1. What is the definition of the pediatric malabsorption syndrome?

pediatric malabsorption syndromes include clinical disorders that result in chronic diarrhea,
abdominal distention, and failure to thrive in children. Clinical malabsorption varies into a number of distinct
conditions, both congenital and acquired, that cause changes in one or more of the step processes in intestinal
hydrolysis and also transport of nutrients. Pediatric malabsorption syndromes have been found to be mostly
congenital, however does not exclude it being acquired.

2. What is pathophysiology of malabsorption syndrome?

malabsorption of carbohydrates, fats, or proteins are caused by disorders, either congenital or
acquired, in the intestinal processes of digestion, transport, or both, of these nutrients across the intestinal
mucosa into the systemic circulation.
malabsorption pathophysiology can be then categorized into:
- carbohydrates

3. What is the pathogenesis of clinical symptoms of malabsorption syndrome?

4. What are the classification and etiology of pediatric malabsorption syndrome?

classification of pediatric malabsorption syndrome includes acquired and congenital malabsorption.
etiology of pediatric malabsorption syndrome may include the following:
- damage to the intestine from infection, inflammation, trauma, or surgery
- conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, chronic pancreatitis, or cystic fibrosis
- lactase deficiency, or lactose intolerance
- defects that are congenital, such as biliary atresia
- diseases of the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas
- parasitic diseases
- therapies like radiotherapy and drugs like tetracycline, colchicine, or cholestyramine that
may injure intestinal lining
the etiologies stated all will cause digestive problems that may lead to malabsorption, in which there
are dysfunctions of organs causing difficulties in absorption or deficiencies of enzymes that are needed to
digest certain foods.

5. What are the investigation needed to confirm malabsorption syndrome?

assessment of diet history in patients is important, including the amount and type of fluids and solid
foods ingested. Initial problems can be diagnosed by looking at the diet history, for example excessive fluid
intake may result in looser stools and inadequate fat intake may contribute to toddler’s diarrhea.
GI tract symptoms are also common in patients with malabsorption syndromes. These symptoms
varies from mild abdominal gaseous distention to severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Most common
symptoms presented are chronic or recurrent diarrhea. More specified symptoms like abdominal distention
and watery diarrhea, with or without abdominal pain, associated with skin irritation in the perianal area due
to acidic stools are characteristic of carbohydrate malabsorption syndromes, and vomiting, with moderate-to-
severe abdominal pain and bloody stools may be caused by protein sensitivity or other intestinal injuries.

6. What is the principles nutritional approach for malabsorption syndrome?