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Feeding problems in children with neurological disorders
Ewa Jamroz1, Ewa Głuszkiewicz, Urszula Grzybowska-Chlebowczyk
1Child Neurology Department, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Insights
Children with chronic metabolic diseases and neurological disorders often suffer from weight deficiency. Early nutritional intervention and monitoring of development are crucial for these vulnerable children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- Weight deficiency is a significant concern in children with chronic metabolic diseases.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for effective management and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of risk factors associated with weight deficiency in children suffering from chronic metabolic diseases.
- To identify specific neurological conditions linked to malnutrition in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A study group of 160 children (2 months to 15 years) with neurological diseases and weight deficiency (z-score < -2SD) was analyzed.
- Risk factors including feeding methods, neurological disorders, oral motor dysfunction, comorbidities, and nutritional therapy were assessed.
Main Results:
- Progressive encephalopathies and genetically determined diseases showed the most severe malnutrition.
- Seizures and muscular hypotonia were prevalent neurological disorders; oral motor dysfunction affected 40% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Neurological deficits are the primary drivers of malnutrition in children with these conditions.
- Close monitoring of somatic development and prompt nutritional interventions are essential for improving outcomes.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of selected risk factors of weight deficiency in children with chronic metabolic diseases.
Material And Methods:
The study group involved 160 children, from 2 months to 15 years (mean age 3.14 years), with diseases of the nervous system and body weight deficiency. According to the type of neurological disease the following groups of patients were separated: static encephalopathies, progressive encephalopathies, disorders of mental development of undetermined etiology, genetically determined diseases. As the exponent of malnutrition, z-score of weight-for-age standards was used. An inclusion criterion for the study group was z-score of weight-for-age < - 2SD. The analysed risk factors of body weight deficiency were: mode of feeding children, neurological disorders, oral motor dysfunction, diseases of other organs, gastrointestinal motility disorders (oral cavity, esophagus, intestines) and type of nutritional therapy.
Results:
The most advanced malnutrition was in children with progressive encephalopathies and genetically determined diseases. Seizures and muscular hypotonia were most common neurological disorders. Oral motor dysfunctions were observed in 40% of patients.
Conclusions:
Malnutrition in children with neurological disorders is associated mainly with neurological deficits. In this group of children monitoring of somatic development and early nutritional intervention are necessary.
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