Indigestible food in stool. Poorly digested feces. Symptoms of pancreatitis in adults. Plant fiber in the human diet

Plant fiber belongs to the group of polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates), which are the cell walls of plants. It is found in vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains.

Fiber is practically not digested and not absorbed by the body, because the human body does not have digestive enzymes capable of breaking it down. Only some of the fiber can be digested under the influence of beneficial intestinal microflora, while the bulk of it is removed from the body unchanged.

Fiber mechanically irritates the nerve endings of the intestinal walls, thereby stimulating peristalsis and promoting the movement of food through the digestive canal, removing undigested nutrients from the body.

Fiber also helps maintain normal intestinal microflora, since bacteria living in the intestines feed on coarse dietary fiber.

Digestible and indigestible plant fiber can be found in feces.

Digestible plant fiber are large round cells that have a thin, easily destroyed shell and a cellular structure. The cells of the digestible fiber are interconnected by a layer of pectin, which first dissolves under the action of gastric juice and then in the contents of the duodenum. If there is insufficient amount or absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice, the cells of the digested fiber cannot be separated and appear in the feces in the form of groups (cells of carrots, potatoes, beets). At the same time, the body does not receive nutrients from this fiber completely or does not receive them at all, even when consuming a large amount of fruits and vegetables.

TO indigestible fiber This includes the skin of fruits and vegetables, the vessels and hairs of plants, the epidermis of cereals, etc. The cells of indigestible plant fiber have thick double-circuit membranes. They contain lignin, which gives fiber its hardness and rigidity. Indigestible fiber is excreted in the feces almost unchanged. Basically, the amount of indigestible fiber depends on the nature of a person’s diet.

In the feces of a healthy person who eats plant foods, digestible plant fiber is not normally found; indigestible fiber is found constantly and in different quantities.

The main reasons for finding large quantities of digestible fiber in feces are a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice, accelerated evacuation from the intestines, and diseases of the pancreas if they are accompanied by diarrhea. If you consume a large amount of fiber, all of it may not have time to be digested and will be found in the feces.

The digestive system of a small child takes a long time to develop, so bowel problems before the age of one year are common. At the same time, there are various disorders, and sometimes troubles such as the appearance of food residues in the stool occur. This can be peels from plant foods, small parts of nuts and much more. In this case, it is worth making allowance for the fact that the quality of the fruits and vegetables you purchase does not stand up to criticism. Moreover, if the act of defecation does not involve any unpleasant sensations, there is no reason to panic. You can avoid food particles in your child's stool by purchasing better quality products.

At the same time, there are certain signs that can reveal gastrointestinal tract disorders in a child. Such deviations include:

the presence of mucous or blood impurities in the stool;
pain during defecation;
an abundance of intestinal sounds during intestinal peristalsis and much more.

The cause of such phenomena can also be an incorrect diet, especially if we are talking about an excessive amount of fiber. It is important to know that food moves through the child’s gastrointestinal tract quite quickly, and there may not be enough enzymes capable of breaking down such substances. Then small lumps of undigested fiber may appear in the stool. In this case, there is also no serious cause for concern and there is no need to treat the baby with medical means. Such troubles can be eliminated by limiting the amount of plant foods in the diet.

The next problem that needs to be focused on is functional dyspepsia. The appearance of food particles in the stool is just one of the symptoms of this disease. Symptoms such as:

Frequent belching.
Decreased appetite.
Loose stools.
Mucous impurities in stool.
Bloating, etc.

Among the reasons for such problems, one can note the mother’s refusal to follow a diet when feeding, lack of a diet, and too large portions when feeding. Also, such problems sometimes appear at the moment when the child begins to cut teeth or they are a consequence of taking certain medications. Also, to avoid troubles, do not rush to start feeding your baby food for which he is not yet functionally ready

Dysbacteriosis. It's a problem that adults can suffer from, but it's much more difficult for children. The fact is that when a baby is born, his intestines are sterile. It lacks both beneficial and harmful microflora. However, bacteria are colonized within several hours from the moment of birth. In this case, there may not be enough beneficial microorganisms. Such problems are manifested by changes in the color and consistency of stool, as well as the possible appearance of food particles due to intestinal disorders.

So, we have figured out the reasons for such phenomena, but what to do if they occur? We'll talk about this later.

How to correct digestive problems

We draw attention to the fact that medical assistance is not always needed. Of course, it would never be a bad idea to consult with a specialist, but in most cases the parents themselves are the culprits of the violations. Why is this so? We will talk about this in more detail.

First of all, when correcting digestive problems, the age and type of nutrition of the baby are important. Is your child breastfed? This means that the mother needs to reconsider her own diet first. Professionals recommend following a special diet that will help you correct the chemical composition of breast milk. To do this, it is advised not to eat:

high-fat foods;
fried foods;
smoked meats

If none of this helped, or you strictly adhered to the specified diet and limited yourself in food, then most likely the problem lies in the child’s gastrointestinal tract. There is only one way out of the situation - see a doctor.

Often the appearance of food particles in feces is associated with the beginning of complementary feeding of the baby and accustoming him to solid or mushy foods. Indeed, bowel movements may become more frequent, and bowel movements may change. Perhaps it is simply too early for your child to eat such food, or you are feeding him too large pieces. Let us repeat, do not rush to start complementary feeding, and if such problems begin, postpone it for a month. Did not help? Contact a specialist.

Don't overfeed your baby! Many parents often try to force-feed their baby, believing that he is not eating enough. Never try this! In infants, the gastrointestinal tract has not yet formed, and the stomach is small. Therefore, the baby himself knows how much food he needs in order to get enough. At the same time, overfeeding can lead to a whole range of all kinds of troubles.

Firstly, these include excess weight. The child should develop gradually; there is no need to try to speed up this process artificially. Secondly, you have a negative impact on the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, which is simply not ready to digest large volumes. In this case, not only digestive system disorders may appear at a young age, but also problems in adulthood. Be careful.

In general, we have listed the simplest situations that you can handle on your own. Feed your baby in adequate doses and on a schedule, then you can prevent a huge number of digestive problems. However, there are situations in which the problem does not go away. It seems that you are following the diet, and you are avoiding complementary foods for now, and you are also not overfeeding. Please note that if any trouble occurs, you must contact a specialist!

The functioning of the digestive system can be judged not only by certain sensations in the stomach or intestines, but also by the appearance, smell and color of feces. Most often, such studies are carried out by young mothers, for whom newborn feces are perhaps the most important indicator of the health of their children. But adults also have a lot to learn from inquisitive mothers, especially if certain changes were noticed in the stool.

Changes in the appearance of stool

Many people know firsthand about changes in the color, smell and consistency of stool, because every person has encountered such concepts as diarrhea, intestinal disorders or infections, constipation at least once in their life. And here undigested food in the stool of an adult For some, it can cause real panic. In normal condition, feces should not contain any inclusions, lumps or pieces of undigested food, mucus, blood, etc.

Very small white inclusions may be present in the stool of both babies and adults and are usually not noticeable without excessive inspection of the stool. Such inclusions of undigested food are most often fragments of plant food - seeds, nuts, grains, peels of vegetables or fruits, etc. If a person feels well, then undigested particles in the stool of an adult should not cause any alarm and do not require specific treatment. If the pieces of food are large and noticeable without close attention, then this may be a symptom of a malfunction of the pancreas or an accelerated process of food evacuation.

Plant fiber in the human diet

As mentioned above, undigested food in the feces of an adult most often represents food particles of plant origin, and to be more precise, plant fiber, which is not absorbed or digested by the human body. This is due to the lack of special enzymes in the body that are capable of breaking down plant fiber. The bulk of fiber is removed unchanged from the body and only a small part of it, under the influence of beneficial and healthy intestinal microflora, can be digested and excreted from the body in a different form - the usual consistency of feces.

Digestible and indigestible fiber

In this case, digestible fiber most often appears in the stool due to a lack of hydrochloric acid, which separates the cells of the digestible fiber and with a lack of which particles of vegetables or fruits appear in the stool. Most often these are pieces of potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, and grapes. Nutrients from such fiber are therefore not absorbed by the body. In a healthy person, digestible fiber is not detected in the stool.

Indigestible fiber is precisely those particles of grains, legumes, skins of vegetables and fruits, hairs and vessels of plants that are often found in the feces of adults. Due to the fiber lengin included in the double-circuit shells, these products are not digested by the body and come out unchanged after the chewing process. Such fiber is found in the feces of an adult constantly, depending on the diet.

Undigested food in the feces of an adult is a consequence of low acidity of gastric juice, diseases of the pancreas, as well as accelerated evacuation of food from the intestines. In this case, the inclusion of such food is accompanied by diarrhea. In all other cases, temporary inclusions of undigested food are considered normal.

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Changes in the appearance of stool

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A small amount of mucus in the stool can only be detected by microscopic examination. But undigested food in an adult’s stool can cause real panic for some.

In normal condition, feces should not contain any inclusions, lumps or pieces of undigested food, mucus, blood, etc.

There are two types of fiber that can be found in the stool of an adult - digestible and indigestible. It should be noted that both species can be found in the stool of an adult.

In a healthy person, digestible fiber is not detected in the stool. Indigestible fiber is precisely those particles of grains, legumes, skins of vegetables and fruits, hairs and vessels of plants that are often found in the feces of adults.

Such fiber is found in the feces of an adult constantly, depending on the diet. Undigested food in the feces of an adult is a consequence of low acidity of gastric juice, diseases of the pancreas, as well as accelerated evacuation of food from the intestines.

In all other cases, temporary inclusions of undigested food are considered normal. Accelerated evacuation of food manifests itself in the form of diarrhea.

Feces reflect all the features of a child’s digestion and nutrition. A coprogram helps to assess changes in bowel movements in children and adults.

Macroscopic examination evaluates the visual characteristics of feces, and microscopic examination evaluates its initial data under a microscope. Normally, a healthy child may periodically develop small particles of undigested rough food (nuts, peels of vegetables, fruits).

Stool examination

An anal fissure or anal fissure is a periodically occurring mucosal defect.

Blood in the stool of an adult

The appearance of blood in the stool of an adult may be the first sign of a serious illness.

Treatment of itching in the anus

Itching in the anus is a very delicate problem. Actually, that’s why many are in no hurry to apply.

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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 are talking 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 is a good idea to occasionally monitor the appearance of your 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 taking medications that weaken 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 the feces become liquid, lumps of food remain in them (reminiscent of grains of rice), and a specific smell appears.

How to normalize digestive functions in a child

In order for the treatment to be effective, it is very important to correctly identify the reasons why the baby does not digest food well. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests, and the laboratory will examine feces with undigested food, after which the pediatrician will be able to create a treatment regimen.

In some cases, dad and mom are able to correct the child on their own. If during breastfeeding the baby experiences loose stools interspersed with undigested food, then the mother needs to partially change her diet, eliminating smoked, fried and salty foods. If such an adjustment does not have a positive effect, you should consult a doctor.

If pieces of undigested food appear in the stool as a result of introducing new foods into the diet, you should give them up for 3 weeks and then try to eat them again. Have particles of undigested food appeared in the child’s stool again? Don't hesitate, contact a specialist. To minimize the risk of the problem in question, do not force-feed your baby - he will eat as much as he needs.

Please note that “extra” food not only creates the threat of unnecessary kilograms, but also contributes to dysfunction of already ineffective work

If an adult is sick

As already noted, the human body does not have a 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 prostate dysfunction 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 for medications. Why else can adults have particles of undigested food in their stool? Firstly, this may be due to too low acidity of 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, pain in the intestines and stomach. 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, as a rule, 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.

Chronic enteritis often occurs in the form of chronic enterocolitis. Often chronic E. is the outcome of an acute one, but it can also occur independently.
A significant role in the development of the disease is played by infectious agents, protozoal and helminthic infestations, and nutritional factors (overeating, dry food, unbalanced in composition, for example, predominantly carbohydrate-rich or vitamin-deprived foods, abuse of spices).

General manifestations of the disease are largely determined by impaired intestinal absorption. As a rule, other parts of the digestive system are involved in the pathological process.
There is a tendency to suppress the secretory acid function of the stomach, epigastric pain and dyspeptic disorders are noted; gastrobiopsy reveals gastric changes, in some cases - atrophic gastritis. A number of symptoms indicate damage to the pancreas (palpation pain, functional impairment).
In some cases, the liver is enlarged, its functions are impaired, and a biopsy reveals dystrophic changes in hepatocytes.
Of the common symptoms that attract attention signs reminiscent of dumping syndrome, which may correspond to symptoms of hyperglycemia (immediately after eating - weakness, sudden heat in the head, feeling of a rush of blood to the head, palpitations, dizziness, hot sweat, flushing of the face, copious amounts of thick saliva, nausea) or hypoglycemia ( the appearance a few hours after eating of severe weakness, dizziness, apathy, pallor, cold sweat, chills, sometimes flickering in the eyes, tinnitus). Increased fatigue, decreased performance, decreased appetite. Weight loss is observed with enteritis in 65-75%, sometimes it is quite significant.
A thorough examination of patients reveals a number of trophic disorders: dry skin, hair loss, increased brittleness of nails. Metabolism is disrupted. Protein metabolism disorders are indicated by hypoproteinemia, dysproteinemia, shifts in the composition of blood amino acids, and hyperaminoaciduria. Disorders of lipid metabolism are confirmed by a decrease in lipids and their fractions in the blood serum.

In mild cases of the disease (grade I), the clinical manifestations are mild, and local intestinal symptoms predominate.
With a disease of moderate severity (II degree), intestinal manifestations are significant, general disorders appear, which are not yet clearly expressed.
In severe cases (III degree), the general condition of the patients suffers significantly; the clinical picture is dominated by general symptoms.

Local intestinal symptoms: bowel disorders, often diarrhea; bowel disturbances may be absent. An increase in the amount of feces (polyfecalia) is typical; remnants of undigested food are often visible to the naked eye; stool smears the toilet (steatorrhea). With diarrhea, stool is not very frequent, usually 4-6 times a day. Flatulence, often bloating is accompanied by an unpleasant taste in the mouth, lack of appetite, various pain sensations in the heart, shortness of breath, headaches, sleep disorders, etc. Rumbling in the stomach, which, like flatulence, is most pronounced in the afternoon. Abdominal pain, mainly in the navel area, sometimes not localized throughout the abdomen.
When the disease is complicated by mesenteric lymphadenitis, the pain becomes constant and localized, intensifying with physical activity. Sometimes patients are bothered by a feeling of fullness and bloating immediately after eating. On examination, a distended abdomen is noticeable. On palpation, pain along the colon, pain at the so-called Porges point, to the left and slightly above the navel (in 44% of patients)

Causes of the disease may be ionizing radiation (radiation E.), exposure to toxic substances (arsenic, lead, phosphorus), a number of medications (salicylates, indomethacin, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, some antibiotics with prolonged or uncontrolled use). The disease may occur after gastrectomy or gastrectomy, vagotomy, gastroenteroanastomosis, or with atrophic gastritis. Chronic E. can develop against the background of chronic renal failure, diseases leading to tissue hypoxia (chronic nonspecific lung diseases, chronic heart diseases accompanied by chronic circulatory failure), eczema, psoriasis, food allergies, congenital or acquired enzymopathies. The cause of chronic E. may be ischemia of the wall of the small intestine, resulting from atherosclerosis or inflammation of the mesenteric vessels (ischemic E.).

Morphologically, chronic E. is manifested by inflammatory and dysregenerative changes in the mucous membrane of the small intestine, and as the process progresses, its atrophy and sclerosis. The entire small intestine or its sections are affected.

The clinical picture of chronic E. consists of two symptom complexes, which should be considered as a manifestation of functional disorders associated with changes in the structure of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. One of them is caused by a violation of the processes of parietal (membrane) and cavity digestion. It is characterized by intestinal manifestations (local enteral syndrome): flatulence, abdominal pain, mainly in the middle part, loud rumbling, diarrhea, less often constipation or their alternation. On palpation, pain is noted in the middle part of the abdomen, as well as to the left and above the navel, at the level of the XII thoracic - I lumbar vertebrae (Porges symptom), “splashing noise” in the area of the cecum (Obraztsov symptom). The stool has a clayey appearance and is characterized by polyfecal matter.

Disorders of sexual function, biliary excretion, exocrine activity of the pancreas, etc. are noted. In chronic enteritis of grade I, intestinal symptoms dominate; Enteritis of the second degree of severity is characterized by a combination of intestinal symptoms with a mildly expressed metabolic disorder; with enteritis of the third degree, pronounced metabolic disorders prevail with the occurrence of often irreversible dystrophic changes in internal organs. The symptoms of chronic enteritis in its late stage do not actually differ from the symptoms of other diseases that occur with malabsorption syndrome: celiac disease, exudative enteropathy, Crohn's disease, Whipple's disease, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to especially carefully examine patients with chronic enteritis of grade III severity to exclude these diseases.

A biochemical blood test reveals hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, a decrease in the blood serum levels of vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, P, folic acid, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, a number of microelements, cholesterol, phospholipids, beta-lipoproteins, glucose, etc.

Histological examination of the mucous membrane of the small intestine, obtained during intestinoscopy or aspiration biopsy, allows us to identify its inflammatory infiltration, dysregenerative and atrophic changes, and also to differentiate chronic E. from other diseases of the small intestine.

TREATMENT

Treatment for exacerbation of chronic E. is recommended to be carried out in a hospital. Bed rest and therapeutic nutrition are prescribed.
In the first few days, food should be as chemically and mechanically gentle as possible, contain a lot of proteins, a limited amount of fats and carbohydrates (diet No. 4a). Avoid foods rich in fiber and whole milk.
In the future, the content of fats and carbohydrates is gradually increased (diet No. 4b). When the exacerbation subsides, food that is complete in the content of essential substances is allowed, which should remain gentle (diet No. 4c).

Drug therapy includes enzyme preparations, preferably not containing bile acids, and primarily pancreatin, trienzyme, orase, and weak choleretic agents. To normalize stool, antidiarrheal drugs (imodium), astringents and enveloping agents, as well as infusions and decoctions of herbs (alder cones, bird cherry fruits, oak bark) are used.

For intestinal dysbiosis, short courses of drugs are prescribed that affect one or another microflora (with a predominance of staphylococcus - erythromycin, protea - nevigramon or furazolidone, fungi - nystatin, levorin), then biological drugs (colibacterin, bifidumbacterin, bificol, etc.).

Nitrosorbide, aminophylline, trental are used to stimulate intestinal absorption; to improve metabolic processes - methyluracil, pentoxyl, which simultaneously have an anti-inflammatory effect, for pain syndrome - substances with an antispasmodic effect (atropine, no-spa, halidor).

Drug correction of metabolic disorders is carried out with anabolic steroids: retabolil, methandrostenolone (Nerobol), as well as vitamins and folic acid; To eliminate, potassium and sodium chloride, calcium gluconate, and magnesium sulfate are introduced. In severe cases, intravenous infusions of amino acid mixtures and protein preparations are indicated.

Therapeutic enemas with astringents and adsorbents, antispastic drugs, antiseptics, and agents that enhance reparative processes are indicated. Drugs that normalize intestinal motility are prescribed depending on the nature of motor disorders. Mineral water is prescribed during the period of remission. For colitis with a tendency to constipation, waters such as Essentuki No. 17, Slavyanskaya, etc. are indicated, for a tendency to diarrhea - type Essentuki No. 4. For diarrhea, water is heated, for constipation, take water at room temperature.

Physiotherapeutic treatment: thermal procedures, mud therapy, electrical procedures, therapeutic exercises.

Prevention of chronic E. primarily includes timely treatment of acute intestinal diseases, balanced nutrition, and adherence to the regimen. It is also necessary to promptly identify and treat those diseases against which chronic E. occurs, and to avoid self-medication.

Enteritis in children can be acute and chronic. There are also special forms that occur with damage to both the small and large intestines - pseudomembranous enterocolitis and necrotizing enterocolitis of newborns. Acute E. in children usually occurs in the form of acute gastroenterocolitis. Chronic E. can be post-infectious, allergic, a consequence of enzyme deficiency, or post-operative. Often chronic E. is the outcome of acute. The main role in its pathogenesis, in addition to increasing the osmolarity of intestinal contents, intestinal hypersecretion and exudation, is played by the acceleration of the passage of intestinal contents and disruption of cavity and parietal digestion. The activity of many disaccharidases of the small intestine decreases early: lactase, invertase, maltase, etc. All types of metabolism are disrupted, the more pronounced the younger the child and the more severe the disease.

The main local symptom is diarrhea. The stool is copious, light yellow in color, with pieces of undigested food, mixed with mucus. When fats are not digested, feces acquire a gray color, clayey appearance, and shine. The predominance of putrefactive processes causes the fetid odor of feces. During fermentation processes in the intestines, stool becomes foamy. Defecation is painful; during exacerbation, the frequency of stool reaches 10-20 times a day. Other signs of local enteric syndrome are also expressed: flatulence, rumbling, abdominal pain. On palpation of the abdomen, pain in the mesogastrium is determined, and positive Obraztsov and Porges symptoms are noted. General signs of the disease are manifested by disorders of all types of metabolism and functional changes in other garfish and systems. E. is especially difficult in young children. They may develop disaccharidase deficiency and exudative enteropathy.

When making a diagnosis of chronic E., anamnesis (intolerance to certain foods, especially milk, information about intestinal infections), clinical manifestations (abdominal pain, rumbling, flatulence), the nature of the stool, and the results of a scatological examination are important. The enzymatic, absorption and motor functions of the small intestine are examined. An important role in diagnosis is played by intestinoscopy with targeted biopsy and subsequent morphological examination of biopsy samples of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. X-ray methods are not very informative and are unsafe for children.

The treatment is complex. A complete diet is prescribed with a 10-15% increase in protein content, a physiological amount of fat and a restriction of carbohydrates. Avoid foods containing large amounts of fiber, as well as whole milk (diet No. 4). The use of protein enpit and fermented milk lactobacterin enriched with lysozyme is effective. In severe cases, parenteral nutrition is used. Vitamins C, group B, and folic acid are administered. The use of enzyme preparations (Pancreatin, Panzinorm, Polyzyme, Festal) is indicated. In severe cases of the process, antibacterial drugs are prescribed: derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline (enteroseptol), nitrofuran series (furadonin, furazolidone), nalidixic acid (nevigramon), as well as sulfasalazine and biseptol. After a course of antibacterial treatment, biological drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora (colibacterin, bificol, lactobacterin, bifidumbacterin) are indicated. Bacteriophages (staphylococcal, pseudomonas, coli-proteus, etc.) are also used. Enveloping and adsorbing agents (tanalbin, white clay, bismuth preparations), medicinal plants (chamomile, peppermint, St. John's wort, nettle, blueberries, etc.) are effective. The prognosis for long-term treatment is favorable.

Primary prevention is aimed at identifying and actively monitoring children with dysbiosis, convalescents after acute intestinal infections, those suffering from functional intestinal disorders, and food allergies. Secondary prevention involves early identification of children with E., their registration and observation. In spring and autumn, anti-relapse treatment is administered for a month (diet No. 4, vitamins, enzyme and biological preparations). In remission, but not earlier than after 3 months. after an exacerbation, sanatorium treatment is indicated at the resorts of Arzni, Caucasian Mineralnye Vody, Truskavets, Lake Shira, etc.

Pseudomembranous enterocolitis occurs during oral administration of antibiotics (usually lincomycin, clindamycin, ampicillin and especially cephalosporins). This is due to the increased proliferation of the enterotoxigenic strain Clostridiuni perfringens, which usually lives in the distal part of the intestine. Symptoms appear already in the 1st week of antibiotic therapy. Characterized by diarrhea, which is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. The stools contain a lot of mucus and, less often, blood. In severe cases, the disease progresses violently, resembling an acute abdomen. The diagnosis is based on medical history, clinical manifestations, and the results of endoscopic examination. Sigmoidoscopy and colonofibroscopy make it possible to identify plaques and pseudomembranes consisting of mucus, fibrin, destroyed polymorphic and epithelial cells. In some cases, enterotoxin-producing clostridia are cultured from stool. Treatment includes mandatory withdrawal of antibiotics that caused enterocolitis and parenteral nutrition. Vancomycin is prescribed orally, to which clostridia are usually sensitive; Festal, Digital, and bacterial preparations are used, and detoxification therapy is carried out according to indications. If drug therapy is ineffective, intoxication increases, and there is a threat of intestinal perforation, it is necessary to resort to surgical treatment. The prognosis with timely diagnosis and treatment is favorable, but with progression of the process it is serious.

Necrotizing enterocolitis of newborns is a serious disease accompanied by high mortality. Its etiology is unknown. Premature babies and low birth weight newborns are especially susceptible to the disease. Predisposing factors are intestinal ischemia and microcirculation disorders. The process is localized mainly in the distal small intestine and proximal large intestine. The resulting necrosis of the mucous membrane sometimes affects all layers of the intestinal wall, which leads to its perforation and peritonitis.

The disease usually develops in the 1st week of life, but can begin later - in the 2nd month. There is a sudden increase in the abdomen, as a result of stagnation of food in the stomach, vomiting occurs, first periodically, then constantly. Intestinal peristalsis is enhanced, but absent with perforation. Profuse diarrhea appears, quickly leading to acidosis; the development of shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation is possible. The diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture and the results of x-ray examination. Plain radiographs reveal pneumatosis intestinalis: pneumoperitoneum indicates intestinal perforation. Microbiological examination of stool plays an important role for subsequent treatment. During treatment, the child is transferred to parenteral nutrition. Correction of disorders, acid-base status, blood coagulation system. Antibiotics (vancomycin, gentamicin) and oxygen therapy are prescribed. If there is no improvement in the child's condition after 24-48 hours, as well as intestinal perforation, surgical intervention is indicated - resection of the small intestine and ileostomy. The prognosis is serious.

In medicine, the concept of lientorrhea is used to describe disorders of the digestive system, in which fragments of undigested food products are observed in the stool. Single manifestations are not classified as pathological changes. This can happen if a type of fiber was consumed in food that is not digested by the digestive organs and causes rejection or malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract; a similar situation can occur with other types of hard-to-digest products.

Lientorrhea, as a pathology, can then become a cause for concern when two more symptoms are added to the identified problems, directly indicating malfunctions in the digestive system.

Causes of the phenomenon

The process of digestion of chewed food occurs due to the work of the gastrointestinal tract and under the influence of accelerated peristalsis in two ways: wave-like, or gradually, so the reasons that caused failures in the system may differ.

In the first case, a failure occurs based on the nature and physiological characteristics of the body, manifested against the background of improper selection of food products or for other reasons, for example, swallowing unchewed pieces of food during meals.
Pathological changes occur against the background of chronic diseases, where lientorrhea is one of the symptoms.

Physiological

The physiological causes of manifestations of lientorrhea include factors that do not cause absolutely any harm to the body and do not significantly affect the functioning of its organs.

Functional dyspepsia. This type of manifestation is mostly the result of a negligent attitude towards a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet. In addition to incomplete digestion of food, belching, pain in the upper part of the stomach and nausea are observed.
As a side effect of medications. Some medicinal substances during the treatment of diseases can create conditions that inhibit the functioning of the digestive system by reducing secretion, which is responsible for the release of gastric juice and a number of enzymes.
Dysbacteriosis. A downward change in the balance of microflora beneficial to the body can negatively affect the quality of food absorption.

Pathological

In addition to the presence of food particles in the stool, other symptoms may be observed that directly indicate the development of the disease.

Typical causes for children

For manifestations of lientorrhea, characteristic causes are the presence of high-fiber ingredients in food, against the background of diarrhea and in chronic (hereditary) diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Doctors identify two main reasons that explain the situation causing disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract:

The immaturity of the organs that are involved in the absorption of food is the retardation of their development or an excess of the amount of food that has to be processed. This often happens in children during infancy, especially at the moment when the baby is partially given foods containing vegetables and fruits with a high fiber content in the form of complementary foods.
The second moment occurs during the period when the child, while processing food, does not completely chew it, which leads to large fragments entering the stomach - the organ simply does not have time to fully assimilate them.

If there are no other symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, pain or vomiting, parents should not panic. Only if such manifestations are observed constantly, you should seek help from specialists for clarification.

Determining causes based on accompanying symptoms

Like any disease, lientorrhea can have differences in forms of manifestation. This symptom has a number of signs that can appear either one-time, at the time of exacerbation of the disease, or constantly. A cause for concern may be the presence of mucus, blood clots, or other manifestations in the stool that are not typical for the usual format of stool.

Undigested pieces with mucus in the stool

Rarely does anyone pay attention to the format and color of feces during bowel movements, but in situations where the gastrointestinal tract organs malfunction, you have to do this too. In the case when copious mucus is found in the toilet along with feces, in which pieces of undigested food are visible, most people panic.

In part, this fear is justified, since the regular appearance of mucus indicates not just a malfunction of the intestines, but the development of diseases against the background of certain factors.

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Additionally, constipation, nausea after eating, and bloating may occur.
Deviation from the norm due to pathology of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.
Neoplasms on the walls of the intestines and other organs.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in acute or chronic form.

In some cases, mucus can form into lumps, a condition typical of hemorrhoids, especially if the mucous tissue is secreted separately from feces and food fragments.

With blood

The presence of blood in the stool indicates problems associated either with exacerbation of diseases, or with a violation of the integrity of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the cause of such manifestations can be neoplasms on the surface of the walls in the form of tumors. Testing will help determine the exact cause of the presence of blood and pieces of undigested food in the stool, but first, this symptom may indicate the development or presence of the following diseases:

If blood in the stool is observed in a child, to avoid the development of serious consequences, it is advisable to immediately seek help from specialists. The reason for the presence of blood discharge along with feces depends on the factors that provoked this type of symptom.

Lactose deficiency.
Violation of the integrity of the walls of the anus.
As a manifestation of an allergic nature to certain types of food.
The presence of juvenile polyps on the walls of the large intestine.

Pieces of food in loose stool

The presence of undigested food in stool during diarrhea is not so rare; it can be explained in different ways: overeating, improper food combinations, alcohol abuse. Patients can independently find out the reason for this manifestation:

Avoid drinking beer and other alcohol.
Limit your intake of high-fiber foods, such as watermelon.
Temporarily exclude (partially or completely) fatty fish and meats.
Do not include dishes with spicy seasonings or smoked meats on the menu.

If a unique diet and abstinence from taking certain foods does not restore normal bowel function, then the help of a specialist will be required. It will help to find out the reasons that provoked systematic loose stools with fragments of food not digested by the gastrointestinal tract.

When the cause of watery stools is the presence of inflammatory processes, additional diagnostics are required using stationary analysis methods. The most common causes of such symptoms are:

Development of gastroenteritis.
Initial phase of colitis.

Not treating diseases can trigger the development of more complex ailments, such as acute pancreatitis, which can further aggravate health problems.

What to do?

There are many reasons why the digestive system does not always cope with its functions efficiently. A situation where food particles come out along with feces can cause pathological changes, physiological and any psychological factors, for example stress, which increases the functioning of the stomach and other gastrointestinal organs. In such cases, experts recommend independently investigating the cause of the failure.

Do not be distracted while eating and chew foods properly.
Reduce the amount of food by crushing.
Organize a diet using separate meals, for example: eat proteins with proteins and so on.
Eliminate from your diet drinks (alcohol, carbonated drinks) and foods (fatty meats and fish) that can cause problems with the digestive system.

When organizing meals, you should consider which foods are most suitable for consumption. Some of them are well absorbed, but there are also those that contain fiber that is not digested by the body.

Experts advise paying attention to the format of food, frequency of consumption and the amount of food eaten at a time. In the diagram it looks like this:

Use a crushed diet, increasing the number of meals up to 5-6 times a day.
Pay attention to the quality of chewing food.
Apply a separate method of nutrition, in which dishes are composed according to the content of substances, for example, products that contain carbohydrates separately, enriched with proteins separately.
Use baked or well-cooked foods in the menu, this will make them easier to digest.
Avoid alcoholic beverages and strong coffee.

Experts recommend excluding from the diet food that is difficult and not completely accepted by the body during assimilation, replacing it with an analogue of products taken from the plant world. You may need to use one of the diets that will help reduce body weight; this will also help partially solve the problem with the organization and restoration of normal functioning of the digestive organs.

Healthy lifestyle

In combination with diet, gastroenterologists advise paying attention to the patient’s lifestyle. Many diseases occur due to a sedentary or sedentary lifestyle. What should you change in your life if problems arise in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract:

Morning exercises. There are special exercises that improve the functioning of the digestive system.
Proper nutrition, giving up bad habits. Eating a balanced diet and avoiding strong and alcoholic drinks helps improve the digestion of food.
Regular active rest. Walking, simple sports exercises in gyms, going to recreation areas, all these activities will help improve your health and lose excess weight.
Exercise therapy. Physical therapy will help restore the functioning of the digestive organs.

How to treat?

Lientorrhea refers to specific manifestations, which are classified as a symptom, and in some cases as a disease. Treatment of lientorrhea includes a set of measures using medications that eliminate the consequences of the symptom. A preliminary stool test will be performed to help determine the cause of the enzyme deficiency.

Using a coprogram, you can accurately determine the type of microorganism that caused the infection. Based on research, experts prescribe enzymatic preparations that help digest food and restore intestinal microflora.

Enzymatic preparations

Drugs of this type are designed to help break down food:

Pancreatin, Penzital, Mezim, Lycreaz, Creon. This type of medicinal product is made from pig pancreas.
Degystal, Enzistad, Festal. The drugs are made from the pancreas of cattle.
Wobenzym, Orazu, Unienzyme, Pepphys. The supplier for the manufacture of medicines are medicinal plants.

All of these drugs have a complex effect on strengthening the digestive system and improving peristalsis.

Probiotics

Probiotics are essentially microorganisms that help the human body digest most foods. Preparations of this type may differ in the type of bacterial strain. The secondary purpose of the drugs is to suppress pathogenic flora, strengthen the immune system and as a medicinal substance to combat other diseases. Probiotics are prescribed in the following cases:

For infectious diarrhea.
When diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome.
For other stool disorders, presence of heaviness in the stomach, pain, colic.

All drugs of this type are prescribed by a gastroenterologist depending on the nature and form of the disease.

Primadophilus, Narine.

Folk remedies

To eliminate problems and malfunctions of the digestive organs, traditional healers recommend using a number of preparations prepared on the basis of medicinal herbs in the format of tinctures.

Mint. The decoction is prepared from 3 tbsp. l. leaves of the plant, which are poured with a glass of boiling water and closed, excluding air access. When the substance has cooled down, it can be used by dividing the liquid into 4 parts and consuming it throughout the day.
Medicinal chamomile. 2 tbsp. l. dry raw materials are poured with a mug of boiling water and left to steep, covered with a lid and wrapped in a towel. The tincture is consumed in 50-70 ml doses at the time of exacerbation of the symptom, after filtering the substance.
Smokey + chamomile + sage. All plants are taken in equal proportions and, after mixing (a glass of liquid per 3 tablespoons of collection), pour boiling water. The liquid can be used as tea, taking the tincture for 1.5-2 months.
Eucalyptus infusion. 3 tbsp. l. dry leaves are poured into a glass of boiling water, left to cool completely, then decanted and, divided into three parts, consumed throughout the day, half an hour before meals.

Prevention

Some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system are considered difficult to treat, so experts advise adhering to certain rules and following doctors’ recommendations regarding their prevention.

Eating smaller amounts of food at a time helps in better processing of food. In this case, small and frequent meals will help, thus achieving two goals: overeating is eliminated, and the digestive organs do not work in an enhanced mode.
Use separate power supply. It is better for the digestive organs to assimilate food from one group: proteins with proteins, carbohydrates with carbohydrates.
When eating food, it is important to focus on chewing food fragments: thoroughly chewed food will be processed faster by stomach enzymes.
Experts recommend not drinking water with food because it is difficult to digest in this form: gastric juice and hydrochloric acid in low concentrations or diluted with liquid reduce their effect on food that enters the stomach.
Daily consumption of fermented milk products will help to constantly maintain the body's microflora in good condition.
The use of fasting diets in the form of fruit and vegetable dishes.
Be moderate in your consumption of alcoholic, carbonated and strong drinks (coffee, tea).

Overeating, incomplete meals on the go with quickly prepared food, excessively salty or spicy dishes, this is not a complete list of factors that can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Experts advise taking responsibility for your health: it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Human health directly depends on the functioning of the digestive system. Not only young parents should monitor their baby’s stool so as not to miss a serious problem, but it is also advisable for adults to ensure that pieces of undigested food do not appear in the stool. This is important because lientorrhea can warn of impending constipation or indigestion, or signal an infection or dysbacteriosis.

Reasons for violations

Undigested food in the stool of an adult can have physiological or pathological causes. It is important not to miss this moment, to pay attention to it, to be able to relate it to the general condition of the body and to consult a doctor if necessary.

Physiological reasons

Every person has noticed food residues in their stool at least once in their life. And most often with dyspeptic intestinal disorders. The main reason for this phenomenon is considered to be the abundance of fiber in the diet, which the human body does not digest or absorb, as well as the habit of poorly chewing food or drinking during meals. Stool liquefaction in this situation is associated with fermentation processes in the gastrointestinal tract. The subjective state of a person does not change.

After analyzing your diet, it is not difficult to find the cause of diarrhea. Then you can solve the problem by eliminating diarrhea-causing foods from your diet and changing your eating habits. It is more difficult to detect pieces of food in the stool if the stool is formed or slightly loose, without mucus and other pathological impurities. However, real digestive problems almost always affect general well-being, and any suspicion of gastrointestinal dysfunction can be confirmed or refuted by a stool analysis.

Types of plant fiber

Normally, the food consumed contains two types of plant fibers: digestible and indigestible.

Digestible fiber in the stool indicates that for normal physiological absorption of foods, the stomach does not have enough hydrochloric acid, which is responsible for the timely breakdown of plant foods.

Therefore, in the feces of an adult, undigested food is clearly visible in the form of individual pieces of banana, carrots, beets, veins of cabbage, potatoes, and grapes. Accordingly, these products excreted through the intestines do not have time to release vitamins and other beneficial substances to the body. Normally this should not happen. Undigested particles warn that you should not overuse certain types of vegetables and fruits.

Consulting a nutritionist can correct the situation by telling you how often and in what quantity you should consume these foods.

Indigestible fiber: peels of citrus fruits, apples, grains and legumes, dill, cilantro, parsley, stems of other plants - demonstrate poor digestibility due to the presence of a dense double cell wall that is not susceptible to the action of gastric juice. Therefore, a lot of such food remains are usually found in feces, and this is not a violation.

There is another physiological cause of lientorrhea - pregnancy. As the fetus grows in the womb, it begins to interfere with the normal functioning of the digestive system. Hormonal changes in the body lead to metabolic disorders and some suppression of the secretion of digestive enzymes. Therefore, particles of undigested food begin to appear in the stool. The large size of the fetus also mechanically impedes the normal movement of feces and their removal out. A pregnant woman begins to suffer from constipation. A natural solution to this problem is to take safe laxatives and prescribe a mixture of enzymes to facilitate digestion. After giving birth, the young mother begins to eat properly and the problem goes away.

Undigested food as a sign of disease

In addition to physiological reasons, undigested pieces of food in the stool of adults can be a sign of pathology. Here you can’t do without examination, tests, and treatment. The main pathological causes of digestive disorders are:

What to do if food remains are found in the stool

If undigested food is observed in the stool for 3 days in a row, it is advisable to seek help from a specialist.

It will help you create a diet that excludes from your diet foods that irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. The abundance of dietary fiber, alcoholic and carbonated drinks, fatty meats, and spicy foods should be strictly limited. After adjusting the diet, the doctor will draw up an individual treatment plan for the pathology:

If the cause is gastritis with low acidity, and Helicobacter is discovered during examination, the doctor will prescribe Omez or Omeprazole to block the progression of gastritis. In the absence of bacteria - pentagastrin, which stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid. Replacement therapy - pepsin, abomin - can also be used. It all depends on the severity of the pathology.
Pancreatic dysfunction involves the prescription of enzyme preparations - Mezim, Creon, Pancreatin. Endocrine disorders, liver problems, enzyme deficiency require referral to specialized specialists.
If the cause lies in the rapid evacuation of food from the intestinal tract, treatment is carried out inpatiently, since constant diarrhea leads to dehydration with serious complications. The patient is prescribed antibiotic therapy, rehydration, anti-inflammatory and painkillers.
Dysbiosis requires special treatment in rare cases; most often, normal intestinal flora can be restored using a diet with probiotics.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine can also help get rid of the problem of poor digestion of food (indigestion), but only as background therapy. Decoctions and infusions of eucalyptus, mint, chamomile, sage, and coltsfoot have a good effect on the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Use herbal teas and infusions sold in pharmacies, or prepare them yourself. They usually drink a third of a glass before meals. The mixture of herbs is a good preventive remedy for those who suffer from physiological dyspepsia due to excessive food load on the stomach and intestines. The use of any folk remedies must be agreed with your doctor.

The work can be judged not only by certain sensations in the stomach or intestines, but also by the sight, smell and color of feces. Most often, such studies are carried out by young mothers, for whom newborn feces are perhaps the most important indicator of the health of their children. But adults also have a lot to learn from inquisitive mothers, especially if certain changes were noticed in the stool.

Changes in the appearance of stool

Plant fiber in the human diet

Digestible and indigestible fiber

There are two types of fiber that can be found in the stool of an adult - digestible and indigestible. It should be noted that both species can be found in the stool of an adult.

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At the same time, there are certain signs that can reveal gastrointestinal tract disorders in a child. Such deviations include:

the presence of mucous or blood impurities in the stool;
pain during defecation;
an abundance of intestinal sounds during intestinal peristalsis and much more.

The next problem that needs to be focused on is functional dyspepsia. The appearance of food particles in the stool is just one of the symptoms of this disease. Symptoms such as:

Frequent belching.
Decreased appetite.
Loose stools.
Mucous impurities in stool.
Bloating, etc.

So, we have figured out the reasons for such phenomena, but what to do if they occur? We'll talk about this later.

How to correct digestive problems

high-fat foods;
fried foods;
smoked meats

The process of formation of feces occurs under the influence of digestive enzymes, bacterial intestinal flora, gradual mixing and movement of the food bolus through the gastrointestinal tract. The most informative method for determining the quality of digestion is the coprogram. It allows you to establish the level at which food digestion failed and to suspect pathological changes in various organs.

Normal coprogram indicators

There are two generally accepted methods for assessing stool: macroscopy and microscopy. Macroscopic examination evaluates the visual characteristics of feces, and microscopic examination evaluates its initial data under a microscope.

During a macroscopic assessment of stool, the laboratory technician determines the following parameters:

Consistency. A normal fecal bolus in older children is soft, and in infants it is unformed.
Color. In children who are breastfed, the stool is colored gray or yellow. Afterwards, the stool gradually turns brown.
pH acidity. Depending on the type of food consumed, this indicator can be neutral or sour.
Smell. A variable parameter that is indicated in case of sharp deviations from the norm.

Microscopic examination of stool includes determination of:

Muscle fibers (not detected with sufficient digestion).
Neutral fat (minimum amount allowed).
Fatty acids (can be detected in small quantities).
Connective tissue (absent).
Soap (slight presence is allowed).
Plant fiber (may contain single cellular elements, digestible, indigestible - allowed in varying quantities).
Starch (absent or minimal presence).
Iodophilic flora (should not be contained in a healthy intestine).
Leukocytes (single cells allowed).
Mucus (minimal presence).
Epithelium (single cellular elements).

Causes of undigested food in stool

Normally, a healthy child may periodically appear small particles of undigested rough food (peels of vegetables, fruits). Perhaps the products chosen were not of the best quality. We talk about the right thing in the relevant articles. If the act of defecation is not accompanied by pain, then changes in the coprogram are not a deviation from the norm.

A large amount of vegetables and fruits in a child’s diet leads to the appearance of lumps of undigested fiber in his stool. This is fine.

You should be concerned if the products of digestion are visible to the naked eye, mucus is present, peristalsis is accompanied by pain, an abundance of bowel sounds, and pain.

The predominance of plant foods in a child’s diet leads to the appearance of small lumps of undigested fiber due to the accelerated movement of the food bolus through the intestines and the physiological deficiency of the enzyme capable of breaking it down.

This condition does not require drug correction. It is enough to reduce the intake of fiber to normalize fecal parameters.

An equally common cause of the appearance of undigested food particles in a child’s stool is functional dyspepsia. In addition to poor breakdown of foods, the baby may experience periodic regurgitation, decreased appetite, frequent loose stools mixed with mucus, etc. This condition occurs as a result of:

Gross violations.
Non-compliance with diet, overfeeding.
Dentation (baby teething).
Inconsistency of the diet with the age characteristics of the child (early introduction of complementary foods, mechanically poorly processed food, etc.).
Taking drugs that reduce the secretory capabilities of the digestive tract (antisecretory, sorbents).

Intestinal and pancreatic juices in children in the first year of life are produced in limited quantities, sufficient only to digest foods in the form of a mushy or finely chopped consistency. As the body matures, its digestive capabilities expand.

Another common cause of food particles in the stool is. At the birth of a baby, his intestines are completely sterile, but already from the first hours of life, the process of colonization of microflora into the body begins. If there is an insufficient number of beneficial bacteria, intestinal digestion is disrupted, feces change their consistency (become more liquid), acquire an unpleasant odor, and undigested food particles appear in it.

Principles of correction of digestive disorders

Depending on the reasons that led to incomplete digestion of food, the principles for eliminating them can be very diverse. A pediatrician will help determine the origin of the symptoms and correct them. In some situations, parents can correct the situation themselves.

During the natural feeding of the mother of the baby, if changes appear in the stool, it is worth eliminating fatty, smoked and fried foods. If such measures are ineffective, you should consult a doctor.

If, after the introduction of new foods, the baby's stools become more frequent and undigested food particles appear, then it is advisable to postpone their use and repeat them after 2-3 weeks. Continuing complaints about changes in stool after discontinuation of the innovation are a reason to consult a doctor.

There is never a need to force a child to eat; he himself can determine the amount of feeding required from the cradle. Overfeeding not only leads to further problems, but also significantly undermines the functioning of the immature digestive system. In adulthood, such children develop chronic diseases, some of which significantly reduce the quality of life.

From the birth of the baby and throughout childhood, parents need to constantly monitor the frequency of stool and changes in its visual characteristics. Timely seeking medical help will quickly eliminate the cause of undigested food elements in the feces and maintain healthy digestion in the baby.

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, an intestinal infection is excluded, there is no mucus, “green” or unpleasant odor, then undigested pieces of food in the feces 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 child is fed only breast milk, then no complementary foods are needed 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 expands, egg yolk, cereal, and meat are introduced. 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 formula-fed, complementary foods can be introduced from 5 months, following the same recommendations.

Pediatricians categorically prohibit the introduction of whole cow's, goat's milk and semolina to children under one year of age. 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 child healthy, nutritious food not from the supermarket and your child will be healthy!

Improper diet, non-compliance with the diet, eating dry food, eating food before bed are factors that lead to the stomach not digesting food. This condition has a characteristic name - dyspepsia. What types of dyspepsia are there, how is diagnosis made and how exactly to treat this disease for adults and children? These questions will be answered in this article.

Digestion in the stomach

The stomach is a kind of tool for processing food. The stomach capacity is about 2.5-3 liters. Food enters it through the esophagus. At the very beginning, food is broken down into fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and what is not digested is sent to the initial part of the small intestine (duodenum). When a person eats food, special acids are produced in the stomach, which help it to be divided into organic substances and digested. The stomach has walls that reliably protect it from the effects of acids. Food can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours to digest. The indicator depends on the composition, calorie content, and heat treatment of food products.

Reasons why the stomach cannot digest food

Fatty, spicy and sour foods can cause heaviness in the stomach.

Common causes of dyspepsia are considered to be poor eating habits and insufficient knowledge of nutritional rules. Eating dry food and snacking on the run will sooner or later have a bad effect on your health. There are some foods that the body simply does not accept and thus rejects, which is why the stomach “stands”. Inconvenience and heaviness in the stomach can appear due to overly fatty, spicy, or sour foods. Alcoholic drinks can cause a number of inconveniences, as they can stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid and burden the walls of the stomach.

The RioFlora probiotic complex belongs to the new generation of probiotics, containing specially selected bacteria that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, many of which lead to intestinal disorders.
Dietary supplement Not a medicine.

Here are some other causes of dyspepsia:

slow metabolism when the digestive organs work poorly;
the presence of microbes in the gastric mucosa;
poor stimulation of gastric juice secretion;
alcohol abuse in large quantities (applies to adults);
the presence of a disease - gastritis (can affect both adults and children).

There are cases where the normal functioning of the stomach is disrupted due to hormonal imbalance (mostly in pregnant women). If a person feels unwell in the morning, experiences heaviness in the stomach long before breakfast, this indicates that he likes to eat heavily at night, which is strictly forbidden to do, since the stomach should rest at night just like the rest of the human organs. Knowing the reason why the stomach does not process food in any way allows you to start treatment on time, force you to follow a diet, and develop a certain eating routine.

Types of disease

Salmonellosis is an acute intestinal infection caused by Salmonella.

Dyspepsia is divided into two groups: organic and functional. In the organic process, serious damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is not detected, only disruptions occur in their functioning. In functional cases, pathologies of the stomach and intestines are detected. These are much more serious violations. Dyspepsia is also divided by type of disease and depends on the reasons that provoked these diseases. For example, an intestinal infection can become a provoking factor. Dyspepsia caused by it is divided into several types:

Salmonellosis. Accompanied by elevated body temperature, upset stomach, general weakness, and vomiting.
Dysentery. Causes damage to the large intestine, manifested by diarrhea mixed with blood.
Intoxication. It is formed as a consequence of poisoning with some harmful substances, during past infections.

Dyspepsia with a lack of digestive enzymes is divided into types: gastrogenic, hepatogenic, pancreatogenic, enterogenic. In addition to these types of disease, there are others:

nutritional - a consequence of an incorrect lifestyle;
putrefactive - the result of eating too much meat and fish, perhaps not always fresh;
fatty - provoked by an excessive amount of fat in the daily menu;
fermentable form - occurs when food products such as beans, baked goods, sweets, as well as drinks in the form of kvass and beer are used.

Diagnostics

A blood test will help diagnose the disease.

If the stomach does not digest food, with characteristic manifestations and symptoms of the disease, you should immediately seek medical help to diagnose and confirm the presence of the disease. Firstly, you need to clearly and clearly, point by point, describe your symptoms and complaints to the specialist. Secondly, the doctor will determine what is better to prescribe - a laboratory test or a computer test. Computer includes ultrasound and tomography. Laboratory testing involves collecting blood for analysis and checking stool. Additionally, tests are carried out for Helicobacter pylori infection, stomach analysis using an endoscope, and, if necessary, using X-rays.

What to do?

In the case where the disruption of the stomach has caused the presence of another disease (viral type, peptic ulcer, acute or chronic gastritis, etc.), it is necessary to treat the second disease, and at the same time get rid of the symptoms of the first. Treatment of a stomach in which food is poorly digested is prescribed by taking medications of various effects. Diarrhea can be treated with anti-diarrhea medications, and constipation can be treated with laxatives. Elevated temperature is reduced by antipyretics.

Medicines

The doctor prescribes medications to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, these include:

enzyme enzymes that promote better functioning of the stomach - “Creon”, “Gastenorm Forte”;
painkillers that help eliminate stomach pain and normal functioning - “Drotaverin”, “Spazmalgon”;
Antihistamines that help reduce high stomach acidity - Clemaxin, Ranitidine.

If therapy is needed for a child, other, more gentle drugs are prescribed.

Treatment with folk remedies

When treating, you can use the root, seeds and juice of celery.

Dyspepsia can be successfully treated for children and adults using folk remedies and recipes. Examples of popular recipes:

Celery. Take 1 tsp. ground celery root, pour 1 liter of hot water and leave for 8 hours. Next, filter and drink 2 tbsp. l. during the day. If there is no root, then you can use and make an infusion from celery seeds and juice, the effect will be the same. A child will like celery juice as a medicine.
Dill. The plant is endowed with a variety of beneficial properties that are too long to list. The most significant ones are the ability to improve digestion in children and adults, eliminate bloating and constipation, and have a diuretic effect. To prepare the decoction, take 1 tsp. dill seeds and pour boiling water, then strain and drink a sip throughout the day.
Collecting medicinal herbs can help normalize metabolism in the body in both children and adults. Take honey, aloe and red wine. Honey and wine 600 grams each, aloe - 300 grams. Grind aloe, add honey and wine. Mix the ingredients and take 1 tsp. on an empty stomach.

In old age, there is a need for enemas, since with age the metabolism becomes slower, not like in a child, so the digestive organs wear out, frequent constipation occurs, pain and cramps appear in the stomach, and intestinal clogging occurs. It is necessary to force an elderly patient to do an enema at least once a week. Before the procedure, drink a glass of infused wormwood herb, which will have a beneficial effect on the digestion process.

Nutrition correction

With the help of a diet, you can alleviate and improve the condition of an adult and a child, especially during the period of taking medications. It is important to avoid fatty, fried, smoked, spicy, and salty foods. This also includes fast food dishes (hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, etc.), as they contain a large amount of unhealthy fats. If you approach dietary nutrition with a positive attitude, your appetite will improve and, accordingly, the production of gastric juice will improve. This is why it is necessary to eat in a quiet, peaceful environment, so that no external stimuli distract you from such an important activity.

It is important to pay attention to the daily menu. It is recommended to choose good quality products, without harmful ingredients such as dyes and preservatives, so as not to burden the stomach. The compatibility of products is important, that is, you should not eat meat and apples at the same time, since meat is digested poorly and takes a long time, and apples quickly. An online food compatibility table will help. If you follow the recommendations, things will soon improve.

Regarding hot drinks, such as coffee or tea, which people are used to drinking immediately after eating, doctors are categorical - this is not recommended. Drinking hot drinks is allowed only an hour after or before meals. These are the rules you must follow for a speedy recovery in order to maintain the health of yourself and your child.