Irritable bowel syndrome IBS is not a disease, but a group of gastrointestinal symptoms occurring simultaneously for which no organic cause is found to explain the symptoms.
There is no fully effective and causal treatment for IBS.
It may be helpful to:
- a change in nutrition, diet ,
- medication
- probiotics,
- therapies for people with mental health problems.
Meal portions should be small , eaten more often. Certain foods and drinks can cause IBS symptoms in some children, such as foods high in fat (fatty cheeses, fried eggs, red meat) dairy products, drinks with caffeine, artificial sweeteners, bloating foods - beans, cabbage, cauliflower, fresh cucumbers) .
In case of constipation, high-fibre foods should be consumed in the amount of "age plus 5 grams of fibre per day". Sometimes it is necessary to use laxative medicines. These include lactulose, macrolides, liquid paraffin, bisacodyl, sennosides, among others. These drugs should only be given for the duration of the discomfort, in the minimum effective dose . An adequate fluid supply is extremely important.In children with diarrhoea, constipating agents are used. The intake of high-fibre foods should be limited.For cramps, abdominal pain it is worth using preparations such as Nospa. They help to reduce abdominal pain.
For abdominal bloating (with excessive gas accumulation in the digestive tract), simethicone can be given. Some probiotics in appropriate doses cause a reduction in the symptoms of IBS taken They can be found in nutritional supplements such as capsules, tablets and powders, and in some foods such as yoghurt.In some children with psychological problems, tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in low doses are effective in relieving symptoms .
