Patient's question:
My daughter is four years old. In the past month, she has frequently experienced upper abdominal pain, poor appetite, no weight gain, and dry stools. What kind of illness does this belong to?Doctor's answer:
A child with gastritis does not require excessive anxiety from parents. Since children are in the stage of growth and development, their metabolism is fast, and their tissue repair ability is stronger than that of adults. Generally, acute gastritis can be cured within 3 to 5 days through dietary control and medication, rarely exceeding 2 weeks, and it is unlikely to recur after recovery. The treatment period for chronic superficial gastritis is 2 to 3 weeks, primarily focused on symptom control. The treatment period for chronic atrophic gastritis is longer, lasting 3 to 6 months or even longer. If there are no symptoms during treatment, medication can be temporarily discontinued.The Western medical treatment methods for pediatric gastritis are as follows:
(1) Dietary control: Children should have three regular meals a day, eating at fixed times and in appropriate quantities. During acute gastritis, a liquid or semi-liquid diet should be provided, avoiding overeating, raw, cold foods, and various irritating foods.
(2) Western medicine treatment: Medications should be selected based on the child's condition.
1) Spasmolytics and analgesics: Children with abdominal pain should take spasmolytics and analgesics for a short period, such as atropine (0.01 mg/kg body weight, 3 to 4 times daily, taken before meals). If vomiting prevents oral administration, subcutaneous injections can be given (0.01 mg/kg body weight, 1 to 3 times daily). Other options include:
- Cimetropium (0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg body weight, 3 times daily).
- Propantheline (0.5 mg/kg body weight, 3 times daily).
- Domperidone (0.03 to 0.06 mL per year, maximum 3.5 mL per day).
2) Antacids: Children with vomiting acid should take antacids (see Question 201).
3) Antiemetics: Children with vomiting can be given antiemetics (see Question 204).
4) Antibiotics: If gastritis is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, effective antibiotics should be administered, such as:
- Amoxicillin (100 mg/kg body weight per day, divided into 4 doses).
- Furazolidone (50 mg/kg body weight per day, divided into 3 doses).
- Metronidazole (40 mg/kg body weight per day, divided into 3 doses).
- Gentamicin (1 to 1.5 mg/kg body weight per day, divided into 3 doses).
These should be combined with De-Lix granules (1/2 to 1 packet per dose, 4 times daily). Generally, a combination of three drugs can significantly improve the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori, but continuous use should not exceed 8 weeks.
5) Digestive aids: Children with poor appetite can take digestive aids, such as:
- Lactobacillus (0.2 to 0.6 g per dose, 3 times daily).
- Pepsin mixture (2.5 to 5.0 mL per dose for children under 2 years, 3 times daily; 5 to 10 mL per dose for children over 2 years, 3 times daily).
- Multienzyme tablets (1 to 2 tablets per dose, 3 times daily).
Currently, there are numerous medications available for treating gastritis on the market. Parents should not buy and give medication to their children without consulting a pediatrician. A treatment plan should be formulated based on the child's condition, with regular follow-ups and medication adjustments as needed.