If you suddenly find undigested food in your child’s stool, do not rush to panic - these changes do not always indicate a malfunction gastrointestinal tract. The reasons for the appearance of pieces of food in the stool largely depend on the age of the baby.
Undigested food in a child's stool: causes
There are not many reasons for the appearance of undigested food in stool. It could be:
- infection;
- constipation;
- diarrhea;
- predominance of plant foods in the diet;
- binge eating.
Sometimes insufficient digestion of food can occur due to an infectious disease, constipation or diarrhea. And if everything is clear with stool disorders - as soon as it improves, the problem will disappear, then the infectious disease can be confirmed or refuted and the problem can only be solved with the help of a doctor.
However, most often undigested food in a child’s feces occurs due to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract (in infants), or when introduced into children's menu new dish.
So, if the diet of a child over 1 year is dominated by foods plant origin, then this will certainly lead to the appearance of undigested fiber in the feces. In children, this is caused by a physiological deficiency of the enzyme that can break it down. In this case, in order for the stool to normalize, it is enough just to reduce fiber intake.
Sometimes you can find undigested food in the stool in the form of grainy cottage cheese. With normal growth and weight gain of the baby, this manifestation is a sign of slight overeating. Therefore, this symptom should also not confuse or cause concern among parents.
When should undigested pieces of food in a child’s stool be cause for concern?
Visible undigested pieces food in your child’s stool should alert you if:
- the child has constipation or diarrhea and bowel movements have not improved within 2 days;
- you notice your baby has bloating, intestinal colic, frequent belching;
- there is general malaise and/or a sharp decline appetite;
- The baby's stool contains any impurities (blood, mucus, greens, inclusions, etc.).
As a rule, all these symptoms indicate the presence of dysbiosis. And this disease cannot be ignored, otherwise disorders in the body will only progress!
What to do if you have dysbiosis?
If the above complaints occur, you should contact your pediatrician. The doctor will prescribe a set of necessary examinations, including a stool test. Based on the results of the coprogram, it will be possible to judge how the baby’s pancreas works and how well the enzymes cope with food.
If there are no sharp deviations from the norm in the tests, and the little one feels good, the doctor will reassure you and say that your detection is quite normal!
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Many mothers, having discovered undigested pieces of food in their child’s stool, begin to worry greatly and are right to do so! The baby’s body (including the digestive system) is imperfect at birth. Many systems are, roughly speaking, not fully developed. Enzymes are produced in insufficient quantities. The intestines, liver and pancreas cannot cope with the food usual for an adult. That is why pediatricians monitor the nutrition of children under one year so strictly.
What does undigested food in a child’s stool mean?
If the child does not have a congenital pathology of the digestive system, it is excluded intestinal infection, no mucus, "green" or unpleasant odor, then undigested pieces of food in the stool may indicate functional dyspepsia or pancreatopathy. This insufficiency of the intestines and pancreas, respectively, is a very common occurrence today, which is associated with a violation of the diet in children of the first year of life.
Normally, during the first year of a child’s life, all organs and systems “grow up” along with the baby and begin to cope better with adult food, but many mothers do not wait, believing that the child will not have time to enjoy smoked sausage, ketchup or lard for the rest of his life.
Reasons that can lead to the appearance of undigested pieces of food:
- dietary disturbances in a nursing mother or child;
- overfeeding;
- baby teething;
- early introduction of complementary foods;
- coarse, poorly chopped food;
- frequent intake of adsorbents ( Activated carbon, enterosgel).
What to do and where to go?
With such complaints, you should first contact your pediatrician. You should be prescribed a set of examinations, including a coprogram. It will show exactly how the child’s pancreas works and how enzymes cope with food. The analysis does not require special preparation; feces are collected in sterile containers.
How to avoid the appearance of undigested food in a child's stool?
If, after an appropriate examination, your child is still diagnosed with pancreatic enzymatic insufficiency, then first of all you need to adjust the diet.
Every mother should remember that the nutrition of a child up to one year is very different from the nutrition of an adult. If the baby only feeds breast milk, then there is no need to introduce any complementary foods until 6 months. For a six-month-old child, the introduction of complementary foods should begin with vegetables (potatoes, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin). At first, the products are not mixed, but are introduced separately. Then you can make mixed vegetables from them. Food should not be hot or cold. It is recommended that food be perfectly ground to a homogeneous mass without large pieces, spices or herbs. Children under one year old have difficulty digesting fiber from bananas, broccoli and cauliflower.
Gradually, the child’s diet is expanded, egg yolk, porridge, meat. Meat products should not be fatty, broth is only the second or third, low-fat cottage cheese, sour cream is not recommended, kefir is also low-fat.
For children who are artificial feeding mixtures, complementary foods can be introduced from 5 months, adhering to the same recommendations.
Pediatricians categorically prohibit the introduction of whole cow's, goat's milk and semolina porridge children under one year old. The protein contained in milk is very large. As a result of imperfect enzymes, it is not digested and injures the intestinal wall, which can lead to the appearance of droplets of blood in the stool and digestive disorders in general, including the appearance of undigested pieces in the stool.
Try to feed your baby healthy, healthy food not from the supermarket and your child will be healthy!
It's no secret that the main indicator of human health is normal tests, which should have a certain appearance, smell and condition. First of all we're talking about about feces and urine. Of course, if, for example, the consistency of a child’s feces is disturbed, this is already a reason for the mother to sound the alarm. The same reaction will follow if the baby has undigested food in his stool. Naturally, this disease is typical not only for children, but also for adults, so it requires the most detailed consideration. So, let's try to figure out why undigested food appears in the stool, and how this problem can be eliminated.
What to remember
If we talk about an adult, then feces should have a uniform consistency and color, without any inclusions, including lumps, particles of blood, mucus, and especially food.
When visiting the toilet, it would be a good idea to check from time to time appearance bowel movements. If undigested food is found in the stool (pieces of peel, seeds, vegetables, nuts), then there is no reason to worry - this is the norm. If the food particles in the feces have a larger structure and are clearly visible to the naked eye, then you should take action and go straight to a specialist. Rest assured, he will be able to explain why undigested food appeared in the stool and prescribe you the correct treatment.
Naturally, you should not hope for chance or try to help yourself on your own. Don't forget that you can only make the situation worse. Know that undigested food in the stool in some cases indicates the presence of serious disorders, and your task is to respond to them in a timely manner.
Causes of pathology in children
In a normal state, a child’s feces may sometimes contain particles of rough food: vegetable peels, pieces of fruit, nuts. It is possible that the reason for this circumstance is the use of low-quality products.
Let us repeat, if the child does not experience discomfort or pain during bowel movements, and seeds and pieces of fruit are visible in his feces, this is not a problem. It’s another matter when the baby, in addition to the fact that there is undigested food in the feces, blood and mucus are visible to the naked eye. You should also immediately go to the doctor if you are talking about pain.
The thing is that heavy consumption of food of plant origin leads to the appearance of small accumulations of indigestible fiber. The body lacks an enzyme that would effectively cope with its breakdown. This is why undigested food appears in the child’s stool. In this case, there is no need to consult a doctor, just reduce your fiber intake.
Dyspepsia
However, we should not forget about another reason explaining why there is undigested food in a child’s stool. We are talking about such childhood pathology as
With this disorder, the body not only breaks down food poorly - the baby experiences a deterioration in appetite, bloating, and a mixture of mucus. Why does the above pathology occur? Firstly, this happens when the mother does not adhere to the diet and overfeeds the child. Secondly, the baby may be teething. Thirdly, the diet may not correspond to the age characteristics of the child. Fourthly, the cause of the disorder sometimes lies in the intake medicines, weakening the secretory functions of the digestive tract. Remember that pancreatic and intestinal juices in toddlers in the first months of life are produced in a limited volume, which is only sufficient to break down food to a mushy consistency. The older the baby gets, the stronger his digestive potential.
Dysbacteriosis
However, these are not all the reasons for undigested food in a child’s stool. You should also remember about banal dysbacteriosis.
The baby has a completely sterile intestine, but from the first hours of life the process of colonization of microflora in the body begins. With a deficiency of beneficial bacteria, intestinal function suffers, and feces become liquid, leaving lumps of food in them (reminiscent of rice grains), a specific smell appears.
How to normalize digestive functions in a child
If an adult is sick
As already noted, in human body There is no special enzyme that could completely break down fiber. Naturally, in 99% of cases it exits through the intestines in its original form.
It should be noted that dysfunction prostate gland may also explain why undigested food is found in the stool of an adult. In the latter case, you must urgently seek help from a specialist who will write the necessary prescription. medications. Why else can adults have particles of undigested food in their stool? Firstly, too low acidity may contribute to this gastric juice. Well, secondly, the presence of certain ailments in the human body can also provoke the problem of poor-quality breakdown of food. In particular, we are talking about diarrhea, bloating, general malaise, painful sensations in the intestinal and stomach areas. Again, if the above symptoms occur, you should not self-medicate: you should immediately consult a doctor.
Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis after carrying out all the necessary tests.
Of course, everyone has encountered a situation where the tests left much to be desired, for example, the excrement appeared to have a different color, consistency or smell. Naturally, this is a serious reason to start worrying about your own health. However, don't despair. You cannot know in advance whether you are sick or not - only a doctor will determine this.
Treatment of the digestive system in adults
In order for the solution to the problem under consideration to be as effective as possible, you should follow some recommendations. In particular, it is necessary to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. Doctors usually resort to drug treatment in the form of replacement therapy (Creon). Artificial enzymes help compensate for the deficiency of components responsible for the normal absorption and breakdown of nutrients.
Gastritis
If the function of food digestion is upset due to banal gastritis, then one of the main methods of treatment is the prescription of drugs that activate the production of hydrochloric acid("Pentagastrin").
In parallel with this, the patient takes the same replacement therapy (Pepsidil). In addition, the doctor prescribes medications to the patient that neutralize the etiological factor (Omeprozole).
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can also cause undigested food to appear in the stool. The situation is aggravated by such common digestive disorders as colitis and gastroenteritis. In the latter case, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal and rehydration drugs are used. Only a specialist can prescribe the medications you need, so you should not consider the last point as some kind of guide to action.
Standard laboratory research often allow you to get enough voluminous information about the patient's health status. Such analyzes not only show how correctly or incorrectly the body functions, but also help to identify what exactly the essence of the violations is. A fairly popular study is considered to be a coprogram - a study of the characteristics of feces. When carrying out such an analysis, it may be revealed that something is indigestible in the feces, such a disorder can be observed in both a child and an adult, we will consider its causes and talk about what to do with this condition.
Plant fiber is indigestible in a child’s stool
Causes
Normally, in completely healthy children, small particles of undigested coarse food products, such as nuts, peels of vegetables and fruits, can be periodically observed in the stool. It may well be that the food was of poor quality. At the same time, experts say that if the child does not feel unwell and there is no discomfort during the act of defecation, there is nothing to worry about.
You should consult a doctor if undigested particles in the digestive products are visible to the naked eye, and also if there is mucus and blood in the stool, and peristalsis causes discomfort. You should also be concerned when the baby experiences an abundance of intestinal noises and cramps.
Small lumps of undigested fiber in the stool can be caused by the predominance of plant foods in the baby's menu. Sometimes this symptom is caused by functional dyspepsia, but in this case the baby may experience periodic regurgitation, loss of appetite, bloating, and frequent loose stool(usually with mucus). A similar condition can occur due to gross violations of the diet by a nursing mother, as well as when the child is overfed and does not comply with his diet. Also, functional dyspepsia can be caused by dentition (), the inconsistency of the baby’s diet with its age-related needs and the use of certain medications.
Quite often, the appearance of food particles in the feces of children is provoked by dysbiosis - an imbalance of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.
It is worth noting that sometimes indigestion of fiber in babies can occur due to disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas. But such problems usually manifest themselves in other more pronounced health problems.
What to do if children have indigestion of fiber?
If you notice incomplete digestion of food in babies, you should contact your pediatrician. So, if such a problem arose due to dietary violations, you need to stop consuming excessive amounts of plant fiber and provide your baby with a well-balanced diet.
If indigestion occurs in children when introducing new foods, you need to temporarily postpone the intake of new foods and try to reintroduce them into the menu only after two to three weeks.
It is also extremely important to avoid overfeeding the baby and force-feeding.
Treatment of disorders of the pancreas is carried out only under the supervision of a qualified gastroenterologist.
If the cause of indigestion of fiber in children is dysbiosis, the child is usually prescribed prebiotics - Enterol, etc. It is also important to adhere to the diet.
Plant fiber is indigestible in adult feces. Causes
It is worth noting that two types of fiber can be found in the feces of an adult – digestible and indigestible. The first is usually observed in digestive products due to a deficiency of hydrochloric acid, which separates the cells of the digested fiber. If there is insufficient production of this substance, pieces of vegetables or fruits appear in the feces, of course, useful material of which cannot be absorbed by the body.
As for indigestible fiber, it consists of small proportions of grains, legumes, plant hairs and vessels, and the skins of various fruits and vegetables. Such particles can be found in feces completely healthy people.
Experts say that the appearance of undigested food in adults can be caused by low acidity digestive juice, diseases of the pancreas, as well as accelerated evacuation of food. Often such ailments are accompanied by the appearance of diarrhea.
What to do if indigestible fiber appears in the stool of an adult?
If such a symptom is detected against the background of absolute health and normal well-being, you just need to change your diet. Reduce the amount of plant foods, make your diet balanced.
If the cause of this disorder lies in a decrease in the production of hydrochloric acid, it is better to consult a doctor. This problem requires following a special diet and taking certain medications that activate the production of digestive juice. To stimulate the secretory activity of the stomach, Limontar, Pentagastrin, Histaglobulin, etc. are usually used. In some cases, patients with a similar problem are indicated for replacement therapy using Pepsidil, Pepsin, etc.
In case of disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, enzymes and others can be used. In addition, targeted treatment of the identified disease is carried out under the supervision of a gastroenterologist.
If there are problems with food digestion in children or adults, it is better to seek doctor’s help as soon as possible. You cannot do without medical help if the indigestibility of fiber is accompanied by other health problems.
Traditional treatment to increase the acidity of gastric juice
The indigestibility of plant fiber is often explained by reduced acidity of gastric juice. You can cope with it at home using proven remedies. traditional medicine.
So, to increase the acidity of gastric juice, healers advise combining equal parts of calamus root, rose hips and dill, as well as. Grind and mix all ingredients thoroughly. Brew a couple of tablespoons of the resulting mixture in a thermos with half a liter of boiling water. Infuse the medicine overnight - for seven to eight hours, then strain. Take the strained infusion of seventy milliliters four to five times a day - half an hour after each meal. The recommended duration of use is one and a half to two months.
To prepare the following medicine, which increases the acidity of gastric juice, you need to prepare equal parts of oregano herb, yarrow herb, dandelion root, elecampane root, and immortelle fruit.
Grind all the ingredients and mix them well together. Preparation and reception of this medicine carried out in the same way as in the previous version.
To increase the acidity of digestive juice, a tincture based on unripe walnuts. Grind ten to fifteen fruits finer and pour half a liter of vodka. Place this medicine under the lid in a cupboard and leave for room temperature in two weeks. Strain ready-made product, and squeeze out the plant material. Take the tincture one tablespoon three times a day.
To increase acidity, you can prepare half a kilogram of red rowan berries. Pour them with three hundred grams of sugar, mix and leave for five hours. Boil this remedy for half an hour, then cool and take a tablespoon three or four times a day shortly before meals.
To prepare a wonderful remedy that stimulates the secretory activity of the stomach, you need to grate one apple and two hundred grams of pumpkin, squeeze out the lemon juice and mix it with water (1:2) to get a quarter glass of solution. Mix the prepared ingredients, add a spoonful of honey to them, mix and eat for breakfast. After such a meal, you need to stop eating for three to four hours.
To increase the acidity of gastric juice, you can prepare juice from fresh plantain leaves. Rinse such raw materials under running water, dry it and pass through a meat grinder. Squeeze the juice out of the resulting mass and drink it a tablespoon twenty to thirty minutes before your meal.
If you find undigested food particles in the stool of an adult or child, you should consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.
anonymous, Female, 26 years old
Hello! please tell me whether it is normal or not to have undigested pieces of food in the stool, especially vegetables. The child is now 1.9. For a long time they struggled with the fact that he was vomiting from solid food. At about 1.3 he began to eat solid foods, but hardly chewed. Now he chews, but sometimes he chews poorly. I thought that was why everything came out in pieces. But a month ago, after completing the guard, I began to notice after sleep bad smell from mouth. At first I thought it was because of the teeth (I have bottle caries), but it was superficial and there was no smell before. There is no place for food to accumulate, there are no cavities. So I thought it was probably a gastrointestinal issue. But the child never complains that his stomach hurts, he is happy and plays. Tell me whether I should sound the alarm or not. My weight is now 11.8 kg.
Good afternoon Yes, this indicates a load on the gastrointestinal tract. This means that the child has a heavy, poorly digestible diet, and there are not enough enzymes for him. We need to analyze the diet, write down the child’s diet, and we’ll figure it out. Often, dairy products, milk porridge, milk, and semolina overload digestion. The stress on the child’s digestion causes vomiting, and dental problems can also develop from this. In this case, all dairy products are removed, sweets are limited, and Creon and Khilak are prescribed to help digestion. Health to you!
anonymously
Thank you! Yes, there is dairy in the diet, in the morning porridge with milk (1-2 times a week semolina, on other days millet, wheat, barley, corn, rice rarely), for lunch soup with meat and vegetables, or meatballs with vegetables and bread, pasta or vegetables for dinner. Between meals, fruits and crispbread. We hardly eat sweets, very rarely homemade cookies or pancakes. Another time I ate dumplings or dumplings about once a week. He can’t drink milk or water or compotes and juices because of his teeth. Even earlier, for some reason, I didn’t attach any importance to it; after eating, the belching of air is almost always quiet, sometimes unnoticeable. It happens even an hour after eating. He goes to the toilet every day, no problem. Undigested in feces are mainly vegetables and fruits, especially carrots, peas and oranges. Black veins are visible from the banana. Tell me, it’s worth contacting a gastroenterologist and getting tested, as I understand it, it’s a coprogram.
So, everything became clear: Semolina was generally excluded from children's cereals a long time ago; it is a difficult carbohydrate for digestion, causing at least constipation. Milk is introduced only after 2 years, and better after 3! The fact that a child is already drinking it is a big mistake! It doesn’t matter that fruits and vegetables are not digested, the pancreas under load is not able to digest all the foods - this is bad! Well, contact a gastroenterologist, take a coprogram, but it won’t show anything new, the food is not digested, this is so obvious. The reason is only in the diet and correcting the diet is enough to eliminate the problem.
