Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis
Published on: January 5, 2017
Enhancing pediatric practice: A comprehensive review on malabsorption in pediatrics for diagnostic and management
Valentina Pucinischi1, Giacomo Giarrusso1, Giorgia Gallo1
1NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Pediatric Unit, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Pediatric malabsorption, or nutrient absorption issues, requires careful diagnosis and management. Early intervention is key to prevent complications and ensure healthy growth in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Malabsorption in children presents complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
- Diverse etiologies and symptoms necessitate a structured approach for pediatric clinicians.
- Inefficient nutrient absorption leads to symptoms like diarrhea, failure to thrive, and deficiencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide pediatric clinicians with a structured guide for recognizing, diagnosing, and managing childhood malabsorption syndromes.
- To promote early intervention and prevent long-term complications in affected children.
- To synthesize current evidence and clinical guidelines for practical application.
Main Methods:
- Review of diverse etiologies categorized into intestinal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, and extraintestinal causes.
- Emphasis on diagnostic strategies including stool analysis, serological testing, and imaging.
- Exploration of gastrointestinal digestion phases and neonatal/infant-specific processes.
Main Results:
- Identified common conditions like Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, lactose intolerance, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and bile acid malabsorption.
- Addressed rare genetic and metabolic disorders requiring targeted diagnostics.
- Highlighted the complexity of neonatal and infant cases due to developmental immaturity and congenital disorders.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary approach tailored to age and presentation is crucial for effective management.
- Management strategies include dietary modifications, enzyme replacement therapy, and condition-specific interventions.
- Early recognition and coordinated care are vital for improving pediatric patient outcomes and quality of life.
Abstract:
Malabsorption in children presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its diverse etiologies and broad spectrum of symptoms. This review aims to support pediatric clinicians by providing a structured guide for recognizing, diagnosing, and managing malabsorption syndromes in children, promoting early intervention to prevent long-term complications. Malabsorption, defined as the inefficient absorption of nutrients, manifests with symptoms such as diarrhea, failure to thrive, and systemic nutritional deficiencies. The etiologies are categorized into intestinal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, and extraintestinal causes, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach tailored to the patient's age and clinical presentation. Diagnostic strategies emphasize stool analysis, serological testing, and imaging to identify conditions such as Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The review explores the gastrointestinal system's complexity, detailing critical phases of digestion-luminal, mucosal, and transport-and processes specific to neonates and infants. Common issues like lactose intolerance, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and bile acid malabsorption are addressed, alongside rare genetic and metabolic disorders that require targeted diagnostic approaches. Management focuses on dietary modifications, enzyme replacement therapy, and condition-specific interventions to ensure optimal growth and development. Special attention is given to the unique challenges of neonatal and infant cases, where developmental immaturity and congenital disorders often complicate evaluation and treatment. By synthesizing current evidence and clinical guidelines, this review provides pediatricians with a practical framework for addressing the multifaceted challenges of malabsorption. It emphasizes the importance of early recognition and multidisciplinary care to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
01:25Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Disease States and Pharmacology
Substances such as alcohol and specific drugs, including antineoplastics, can also negatively impact drug absorption. For instance,...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
01:26Endoscopic Procedures V: ERCP
Patient...