Motility disorders in infants

I J N Koppen1, M A Benninga1, M M J Singendonk1

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital, AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Early Human Development
|September 21, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders are common and varied. This review examines their development, focusing on how preterm birth impacts these conditions in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Gastrointestinal motility disorders are prevalent in children, presenting diverse symptoms from reflux to feeding issues.
  • These disorders can impact the entire digestive system, ranging in severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the embryologic and developmental aspects of gastrointestinal motility.
  • To specifically investigate the influence of preterm birth on the development of infant motility disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on embryology, prenatal, and neonatal development of gastrointestinal motility.
  • Analysis of common congenital and acquired motility disorders in infancy.

Main Results:

  • Normal motility patterns in infants are established as a baseline.
  • The review details the impact of preterm birth on the incidence and presentation of these disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding normal development is crucial for diagnosing motility disorders.
  • Preterm birth is a significant factor influencing the development of gastrointestinal motility issues in infants.

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