcium, vitamins K2 and D3 support strong bones and outstanding height development. Thanks to that, many parents have chosen the nutritional product Metacare Opti 2+ as the optimal solution to help their children digest well, gain weight and grow taller quickly. Therefore, adding the nutritional product Metacare Opti 2+ to the daily menu is a small action of parents but brings great effects to children.
As can be seen, there are many different measures that parents can use to prevent digestive disorders in children, such as breastfeeding, maintaining a reasonable diet, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and using probiotics. It is necessary for parents to understand and apply these measures to protect the health and comprehensive development of children, and at the same time contribute significantly to building a solid health foundation for children.
Conclusion: Preventing digestive disorders is extremely important and necessary to protect children’s health. Parents need to be fully equipped with knowledge about the causes, symptoms and prevention of digestive disorders to be able to take the best care of their children’s health. At the same time, apply the preventive measures mentioned in this article to protect children’s digestive system, allowing them to grow up healthy and safe.
References:
1.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease 2.https://vsh.org.vn/phat-hien-som-virus-rota-gay-tieu-chay-cap-o-tre-em-de-phong-benh-chan-doan-va-dieu-tri.htm 3.https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions—pediatrics/f/food-allergies-in-children.html 4.https://cpcs.vn/phong-ngua-va-xu-tri-di-ung-thuc-pham-o-tre-em-d17581.html 5.https://moh.gov.vn/chuong-trinh-muc-tieu-quoc-gia/-/asset_publisher/7ng11fEWgASC/content/who-cac-benh-do-thuc-pham-o-tre-em-duoi-5-tuoi-chiem-gan-mot-phan-ba-so-ca-tu-vong?inheritRedirect=false 6.https://www.unicef.org/wash 7.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6737314/ 8.https://www.qdnd.vn/y-te/cac-van-de/an-toan-thuc-pham-de-dam-bao-cho-tre-phat-trien-toan-dien-779256 9.https://www.vinmec.com/vi/benh/ngo-doc-thuc-pham-3244/ |