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Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy for Functional Constipation
Published on: July 5, 2024
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Early-Life Gut Health Indicators and Reported Prevalence of Infant Functional Constipation by Healthcare
Leilani Muhardi1, Dianne J M Delsing2, Irina Zakharova3
1FrieslandCampina AMEA, Singapore 039190, Singapore.
Nutrients
|January 21, 2023
Summary
Healthcare professionals prefer absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, normal growth, and well-being as key gut health indicators for infants and toddlers. Functional constipation affects less than 5% of infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Child Health
Background:
- Assessing gut health in early childhood lacks standardized indicators.
- Infant functional constipation (FC) prevalence and management vary globally.
- Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives is crucial for developing guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify preferred gut health indicators (GHIs) for infants and toddlers among healthcare professionals (HCPs).
- To estimate the prevalence of infant functional constipation (FC).
- To document current FC management strategies in infants.
Main Methods:
- An electronic survey was distributed to 2199 HCPs across eight countries.
- Participants included pediatricians, pediatric gastroenterologists, and general practitioners.
- The survey queried preferred GHIs, FC prevalence, and management approaches.
Main Results:
- Top GHIs for infants and toddlers were: absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, normal growth indicating effective digestion/absorption, and general well-being.
- Less than 5% of infants were reported to have FC, peaking between 3-6 months.
- FC management included nutritional solutions (40.2%), parental reassurance (31.7%), and lactulose (17.0%).
Conclusions:
- HCPs prioritize symptom absence, normal growth, and well-being for assessing infant and toddler gut health.
- Functional constipation prevalence in infants appears low (<5%).
- Current FC management strategies are diverse, with nutritional changes being most common.
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