We confirm dysbacteriosis in an infant - we take tests

What is dysbiosis and why is it dangerous?

Dysbiosis is a condition that means there is a lack of balance of microbiota in the intestine. This phenomenon occurs in people of all ages, but infants experience it much more often.

In the womb, the baby's intestines are sterile. During the normal course of labor and the postpartum period, the baby's intestines are filled with beneficial bacteria while passing through the birth canal. Subsequent consolidation of the microflora is provided by maternal colostrum and breast milk.

The causes of dysbiosis in newborns are:

• taking potent medications;
• digestive disorders in a nursing mother;
• lack of feeding with colostrum and breast milk;
• pathologies of intestinal development;
• birth by caesarean section.

The danger of dysbacteriosis is justified by its manifestations - diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, anxiety. The baby refuses to eat normally, and problems arise with weight gain and development of internal organs. Timely detection of violations allows you to quickly take the necessary therapeutic measures.

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Important rules for submission

Analysis requires proper preparation. The result of the analysis may depend on this stage. Preparation involves following a certain diet 3 days before the test. It is advisable to exclude beets, coffee, alcohol, fish and meat dishes, flour, sweets and dairy products from the diet.

It is also necessary to stop taking certain medications: antibiotics, strengthening or laxatives, rectal suppositories, castor oil and Vaseline.

To properly collect feces, it is necessary to carry out hygienic measures of the perineum and anus. The biomaterial is collected naturally, without the use of laxatives (Fortrans) or enemas.

If you are unsure how to properly collect stool, consult your laboratory. It is prohibited to use plastic containers and household glass jars as containers. You must purchase a special sterile container. Jars for research can be obtained from the laboratory or purchased at the pharmacy. The collected feces should be tightly covered.

The number of bowel movements required for the analysis can be checked with the laboratory assistant. The collected biomaterial should be delivered to the laboratory within two hours. Otherwise, the results may be distorted. You can store the material in the refrigerator for no more than 4 hours. Do not freeze in the freezer.

This method is considered obsolete. However, it is in great demand. The main advantage of this analysis is that it can be done on adults and children. Many doctors prescribe it to infants to exclude the presence of pathologies. However, bacteriological seeding also has its downsides.

During the collection of biomaterial, contact with oxygen occurs, so most of the anaerobic microorganisms die. In turn, this significantly affects the results. This analysis does not detect mucosal microflora from the colon. In addition, when transporting stool to the laboratory, many microorganisms that live in stool die.

How to correctly collect a test from a baby

To diagnose dysbiosis, it is necessary to obtain laboratory test results. The biomaterial used for analysis is the child’s feces.

A few days before the expected test procedure, meat products and broths are excluded from the diet. The introduction of new food is cancelled. For 3 days, on the eve of stool collection, do not use medications that normalize the microflora. The use of rectal suppositories and syringe bulbs is contraindicated.

It is advisable to collect stool in the morning, after the child wakes up. It is better if urination occurs before bowel movement, after which the baby is washed.

It is not recommended to pick up feces from a diaper. It is advisable to place a clean, sterilized diaper or piece of gauze under the baby. The biomaterial is collected in a sterile container. This can be a glass jar, pre-treated at the highest possible temperatures, or a special container with a spoon and an airtight lid (can be purchased at a pharmacy). Ideally, if you can collect 10 milliliters of feces.

The collected biomaterial must be sent to the laboratory for analysis within 3 hours after bowel movement. If for some reason this cannot be done in a short time, the container with feces can be sent to the refrigerator, taking into account the temperature of +2°C or +4°C. The material can be stored for another 4–5 hours. After this period, stool taken for analysis of dysbacteriosis in an infant becomes unsuitable for research.

If parents are unable to independently collect feces from their infant for dysbacteriosis at home, they can seek help from specialists at the clinic’s medical facility. Doctors will help you take the material and quickly send it for processing.

What does the analysis show?

Stool culture establishes the composition and quantity of intestinal microflora. Another name for the study is feces for dysbiosis or feces for intestinal group.

The analysis consists of two stages. At the first stage, a specially prepared smear is examined under a microscope, and bacteria are detected. They are placed in nutrient media that are standardized (in other words, it has long been known which microorganisms develop best in which media).

Laboratory glassware with media and cultures are placed in a thermostat that simulates the temperature and humidity of the human body. The environment is kept in the thermostat for up to 7 days. Time is necessary for all the introduced bacteria to multiply and form colonies (a colony is the descendants of one bacterium). After this period, the number of grown bacteria and colonies is counted.

Some media initially contain antibiotics or bacteriophages. By comparing the number of colonies grown on a regular nutrient medium and containing antibiotics, you can find out which drugs can significantly reduce the growth of bacteria. This is how sensitivity to antibiotics is determined.

Based on the result, one can judge which group of bacteria predominates in the intestines of a particular person and how much the normal microflora is changed.

To whom and when is the test prescribed?

A stool test for dysbacteriosis in a child is prescribed by a pediatrician, or parents can carry out this procedure at their own request in private institutions.

Indications for the study of intestinal microflora in infants are:

• loose stools for more than 3 days;
• rash on the skin;
• unpleasant odor from the mouth;
• coating on the tongue;
• excessive salivation;
• intense regurgitation;
• underweight;
• oral candidiasis;
• lack of appetite;
• bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain;
• moodiness or lethargy;
• foamy, bloody, mucous impurities in poop;
• green or liquid stool.

A similar analysis may be prescribed for a child with severe digestive problems. If your baby refuses to eat or eating becomes restless, there is a possibility of a bacterial imbalance. The indication for the study is long-term drug treatment with antibiotics that suppress pathogenic and beneficial bacteria.

Decoding the results

Depending on the choice of medical institution, some points and the order may change. The normal number of different microorganisms for children under one year of age:

• pathogenic microbes - no;
• normal E. coli – 10^7-10^9;
• Escherichia coli with altered enzymatic properties -

E. coli is necessary for the child's body for proper development and maintaining the balance of intestinal microflora. With a reduced amount of E. coli, which is a beneficial microorganism, you need to think about a healthier and planned diet for the child, unless antibiotics are taken, which have a negative effect.

Increased levels of Candida fungi and enterococci are observed with thrush, or candidiasis. Proliferation occurs, fungi infect the surface of the anus, and the baby experiences discomfort.

Lactobacilli support the body's defense against allergens and stimulate the synthesis of lactic acid and lactase. Due to a decrease in the number of these bacteria, allergies, constipation, and a lack of lactase in the body may develop.

What indicators are considered normal for a baby?

The main indicators of the norm in the analysis of dysbacteriosis in a baby of the first year of life are the quantitative correspondence of bacteriological representatives. As the obtained indicators are deciphered, the specialist will be able to compare the results and assess the patient’s current condition.

The number of beneficial bacteria - bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and Escherichia should not be underestimated. Accordingly, their presence can fluctuate within 1010 (the lowest figure) - 1011 for the first, 106 - 107 for the second, 107 -108 for the third. Low indicators indicate a low concentration of beneficial intestinal inhabitants, which ultimately affects its functionality.

Opportunistic pathogens are present in every human body. It is considered normal if the population of these representatives does not exceed the description specified in the table. On average it is <=104. An increased number of opportunistic bacteria most often becomes the cause of dysbiosis. The patient has indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting, and flatulence. The growth of Candida fungi in the intestines leads to candidiasis of the genitals or oral cavity, and, accordingly, inflammation.

In a normal state of microflora, pathogenic microorganisms should be completely absent. Even a small amount of such bacteria leads to intoxication of the body, causing severe symptoms. For infants, pathogenic infection is dangerous and can lead to irreversible consequences. The analysis helps to recognize such a disease in time.

When is a stool test for dysbacteriosis prescribed?

Dysbacteriosis analysis is a study during which the presence and number of microorganisms in the baby’s stool is determined. As a rule, in the first year of a child’s life, the gastrointestinal tract does not fully cope with its function. That is why during this period infants are tested for dysbacteriosis more often. This explains the main symptoms for which the study is prescribed:

Treatment with antibiotics may also lead to a referral for analysis to identify dysbiosis. Diagnostics will help track the results of therapy.

Indications for examination in children

When studying feces, specialists determine the content of microorganisms in one gram of feces. A preliminary conclusion is given by a gastroenterologist. When making a diagnosis, the age of the child is taken into account, since the norms for children of different ages differ. The norms for the composition of intestinal microflora for children are presented in the table.

Composition of a child's intestinal microflora

When examining stool for dysbacteriosis, specialists from medical institutions study in detail the composition of the resulting biomaterial. The essence of this analysis is to identify the ratio of the number of beneficial bacterial microorganisms to the number of opportunistic microorganisms, also present in the child’s body. The category of beneficial microorganisms that inhabit the child’s intestines includes: E. coli, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria. All these types of microorganisms have a positive effect on the health and condition of the child’s body.

Scientists include the group of opportunistic microorganisms: fungi, clostridia, staphylococci, Klebsiella, enterobacteria. Their activity can cause some discomfort to a growing child’s body and cause the child to cry. In a child’s body, each of the groups of bacterial microorganisms represented plays its role. Thus, some of the bacteria described above provide the baby with smooth digestion, while others, on the contrary, cause the development of various pathologies in the child.

The presence of pathogenic enterobacteria in a child’s stool indicates the presence of some kind of disease, since normally this category of microorganisms should not be present in the stool of healthy children. In addition, microorganisms of the genus Salmonella or Shigella found in the feces of a child indicate the development of a rather complex intestinal disease in the child’s body, therefore their presence is extremely undesirable in the child’s body.

Intestinal microflora may contain microorganisms of the genus Salmonella and Shigella, as well as harmful fungal bodies belonging to the genus Candida. Fungal organisms belonging to the genus Candida can cause some discomfort to the baby. With an increased content of these fungi in the intestines, superficial damage to the skin in the anus can begin. And if these fungi actively begin to multiply and the number of beneficial microorganisms significantly decreases, the child may develop thrush or candidiasis.

Staphylococcus aureus should also not be contained in the feces of a child, especially in infancy. The presence of staphylococcus in the feces, even in small quantities, can cause various clinical manifestations in a child. These include: pustules on the skin, allergic reactions and intestinal disorders. Staphylococcus can easily enter a child's body through mother's milk. Children with weak immune systems are most susceptible to infection. In addition to staphylococcus, hemolyzing Escherichia coli can also cause harm to a child’s body. Just like staphylococcus, it is not favorable for the development of beneficial microflora in a child’s body. Pathogenic microorganisms belonging to the genus Clostridia cause diarrhea in children.

The conditionally pathogenic part of microorganisms causes discomfort to the baby only when his immune system is weakened. If this category of microorganisms actively multiplies and begins to prevail over beneficial bacteria, the baby may develop dysbiosis.

Beneficial bacteria in the baby's intestines are bifidobacteria. Thanks to their presence in the child’s body, many important processes for his body are carried out. These include:

1. Stimulation of intestinal motility;
2. Participation in the breakdown of food;
3. Normalizes the process of bowel movement;
4. Promote the absorption of vitamins;
5. Provide digestion of food;
6. Helps ensure the process of food absorption;
7. Promote the absorption of essential microelements;
8. Capable of neutralizing many toxic substances.

Prevention of dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis is one of the body conditions that is quite easy to avoid. To prevent your child from developing various intestinal problems, it is necessary to follow some rules. Prevention of dysbiosis is:

• maintaining personal hygiene,
• keeping the house clean,
• balanced nutrition according to age limits,
• strengthening the immune system,
• the use of drugs that restore microflora during antibiotic treatment.

Pediatrician of the 2nd category, allergist-immunologist, graduated from the Belarusian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Health and Social Development. Read more », Rate this article: (2 rated 5.00 out of 5) Loading...Share with friends!

Recommendations for parents

Parents of newborns should be especially attentive to the health of their children. To prevent the development of dysbacteriosis, it is necessary to monitor the baby’s hygiene, proper and timely complementary feeding, and a varied diet.

Breastfeeding plays an important role in the formation of proper microflora. If there are no problems with lactation, there is no need to stop feeding.

During treatment with antibiotics, the baby must take probiotics. What kind of medicine to choose for your child needs to be decided with the attending physician.

If any abnormalities appear in the child’s behavior or digestion, it is necessary to report this to the children’s doctor. Treating a newborn baby with folk remedies is strictly prohibited.

A test for dysbacteriosis is a relatively new, but informative procedure for assessing the condition of a newborn. If possible, such an analysis is recommended for every child in order to detect the problem in time and prevent the development of the disease.

Analysis of stool for dysbiosis in children is considered the main method that can determine the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as a violation of healthy intestinal microflora. Dysbacteriosis in an infant can be a consequence of many pathologies. Dysbacteriosis does not have a specific clinical picture, so it can occur, accompanied by various symptoms. Many manifestations of this pathology are similar to signs of other diseases of the digestive tract. For this reason, in order to diagnose dysbiosis, it is necessary to undergo appropriate laboratory tests.

The correct collection of material for analysis deserves special attention. This process can be difficult for parents, since with dysbiosis the child may experience constipation or difficulty defecating. What do you need to know when collecting biomaterial for analysis?

Indications for examination in children

The results of the dysbiosis test are indicated in CFU per 1 g, i.e. how many bacteria are present in one gram of sample.

The analysis reveals the content of various bacteria in the intestines. Then the doctor compares the results with the standards. Proliferation of harmful bacteria in the analysis for dysbiosis indicates the occurrence of an imbalance and the development of diseases.

All bacteria detected during stool analysis are divided into three groups:

• Useful - promote digestion, make up the main part of the microflora of a healthy body.
• Opportunistic - always present in the intestines, but cause diseases only when the population increases.
• Pathogenic are the main provocateurs of dangerous diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs; they should not be in the intestines.

The intestinal microflora should consist of beneficial microorganisms, these are bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. It is believed that the former should be up to 95% of all microorganisms present in the intestines, the latter – about 3%.

The following reasons lead to a decrease in the number of beneficial microflora:

• Long-term use of antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs;
• Unhealthy diet high in fats and carbohydrates;
• Artificial feeding;
• Congenital enzyme intolerance;
• Decrease in the body's defenses;
• Parasite infestations;
• Diseases of the digestive tract.