Gas (flatulence)

What is excessive gas?

Passing gas on a daily basis is normal. Gas is more frequent and bothers some people more than others. Excessive gas can be accompanied by gas pains and/or bloating. Bloating is the feeling of fullness and cramping that can accompany gas.

Causes of gas

Gas (flatulence) is usually caused by swallowing air when eating or drinking and when digesting food. When food is digested, gas is naturally produced, but digesting some foods may lead to more gas production than others. High-fibre foods such as beans and cabbage, as well as carbonated drinks can all cause lots of gas.

Other causes may include:

• antibiotics
• constipation
• lactose intolerance
• celiac disease
• irritable bowel syndrome
• viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

Treatment of gas

In general, the gas will not need treatment. Most of the time, excessive gas can be managed by changing your child's diet or making sure they are not swallowing large amounts of air when eating. Eating and drinking more slowly, chewing food thoroughly and avoiding chewing gum, carbonated drinks and straws may help reduce the amount of air that your child swallows.

The use of probiotics may help reduce excessive gas. Examples of foods containing probiotics include yogurt, soy beverages and some juices. However, not all probiotics are the same and some may not be effective. Talk to your child's health-care provider or to a dietitian about probiotics.

Consider keeping a written diary of the foods and drinks that your child consumes so that you can identify what foods give them gas.

Some dietary changes you can make:

• You can cut down on certain foods which are known to produce a lot of gas, including cabbage, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, corn, asparagus, cauliflower, beans, legumes, peas and broccoli. These foods offer many nutritional benefits, so they should be reduced in the diet but not cut out completely.
• Decrease or eliminate artificial sweeteners, chewing gum and fizzy drinks like pop.

When to see a health-care provider

Make an appointment with your child's health-care provider if:

• your child is losing weight
• your child has loose stools or diarrhea that last for more than seven days
• your child's abdomen is distended (swollen)
  
• symptoms persist after dietary changes
• your child experiences persistent stomach pain
• there is blood in your child's stool
• your child experiences loss of appetite
• your child is vomiting and it is frequent and/or persistent