Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children

Due to certain reasons, the working of the large intestines is disturbed by an illness known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Well, what causes irritable bowel syndrome in children and in adults? Doctors are still dubious on this matter. However, close assumptions of the causes include intake of certain foods, stress, hormonal changes and illnesses like infectious diarrhea, etc. All these factors disturb the rhythm of the movement of the food from the stomach through the intestinal tract to your rectum. So, this causes the contents of the colon to move in an abnormal way; too fast, stopping and starting or not moving at all. However, the condition does not raise any major or serious concerns and can be easily managed.

What Symptoms Does IBS Cause in Children?

Symptoms to be watched out include stomachache, which occurs with an occasional frequency and not very often. Parents must observe if their kids are suffering from constipation (irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowel, characterized by hard stools) or diarrhea (frequent and loose or watery bowel movements). Feeling of not able to empty the bowel completely is also another symptom. Abdominal cramps, mucus in stools and having a sensation, as if gas is trapped inside and not being able to pass it, are the other common symptoms. These symptoms may turn out to be mild for some children and severe for others.

Treatment

Merely knowing about the symptoms should not be all, what is required next is to be aware about the different methods of treatment for the illness. The treatment is governed by the child's age, severity of the illness and the child's response or tolerance to the administration of medications or therapies. As the cause of this illness is not known, so the treatment is mainly centered towards managing the symptoms and providing relief from the discomfort.

Doctors may prescribe medicines to reduce pain, take care of the gas (flatulence), constipation and diarrhea. Parents can keep a check on the different kinds of foods, which their kids take and if they cause them to exhibit any IBS symptoms. Foods which can trigger IBS may vary from children to children. However, the ones which have been found to be common in all include spicy foods, chocolate, dairy products, high-fat foods and big meals. So parents must ensure that these kinds of foods must be given in limited amounts to their kids when healthy and must be avoided when they are still suffering from IBS.

As stress has been considered as one of the causes of irritable bowel syndrome, so the treatment also consists of taking up measures which might help in managing it. Parents must ensure if their kids are getting enough sleep and getting enough time to be involved in games and sports. They must also be aware if the kids are working too much at school and if they are somehow skipping meals in any part of the day.

As far as medicines are concerned for managing the condition of irritable bowel syndrome in children, it is best if the selection and decision is left to the doctors. Administration of any over-the-counter medications should not be considered, as there would be a risk of potential side effects and that might further worsen the condition. Kids might not have a close observation of any such symptoms, as mentioned, even when they are suffering from them. So, it becomes the responsibility of the parents to take care of what their young ones are eating and going through their day-to-day activities.