You will find below list of some of the more common symptom in chidlren with gastrointestinal issues. I’ve added some extra detail at the end for the most common symptoms. For the full article with more information, please read the full article on our blog or visit Autism Eye Magazine.
Key GI Symptoms
- Chronic constipation and/or diarrhoea
- Foul smelling stools with odd texture and colour
- Distended tummy
- Undigested food or signs of mucous in stools
- Poor muscle tone and poor weight gain
- Extreme picky eating
- Inability to be potty trained past a reasonable age
- Unexplained aggression, meltdowns, and self-harming
- Posturing behaviour by leaning over objects like the arm of a sofa or a yoga/therapy ball for example
- Toe-walking
- Bed wetting
- Extreme sleep issues
- Seizures
If your child has any of the above, please make an appointment with their GP to get a proper assessment and a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist. Keeping a diary of symptoms and foods may be helpful for the doctor, and for you to notice any patterns.
A deeper dive into some symptoms
Constipation
This is by far the most common issue we see in our patients. What parents don’t realise is that sometimes children can be constipated but still appear to be going every day. It’s important to pay attention to the quantity of stool as well as the frequency. A healthy stool for a child (who goes once a day at least) should be between 8-10 inches, smooth like a sausage and relatively thick. Thin, ribbony stools or liquid ones could mean your child is suffering from impaction.
Impaction Impaction is a serious medical condition that happens when stool is backed up in the colon and gets stuck. Sometimes watery or loose stool can bypass the blockage and so the parent does not realise there is a problem. Children with impaction are often very bloated, their tummies may feel solid to the touch, and they have behavioural issues because of the pain and discomfort. A doctor’s visit and sometimes x-ray is necessary to diagnose impaction
Diarrhoea Diarrhoea can be the symptom of a viral tummy bug, or food poisoning and almost all children experience it from time to time. However, if it is chronic e.g. lasts for more than a week or comes back often, then it could be a more serious medical issue. Children with chronic diarrhoea cannot absorb nutrients well because the food moves too quickly through the GI tract, not giving the gut enough time to absorb and process nutrients so it's important to get this sorted asap.
Reflux Reflux is when the sphincter between the stomach and oesophagus does not close properly, allowing stomach acid and undigested food to leak back up. This can cause a great deal of discomfort and is often the underlying cause of very picky eating for some children as they know soon after they eat they will feel the inevitable pain and burning that comes with reflux. Unfortunately the medical approach to reflux, using antacids or acid blockers like Omeprazole, doesn’t address the root cause and can create more digestive issues in the long run because of medication side effects. Be sure your doctor only uses these medications very short term. For longer-term solutions, one has to look at the root cause of the reflux which can be anything from food intolerance to low stomach acid to poor muscle tone due to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Enzyme deficiency Your digestive system needs a host of powerful enzymes to do its job well. These enzymes break down foods into the smaller building blocks our bodies can then use to make everything from energy to neurotransmitters. We use functional lab testing to assess if your child’s enzymes are low. Knowing where they need the most support will be key in getting their gut health back on track.
What to do next If your child is suffering from any of the above, it’s important you contact your GP and get them seen by a gastrointestinal specialist. We understand through years of experience that there is only so much that doctors can do medically, and often don’t go to the ‘root cause’ of the problem, instead offering medications that suppress the symptoms. If your child still needs help after getting medical attention, we can do further investigations and find out how best to support their gut health through targeted diet, supplements, and complementary treatments like visceral osteopathy. For more information on how to work with us, please click here.
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