Managing GI disorders in children

GI disorders in children are challenging to manage.  One of the key goals of nutrition support is to provide enough energy and nutrients to the growing child. Sick children, however, may have higher than usual energy requirements and complex needs because of infection, inflammation, wound healing and tissue repair.
 

GI disorders or complications commonly associated with nutritional risk are:

• Cystic Fibrosis
• Cerebral palsy
• Pancreatitis
• Malabsorption
• Short bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Enterocutaneous fistulae
• Steathorrea
• Pancreatic insufficiency

Common complications of the above conditions include:

• Loss of macro and micronutrients
• Growth failure
• Negative nitrogen balance 
• Delayed gastric emptying 
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux

Optimising nutritional intake by the enteral route is of utmost importance.

Strategies to optimise absorption & digestion include:

1) Choosing an easily digestible diet
2) Providing a quick source of energy in the form of medium chain triglycerides
3) Providing a carbohydrate source that will not exceed energy requirements
4) Providing an adequate protein source with a high Nutritional Biological Value
5) Providing macro and micronutrients in a flexible way e.g via oral or enteral feeding tube
6) Providing optimal nutritional support with the lowest osmolarity to enhance absorption and tolerance

Learn more about Peptamen Junior here . . .