Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Children
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Children
FAILURE TO THRIVE
Deceleration from established growth pattern or consistently below the 5th percentile for height and weight on standard growth charts; sometimes accompanied by developmental delays
Spitting up or regurgitation
Passive transfer of gastric contents into the esophagus or mouth
Vomiting
Forceful ejection of gastric contents; involves a complex process under central nervous system control that causes salivation, pallor, sweating, and tachycardia; usually accompanied by nausea
Projectile vomiting
Vomiting accompanied by vigorous peristaltic waves and typically associated with pyloric stenosis or pylorospasm
Nausea
Unpleasant sensation vaguely referred to the throat or abdomen with an inclination to vomit
Constipation
Passage of firm or hard stools or infrequent passage of stool with associated symptoms such as difficulty expelling the stools, blood streaked stools, and abdominal discomfort
Encopresis
Overflow of incontinent stool causing soiling; often caused by fecal retention or impaction
Diarrhea
Increase in the number of stools with increased water content as a result of alterations of water and electrolyte transport by the gastrointestinal(GI) tract; may be acute or chronic
Abdominal distension
Protuberant contour of the abdomen that may be caused by delayed gastric emptying, accumulation of gas or stool, inflammation, or obstruction
Abdominal pain
Pain associated with the abdomen that may be localized or diffuse, acute or chronic; often caused by inflammation, obstruction or haemorrhage
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Bleeding from an upper or lower GI source; may be acute or chronic
Hematemesis
Vomiting of bright red blood or denatured blood that results from bleeding in the upper GI tract or from swallowed blood from the nose or oropharynx
Melena
Passage of dark-colored, tarry stools caused by denatured blood, suggesting upper GI tract bleeding or bleeding from the right colon
Hematochezia
Passage of bright red blood per rectum, usually indicating lower GI tract bleeding
Jaundice
Yellow coloration of the skin and sclerae associated with liver dysfunction
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing caused by abnormalities in the neuromuscular function of the pharynx or upper esophageal sphincter or by disorders of the esophagus
Dysfunctional swallowing
Impaired swallowing resulting from central nervous system defects or structural defects of the oral cavity, pharynx or esophagus; can cause feeding problems or aspiration
Fever
Common manifestations of illness in children with GI disorders; usually associated with dehydration, infection or inflammation
Stool examination
Gross, microscopic, and chemical examination of stool specimen to detect normal and abnormal constituents
Bacterial Culture
Sample contents grown on culture medium Detect bacterial pathogens in stool
Quantitative fat
Detection of abnormal quantities of fat in stool Diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency or malabsorption by measuring stool-reducing substances
Reducing substances
unabsorbed sugars measured in stool To detect elevated levels of reducing substances in stool, which are abnormal and suggest carbohydrate malabsorption
pH
Stool pH <5 suggestive of carbohydrate malabsorption; colonic bacterial fermentation produces short-chain fatty acids, which lower stool pH
Stool smeared on guaiac-impregnated paper, and 2 drops of developing solution added to reverse side; blue color indicates hemoglobin detect presence of blood in stool
Serology test
Blood test for antibody to H.pylori assess for exposure to H. pylori
Urease test
Biopsy of stomach, which is stained and placed in Christensen urea medium which turns color in presence of H.pylori
Pancreatic function
pancreatic secretions collected via duodenal tube under stimulated conditions and analyzed for water, ions and enzymes determine functional secretory capacity of pancreas
Hepatobiliary scintigraphy
Nuclear medicine study Radiopharmaceutical administered intravenously, then sequential images of liver, biliary system, and bowel obtained evaluate conditions of liver and biliary tract abnormalities and gallbladder disease diagnosis and monitoring of these conditions, such as biliary atresia
Esophageal pH monitoring
probe that measures pH placed through nose into distal esophagus and records pH over time determine frequency and duration of gastric acid reflux into the esophagus establish association between patient symptoms(pain, apnea, failure to thrive, asthma, wheezing) and acid reflux
Ultrasonography
To locate, measure and delineate abdominal organs