What does the presence of iodophilic bacteria in a child’s stool indicate?

What it is?

Iodophilic flora is the general name for intestinal microflora, consisting of iodophilic bacteria (they are so named because they love iodine, which was the principle of their discovery).

Iodophilic bacteria in the child’s intestines begin to actively multiply as a result of fermentation processes, which will be visible in a stool analysis.

Iodophilic bacteria are clostridia, other cocci and rods, and yeast. The child's intestinal microflora may consist of:

1. Conditionally pathogenic and non-pathogenic clostridia are normal intestinal flora and there is no reason for concern.
2. Pathogenic cocci, fungi and a large number of bacilli are pathogenic microflora and in most cases they require treatment.

Normally, iodophilic flora (speaking of pathogenic bacteria) can be present in only small quantities in an infant or older child after ingesting a large amount of fruit, which causes an active fermentation process in the small intestine. The iodophilic flora itself is localized in the child’s cecum and ileum, and therefore it is very easy to detect in the coprogram with feces.

Composition and varieties

Faced with this indicator in the results of stool tests, most parents are interested in what iodophilic flora is. This is a conditionally pathogenic intestinal microflora, consisting of certain types of microorganisms. Its formation is provoked by the presence of enzymes that promote the processing of starch into glucose compounds. As a result of bacterial activity, sugar is separated into individual elements and fermentation occurs, in which cocci and yeast cells actively participate.

Iodophilic flora in a child’s feces is divided into two groups:

1. Clostridia, which do not pose a health hazard.
2. Pathological flora, in which the presence of cocci and bacilli in large quantities is observed.

In a baby, they should normally be absent; sometimes a stool test can reveal them in case of constipation, but in small quantities.

Clostridia as part of the iodophilic flora

Is iodophilic flora normal?

As mentioned earlier, iodophilic bacteria are in the child’s intestines in a conditionally pathogenic state; a small number of pathogenic bacteria means that fermentation processes have begun in the intestines. But if pathogenic flora is found in large quantities in the child’s stool, then this is already a sign of illness or malfunction of the intestines.

Therefore, it is important, if the test for iodophilic flora is positive, to retest the stool several times, and also to limit the child’s diet a few days before the test - a minimum of carbohydrates.

Manifestation of iodophilic flora at different ages

In an ideal analysis, the number of pathogenic single-celled organisms should be zero, but slightly different results are also considered normal for a child and in most cases do not manifest themselves in any way.

At the age of up to 1 year, iodophilic microflora usually manifests itself with a decrease in the level of beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the intestines. Instead, cocci and yeast microorganisms begin to multiply. In most cases, this process does not have pronounced symptoms; it does not affect the child’s sleep, appetite or mood.

Children from 1 to 3 years old should also not have any side microorganisms in their microflora. A normal indicator is the presence of no more than 8 g of bacteria per day. In children over 1 year old, the digestive system is already practically formed, so there may also be no signs of disturbances in the composition of the microflora.

Pathogenic microflora often contains cocci

Causes

Iodophilic flora in a child’s feces can be detected due to certain internal pathological processes and external factors:

• Lack of enzymes for digesting carbohydrates (problems with the pancreas).
• The rapid movement of food and feces through the intestines, as a result, accelerated evacuation of feces and enzymes do not have time to fully act on the chyme (feces in the small intestine).
• Long-term use of antibacterial agents.
• Dysbacteriosis of various etiologies.
• Parasitism in the intestines of worms.
• Diseases of the stomach, pancreas, liver, etc.
• Taking a course of chemotherapy.
• Various intestinal diseases accompanied by inflammatory processes.
• Food intoxication (poisoning).
• Violation of the regime and diet (especially often the cause of the appearance of iodophilic flora in infants).

Depending on the cause of the appearance of iodophilic flora in the child’s feces, the course and direction of treatment will be different.

Treatment of increased iodophilic flora in feces

One of the factors of reproduction of pathogenic single-celled organisms - dysbiosis - is observed most often. Based on this, children are treated in the following ways:

• If the child is breastfed (breastfed), then it is necessary to adjust the mother’s diet by excluding foods rich in fiber, starch and complex carbohydrates from the diet.
• When artificial feeding, you need to change the formula used.
• The use of medications that block the proliferation of microorganisms.
• Taking probiotics to help normalize the child’s intestinal microflora.

In cases where the presence of iodophilic flora in stool analysis is caused by more serious diseases, the doctor must prescribe a special treatment program aimed specifically at the root cause of the disease.

When harmful bacteria are identified in the intestines, it is necessary to combat them. If the necessary measures are not taken, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms can provoke the development of serious disorders in the functioning of the digestive organs.

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How does it manifest?

If the iodophilic flora is present in the child’s intestines for only a short period of time, then such a process can go completely unnoticed and asymptomatically, and you can only find out about the change by accidentally passing a stool test at that moment.

But if iodophilic flora is a symptom of the disease, then the child will certainly have other signs:

• Abdominal pain in the stomach area.
• Painful bowel movements.
• Diarrhea or constipation that lasts for a long time.
• Sleep problems.
• General poor health - moodiness, lethargy, fatigue.
• Losing weight with a normal diet.
• Refusal to eat.
• Changes in the consistency, odor and color of the stool (has an unpleasant odor, almost foul, the color can vary from pale yellow to greenish).

These signs can be observed in a child to a greater or lesser extent, but parents should pay attention to absolutely all oddities, since even a rise in temperature, belching or vomiting will help the doctor make a diagnosis and get rid of iodophilic flora in a timely manner.

Is it necessary to get rid of iodophilic flora?

When iodophilic flora is detected in a child’s stool, parents often begin to treat their child on their own or run to all doctors.
There is no need to panic from the first minute. To begin with, you should remember whether the child ate a large amount of fruits and vegetables within a couple of days before taking the tests. Perhaps his diet has changed due to some circumstances, or he is now taking antibiotics or being treated with other drugs that can affect the digestion process.

In any of the options, after a few days it is necessary to repeat the stool test (after limiting the child’s diet), rather than starting treatment on your own. If pathological microflora is again detected in the child’s stool, then you should consult a doctor.

Parents should also pay attention to the child’s well-being; if he is cheerful, eats well, and does not complain of pain or other problems, especially related to bowel movements, then the doctor can determine that this is a normal reaction of the body.

You should definitely answer all the doctor’s questions and undergo additional examination and only then decide whether to start treatment or not.

Diagnostic methods

Iodophilic flora can be determined in a child’s stool using a simple analysis - a coprogram. In a stool test, the bacteria will be colored orange (brownish) and the laboratory doctor will be able to determine under a microscope what type of bacteria predominates in the child’s stool. He will be able to distinguish cocci, clostridia and other types of bacteria.

The coprogram is deciphered by a pediatrician and based on the data obtained (preferably several tests if the primary result is positive) and then puts forward a diagnosis and, if applicable, treatment.

Drug treatment

Treatment of a child who has iodophilic flora detected in his stool should begin only after consultation with a pediatrician. This sign may be a symptom of a specific disease of the digestive tract, and then it will be necessary to direct all efforts to eliminate the current pathology. But this is decided in each specific case by a pediatrician.

Regarding the general principles of treatment, it is initially necessary to destroy the pathogenic microflora; this can be done with the help of Tetracycline, Cephalosporin, Penicillin, Metranidazole and other antibacterial drugs.

Next comes a course of restoring the normal microflora of the child’s intestines and it consists of the following medications:

1. Probiotics for populating the intestines with beneficial bacteria - Linex, Bifiform, Bifidumbacterin, Acylak, Probifor, etc.
2. Prebiotics - in addition to beneficial bacteria, contain a substrate for development and help them more actively populate the child’s intestines. These are Hilak-Forte, Lactusan, Duphalac, etc.
3. Herbal medicines for normalizing intestinal motility with St. John's wort, oregano, calendula, yarrow.
4. Bacteriophages for the fight against pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria - Klebsiella, Intesti, Pseudomonas, Sextaphage, etc.

Diet

In addition to treatment with specific drugs, the diet and regimen are very important for the child. If iodophilic bacteria are already found in the child’s stool, then its use should be limited:

• fermented milk products;
• fruit;
• legumes;
• cabbage in any form;
• bakery products;
• products with a high starch content.

Diet in this case is one of the most important points for the treatment and complete recovery of the child.

This rule should not be neglected, and then it will be possible to get by with a minimum amount of drugs and be cured in a short period of time.

Causes

An increase in the concentration of iodophilic bacteria in feces can be caused by the following factors:

• taking antibiotics that destroy beneficial microorganisms that inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic microflora;
• excessive consumption of foods containing carbohydrates, as well as their improper combination with protein foods;
• inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
• malfunction of the pancreas;
• intestinal damage by helminths or protozoa;
• insufficient intestinal motility as a result of decreased smooth muscle tone;
• poisoning;
• decreased immunity in the body.

It should be understood that the concentration of iodophilic bacteria in feces varies depending on the nature of the incoming food. By changing the diet of children, you can easily restore the balance of microflora and prevent the development of pathology.