Almost every mother will confirm that in the first years of life, all the kids are pretty chubby. Many babies have a tummy sticking out, and people think it's normal. But sometimes parents are worried about the impressive size of the belly of their beloved child. Why does the child have a big belly? Is it normal or pathology? It’s worth sorting out.
Common causes
Many believe that every child up to a certain age looks cute with a chubby tummy. But still, its size as a frog should cause concern, not emotion.
The work of the child's body is significantly different from the work of an adult. If the child has a large stomach, then the reason for this may be insignificant. For example, the baby is prone to frequent gas formation in the intestines or bloating.
As the child grows, internal organs also develop, so abdominal pain is a normal phenomenon. Children often experience colic.
Big belly in a newborn
Bloating in newborns is considered a natural phenomenon. And all because of weak muscles and abdominal walls. The size of the liver also has an effect, because in a newborn baby it is larger in size than other internal organs. Intestinal colic occurs due to poor functioning of the digestive tract, as a result of which the stomach is rounded. Therefore, the situation is not terrible when a child has a big belly in a year.
But excessive sizes of the abdomen can also indicate health problems. Congenital pathologies, such as renal polycystosis, cirrhosis of the liver or ascites, are considered the most common cause of this phenomenon. These anomalies can be detected even in the hospital during the first examination of the baby.
Big belly of a baby up to two years
Many babies under the age of 2 look very moving with a bulging belly. Others are touched and admired. This seems natural to parents, because the body needs a supply of energy for growth, and the muscle frame is not sufficiently developed, and it is difficult for him to hold the abdominal walls. In addition, the child has a large belly immediately after eating, as well as liquid, but it decreases with digestion. And this is understandable. Most often, children under the age of one year are susceptible to this phenomenon.
But if the child is thin, but has an impressive size of the abdomen, then parents should consult a doctor who will help exclude or diagnose the following diseases:
- Umbilical hernia. Experts say that babies up to 3 months of age and less often up to a year are prone to its occurrence. In the case of a hernia, the abdomen takes on a pointed shape and increases in size.
- Rickets and other diseases resulting from metabolic disorders. In this case, the child has a large belly, like a toad, it bulges not forward, but to the sides. The cause of rickets is considered a lack of vitamin D in the child's body.
- Malfunctioning pancreatic enzymes. The body reacts negatively to fructose and sweets.
- Decreased renal and adrenal function.
- Hepatitis. Inflammatory liver diseases affect children older than three years.
The impressive size of the abdomen in a three-year-old child
At 3-4 years, the child’s body changes: muscles, bones are strengthened, the stomach is tightened, which means it becomes smaller.
If the child himself is full, then perhaps we are talking about obesity, and in this case it is necessary to establish the causes of this scourge. Endocrine problems can cause a child to have a large stomach. 3 years is a turning point for the child's body.
There are many reasons why the fullness appears on the stomach, and each of them is very serious.
Enlarged Internal Organs
Due to the increased size of the internal organs, a large abdomen is noticeable in the child. 1.5 years no need to worry about this problem. But if the child is more than 3-4 years old, then there is a reason for alarm. There is a protrusion of not the entire abdominal region, but only a certain part.
The cause may be inflammation or infection. With this condition, you need to show the child to the doctor to identify the problem. A gradual increase in the abdomen can lead to rupture of the spleen.
With hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), a large stomach is considered a normal phenomenon in a child. The following dimensions are considered acceptable - bulging to the side from the ribs by 2-3 cm.
This condition is observed in children aged 6 to 7 years. But if the child is much older, then the problem may be in a certain disease.
Abdominal enlargement is possible with coprostasis (constipation). This is a violation of the intestinal tract. Coprostasis is diagnosed when the intestines are rarely emptied, less than 1 time in two days. This disorder occurs due to a disorder of motor activity and colon secretion.
Abdominal dropsy and kyphosis
At the age of 6, the child’s body is prone to problems such as posture curvature. Improper back position at the table, weak bone frame are the cause of childhood kyphosis. The disease also occurs due to weakness of the spinal muscles, which prevent the vertebrae from bending forward. As a result, the following problems appear:
- 2-4 folds on the stomach;
- protrusion of the abdomen (in an upright position).
Also, the volume of the abdominal cavity depends on the type of kyphosis. It can be genotypic, that is, hereditary. This is quite difficult to deal with.
Ascites (abdominal dropsy) is characterized by the accumulation of fluid. It can not be called an independent disease, rather a symptom, which is a signal reporting violations in the body. The main causes of ascites include:
- kidney disease, for example nephrotic syndrome;
- dystrophy alimentary;
- tumors in the abdominal cavity.
Ascites is divided into two types: acquired and congenital. If the stomach gradually becomes larger, and in the horizontal position of the child a bulging navel is clearly visible, then a doctor’s consultation is definitely needed.
Or maybe diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus in children under 5 years old has its own characteristics and symptoms. In the first year of life, babies slowly gain weight, and then an intensive weight gain occurs, and you can notice a big belly in the child. At first, parents may not notice this, but over time, the problem will become pronounced.
If the abdomen has an unusual shape, a certain part protrudes, then perhaps the whole thing is in a cyst or tumor. By such a local bulge, one can judge a localized inflammatory process. Lymphoma and liposarcoma are malignant retroperitoneal tumors that need to be detected at an early stage. All children of preschool and school age are at risk of developing the disease.
The child’s body is a thin and special design, and any, even a slight change in its work, can adversely affect the development of the minor. And do not be moved by the fact that the child has a big stomach, 2 years old or 6 years old, because the reasons for this may not be so harmless.