How Can Flatulence And Vomiting With Inflammation Near The Anus Be Treated In A Newborn?

Posted on Mon, 11 Dec 2023

Question: My 1 month old daughter has lots of flatulence. She weeps constantly and draws legs to the abdomen. This is more after midnight and she doesn't sleep at night. Since 3-4 days she has started having vomiting also. There's also lot of redness around her anus. She weeps while passing flatus and is relieved after passing flatus. She's on mix feed- formula+breast feed since my milk secretion is low. Initially I was using Similac then switched to Similac advance. I also tried changing her feeding bottle- switched from philips avent to Dr Brown's bottles with vent but nothing has helped. If I feed her with spoon she gets very irritated and doesn't drink well and cries every hour. Nowadays the flatulence and weeping has started during day time also and she's miserable all day. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:

Give some probiotics, get stool test done

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

After going through the history it appears that the baby is having some transient lactose intolerance.

This transient lactose intolerance can cause colic and thus excessive crying,fussiness.,excess flatulence and with redness in perianal area.

You can continue feed with same formula for time being. Just check the dilution and burp properly after each feed.

You can take some medicine like metoclopramide or lactare for more breast milk production, so that you can avoid top feed.

Give some colic medicine like colicaid or coaid with probiotic like Econorm or Enterogermina.

Also get a stool test done to check for lactose intolerance.
For rashes application of zinc oxide based cream like Rashfree or Happynap will help.

We may need to change the formula for few days if stool test shows abnormal lactose(reducing sugar).

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (10 hours later)

Dr please recommend the brand names and dosage of probiotic medicine for my daughter and also the name and dosage of medicine for me to increase the milk secretion. My daughter sleeps well only on her abdomen when she has gases. Is it safe to let her sleep on her abdomen at night..she sleeps for 3hours at a go but when supine doesn't sleep for more than 30-40min.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:

Observe while baby is sleeping prone(on her abdomen)

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

You can give Econorm or Enterogermina. Both are probiotics. You can give half respules twice a day for 3-4 days. For milk production, you can take lactare capsules two or three times a day.

Some babies feel more comfortable while sleeping in the prone position (on the abdomen).

You will have to observe the baby while she sleeps in this position as there are chances of airway obstruction. If you are observing then you need not worry.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (23 hours later)

Thanks dr. Can you please also suggest a good formula brand that I can give my daughter as I have seen no results with Similac/ Similac advance.. I also read that lactobacillus reuteri drops help in infant colic and one of my friend who's abroad swears by Gerber soothe drops. Are lactobacillus drops helpful and if yes by what brand name can I find them in XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:

Breast milk is the best feed, you may try Nan pro 1

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Breast milk is the best feed for babies and it should always be encouraged.

If during to any reason you are not able to give breastfeed you may give formula feed.

Similac is a good formula. You may try Nan pro 1 which also contains probiotic that is Bifidobacterium Lactis.

Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus both these help in maintaining normal gut flora and thus reduces colic also.

I personally will not recommend any other agent like Gerber sooth drops.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (11 hours later)

Thanks for the detailed information dr. My daughter is also having coryza and cough. Since today morning She's feverish-body feels warm but temperature is normal. What can I give her?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:

Manage conservatively and observe

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I won't get worried for mild coryza and cough if baby is otherwise active, feeding well and there is no breathing difficulty.

You may feel the body warm sometimes, even when there is no fever. You need not to give anything if temperature is normal in thermometer.

Here I would suggest you observe closely, monitor temperature and watch for breathing difficulty, noisy breathing or poor feeding.
You may put nasal saline drop like nasoclear if you find any nasal blockade.

If you are noticing any abnormal symptoms please consult your pediatrician for thorough evaluation and to rule out any possibility of pneumonia.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (6 days later)

Hello dr. I gave enterogermina to my daughter. So long as she was taking enterogermina she was better and flatulence was less. As soon as the enterogermina dosages were over her flatulence increased. Once again she's having gas and weeping. She's also having difficulty falling asleep due to the flatulence. Her stools have turned green since enterogermina was started and now even after stopping enterogermina the motions are still green. Please guide.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (24 hours later)

Brief Answer:

Continue Enterogermina, get a stool test done

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I can understand your concern. Enterogermina is a probiotic which helps in maintaining healthy gut flora and there are no significant side effects of it.

So you can continue it for a few more days. I would like to know if any stool test has been done.

If not yet, then I would suggest you get one routine stool test done to see any lactose intolerance causing so much of flatulence.

I won't get worried for green coloured stool as it is a common finding during intestinal problem due to rapid intestinal motility (causes improper conversion of some pigments in stool which is responsible for normal yellow colour) and it improves over a period of time.

There is a possibility that all these problems have occurred after changing the formula. You may try switching back to your old formula (similac) and observe for improvement in clinical symptoms.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Pradeep Kumar, Pediatrician, Cardiology

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad