If your child often cries in the late afternoon or evening, turns red, passes gas and gestures in all directions, it is very likely that he is subject to infant colic. These are spasms caused by his still immature intestines, which cause pain, and therefore crying. The causes are multifactorial: psychological factors, already established digestive disorders, intestinal dysmotricity, modification of the microbiota... In industrialized countries, it is estimated that 20 to 25% of infants are subject, which makes it a real public health concern, due to the anxiety they arouse, the consequences on the child's well-being and the parents' rest.
There are mechanical solutions, for example massages, or specific rocking methods, but one of the most promising methods remains the administration of probiotics , because the GFHGNP (Francophone Group of Hepatology-Gastroenterology and Pediatric Nutrition) believes that no pharmacological treatment is legitimate. The benefits of probiotics in the case of infant colic are explained by the reduction of intestinal inflammation, the restoration and preservation of the intestinal barrier, a bactericidal action of pathogens, the increase in the synthesis of fatty acids, the reduction of dysmotricity, modulation of pain... The actions are numerous, and affect several factors, which makes probiotics such an effective therapeutic route. The effect of these microorganisms is increased in breastfed infants.
Another stomach problem well known to parents of young children: diarrhea. They are defined by a soft or liquid consistency of the stools, and/or an increase in their number (greater than 3 times per day). Indeed, in Europe, a child under 3 years old has between 0.5 and 2 episodes of acute diarrhea per year. These inconveniences are mainly due to infectious episodes, by Campylobacter or Salmonella. Diarrhea can be dangerous due to dehydration, a significant risk in children under 6 months. This is why, in general, treatment is mainly based on the use of oral rehydration solutions (ORS), but we are once again beginning to be interested in the administration of probiotics in babies, to prevent and treat this diarrhea .
Still according to the GFHGNP, probiotics, and in particular those of the Lactobacillus genus , would be of recognized usefulness in addition to ORS, to reduce the intensity and duration of diarrhea. There is also childhood diarrhea linked to taking antibiotics, in which case it is also recommended to supplement your child with probiotics. In both cases, one strain has shown itself to be very effective in treatment and prevention according to several studies, this is Lactobacillus rhamnosus . The beneficial effects seem more obvious when administration is done quickly (within 48 hours following the appearance of symptoms).
More generally, in what cases should a child be supplemented with probiotics?
- After taking antibiotics, because they will have denatured its still fragile intestinal flora.
- After a lasting change in diet, so as not to disrupt your microbiota.
- After an attack on the immune system which could have damaged it.
- After an infectious episode (gastroenteritis, diarrhea, etc.).
In all these cases, supplementation with probiotics for children is recommended to restore the balance of your child's microbiota, during this pivotal period in their constitution.
At DIJO, we createdChildren's Probiotics , to support the constitution of your child's microbiota, so that he is armed against the various external and internal attacks that may occur in the future. Composed of 3 strains, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus , recognized for their preventive and curative effect on infant stomach problems, each capsule contains 10 billion CFU, thus promoting the arrival of numerous bacteria in the intestines. These microorganisms are of all the more interest as they participate in the good constitution of a “bacterial capital”, essential for the maintenance of a stable intestinal flora in the future.
Sources:
[1] Infant colic, recommendation or information sheet. GFHGNP. Marc Bellaiche.
[2] Szajewska, H., Canani, RB, Guarino, A., Hojsak, I., Indrio, F., Kolacek, S., Orel, R., Shamir, R., Vandenplas, Y., van Goudoever, JB, Weizman, Z., & ESPGHAN Working Group for ProbioticsPrebiotics (2016). Probiotics for the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Children. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition , 62 (3), 495–506. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000001081
[3] Pérez C. (2015). Probióticos en la diarrhea aguda y asociada al uso de antibióticos en pediatría [Probiotics for the treating acute diarrhea and preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children]. Nutricion hospitalaria , 31 Suppl 1 , 64–67. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.31.sup1.8709
[4] Yang, B., Lu, P., Li, MX, Cai, XL, Xiong, WY, Hou, HJ, & Ha, XQ (2019). A meta-analysis of the effects of probiotics and synbiotics in children with acute diarrhea. Medicine , 98 (37), e16618. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000016618
