Guidelines in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatologyand nutrition
ESPGHAN-NASPGHAN Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Gastrointestinal and Nutritional Complications in Children with Neurological Impairment
Manuela Capozza, Mariella Baldassarre
1Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche ed Oncologia Umana, Sezione di Neonatologia e TIN, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Ospedale Policlinico”, Università degli Studi “Aldo Moro”
Children with neurological disability and gastrointestinal disorders often lead to malnutrition and growth failure. Assessment of nutritional status is the first step in the clinical evaluation. The European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) recently published a consensus statement on gastrointestinal and nutritional issues in children with neurological disability, including assessment and monitoring of nutritional status, definition of nutritional requirements, diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and indications for and modalities of nutritional support. The appropriate application of the ESPGHAN guidelines is expected to lead to better management of this group of frail children.