What are the side effects of enema for babies?

When children are young, it is very difficult to see a doctor, whether it is getting an injection or taking medicine. Children's crying can be heard everywhere in the children's hospital. Some children start crying when they see the doctor holding a needle. In recent years, enema has been withdrawn in order to change this treatment method. Are there any side effects of enema for babies? The following are the steps to give babies enema and the harm of enema. Let's learn about it together~

Enema is a way of administering medicine or cleaning the intestine by injecting some liquid, such as water, saline or medicine, into the intestine through a catheter and the anus.

Enemas are not useless, otherwise hospitals would not keep this treatment method. However, enema is mainly used for patients with severe constipation, children with intussusception and megacolon, and as an auxiliary measure for bowel cleansing before surgery. It is used for a clear purpose and occasionally. It is not a routine measure to implement enema treatment as soon as the baby becomes sick. Parents should also know how to say no to some doctors who often ask babies to give them enemas. Below, Xiaokangjun has prepared some evidence to make your refusal more convincing.

Hazard 1: Risk of intestinal perforation

The intestines of adults are very weak, not to mention the intestines of infants and young children. Long-term and improper enema techniques can easily cause intestinal perforation, which simply means puncturing the intestines. Moreover, the damaged intestines will be "attacked" by feces and bacteria, causing infection. Therefore, do not give enema to babies under 1 year old easily.

Harm 2: Easy to overdose

Parents who have taken their babies to enema know that the medicine will be excreted after the enema. As for how much the baby has absorbed, even the doctor cannot give an accurate judgment. If you are not careful, an overdose may occur. Certain drug ingredients may also damage the local skin and cause ulcers. In fact, oral medications are easier to absorb, and the dosage of injectable medications can be controlled more accurately. As long as the baby does not vomit or refuse abnormally, parents should follow the doctor's advice and choose oral medication or injection.

A skin test is usually required before giving your baby an injection to prevent the baby from being allergic to certain drugs. However, enema almost does not involve this step, which increases the chance of allergies. Once the baby is allergic to the drug, shock or even more serious consequences are very likely to occur.

Hazard 4: Water and electrolyte imbalance

Long-term improper enema will cause the baby's body to lose water containing electrolytes, and serious imbalance of acid and alkali may endanger the baby's life.

Hazard 5: Intestinal flora imbalance

There are many beneficial bacteria in our intestines that resist foreign bacteria, which are probiotics. Long-term enema or improper operation may disrupt the balance of human flora, causing diarrhea or even permanent damage to the intestines.