Explanaton symptoms into mechanisms: functional gastrointestinal disorders in the children

Aim: To investigate and analyze clinical and laboratory data in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders and the role of phytotherapeutic correction in the treatment.

Materials and Methods: Clinical and follow-up observation was conducted on 131 children aged 4 to 22 months (72 boys and 59 girls) with manifestations of functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Results: 53 (40,5%) children received artificial milk formulas from birth, 20 children (15,3%) - from 2 months of age, 22 (16,8%) - from 4 months of age, 36 (27,4%) - from 6 months of age or older. Complementary feeding in most cases was introduced earlier than the WHO recommended terms - 85 children (64,8%) began to receive complementary feeding before 6 months of age. The most frequent clinical manifestations were: flatulence (97 children/74,2±3,8%), pain syndrome (92 patients/70,4±3,9%), decreased appetite (64 children/48,6±4,4%) and refusal to eat (47 children/36,0±4,2%), constipation (45 patients/34,8±4,2%). Children with functional gastrointestinal disorders were characterized by a decrease in the degree of physical development: physical development below average was observed in 23,6±3,7% of the examined children, low physical development - in 18,3±3,4%, very low - in 22,9±3,7%. Liver ultrasound revealed no abnormalities in children with FGID. Coprological findings reflected impaired gastric and intestinal digestion and impaired pancreatic secretion.

Conclusions: The most significant risk factors for the development of FGID in young children are certain inconsistencies of nutrition with the functional capabilities of the child's organism in the form of artificial feeding and early introduction of complementary feeding.