Flatulence How to Lessen the Gas

How to Lessen the Gas

Getting rid of excess gas that forms in the stomach and intestines can be a source of embarrassment for adults. For kids, though, flatulence is more often a source of entertainment. We all remember the friend in elementary school who cracked up the class by making body noises.

In all likelihood, however, he was not a hit at the dinner table or when the boss came to visit. For passing gas can quickly become a social problem for kids as well as adults.

While you'll want to help your child manage and control any gassy outbursts, it's important to remember that flatulence is completely normal.

''Concerned parents come in to the doctor and say, 'My child is very gassy and always passing wind.' But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It may seem bad for the people around the child, but it is absolutely normal to be gassy.'' says Kevin Ferentz, M.D., assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a family physician in Baltimore.

In fact, it's not passing gas that causes the most problems, because gas trapped inside the body can be quite painful, says Dr. Ferentz.

If your child is especially gassy, it may be related to what he's eating, or to the bacteria living in his gastrointestinal tract. ''Everybody's gastrointestinal tract is a little bit different,'' he says. '' We're colonized with different bacteria and some of them produce more gas than others.'' Fortunately, the problem responds well to simple remedies.

Serve something hot to drink. Try giving your child a cup of hot tea or some other warm liquid, suggests Dr. Ferentz. ''This definitely seems to help for gas pains, although there hasn't been a lot of high-powered scientific research to find out why it works,'' he says. ''My own theory is that it's because the heat makes the gas expand. This may actually make the problem worse for a short time. But ultimately the heat allows the gas to escape by helping it expand around the area where it's trapped.''

If you have an infant who is troubled by gas, you can get the same effect by putting a cloth-wrapped hot-water bottle on the child's abdomen for no more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time, Dr. Ferentz says. And it is important that the bottle is not so hot that it might burn the child, he warns.

Seek out simethicone. ''Use an over-the-counter anti-gas medication that contains simethicone,'' says Dr. Ferentz. ''This ingredient is very effective because it breaks up gas into smaller bubbles which are much less uncomfort-able and easier to pass.'' Be sure to read package directions--or check with your physician--for the correct dosage for your child.

Watch for broccoli backlash. ''Foods that are high in fiber, like beans, broccoli and cabbage, cause more flatulence than other foods,'' says Dr. Ferentz. These foods typically aren't big favorites with kids. But they are part of a healthy diet. If they seem to trigger a gas crisis for your child, cut back temporarily or experiment with alternative items.

Use an enzyme to tame those beans. ''There's an anti-gas product called Beano, which apparently does work,'' says George Sterne, M.D., clini-cal professor of pediatrics at Tulane University Medical School and a pediatrician in New Orleans. Available at health food stores and some supermarkets, Beano contains an enzyme that neutralizes the gas-producing effects of beans. Just sprinkle a few drops on your child's bean burrito and see what happens.

Work out gas with a workout. An active lifestyle comes naturally for most kids. But in case yours is a couch potato, encourage him to get up and move around more, especially after meals. Exercise helps the body eliminate gas, says Dr. Sterne.

Give baby a lift and a pat. Babies can have an especially tough time passing gas, which then becomes trapped and painful to them, says Dr. Sterne. '' You can sometimes tell when a baby needs to pass gas, because he looks bloated--he has a sort of full-up look. If you simply move the baby around, change him to an upright position and pat him a little bit, it will help him release the gas. Raising or tilting the head of a crib so the baby's head is up can also help,'' he adds.

Establish gas-free zones. Don't expect any home remedy to eliminate gas problems completely. ''Flatulence is a normal bodily function,'' says Jeffrey Fogel, M.D., a pediatrician in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, and staff physician at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia. ''So you should tell your child that passing gas occasionally is okay to do. But he will just have to handle it in a socially acceptable manner. What's acceptable? In the bathroom, in his room, but not at the dinner table or in some other social situation.''

And if you doubt that kids really can control passing gas, Dr. Fogel urges you to try this test: ''Tell your kid, 'If you pass gas in public, you can't play with your video games'--or whatever else is his current favorite pastime. You'll find he'll get really good at stopping it.''