Failure to thrive (FTT) is a term generally used to describe an infant or child whose current weight or rate of weight gains is significantly below that expected of similar children of the same age, sex and ethnicity. It usually describes infants in whom linear growth and head circumference are either not affected, or are affected to a lesser degree than weight. FTT is a common problem, usually recognized within the first 1-2 years of life, but may present at any time in childhood. Most cases of failure to thrive involve inadequate caloric intake caused by behavioral or psychosocial issues. The most important part of the outpatient evaluation is obtaining an accurate account of a child's eating habits and caloric intake. Routine laboratory testing rarely identifies a cause and is not generally recommended. FTT, its evaluation, and its therapeutic interventions are best approached by a multi-disciplinary team includes a nutritionist, a physical therapist, a psychologist and a gastroenterologist. Long term sequelae involving all areas of growth, behavior and development may be seen in children suffering from FTT. Early detection and early intervention by a multi-disciplinary team will minimize its long term disadvantage. Appropriate nutritional counseling and anticipatory guidance at each well child visit may help prevent some cause of FTT.
Child ; Counseling ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Failure to Thrive ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Outpatients ; Physical Therapists ; Stress, Psychological ; Weight Gain

The influence of nutrition during early life on physical growth as well as mental development has been thoroughly discussed in the literature. The physical dimensions of the body are greatly influenced by nutrition, particularly during the period of rapid growth in early childhood. Nutritional status affects every pediatric patient's response toillness. Good nutrition is important for achieving normal growth and development. It is indicated that permanent impairment of the central nervous system may result from dietary restriction of imbalance during certain periods of life. If children under 3 years of age show a good nutritional status, it may be assumed that they are well nourished. Several common diseases of children such as iron deficiency, chronic constipation and atopic dermatitis are known food related diseases. Patients with chronic illness and those at risk of malnutrition should have detailed nutritional assessments done. Components of a complete nutritional assessment include a medical history, nutritional history including dietary intake, physical examination, anthropometrics (weight, length or stature, head circumference, midarm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness), pubertal staging, skeletal maturity staging, and biochemical tests of nutritional status. The use of age, gender, and disease-specific growth charts is essential in assessing nutritional status and monitoring nutrition interventions. Nutrition assessment and dietary counseling is helpful for the cure of disease, and moreover, the prevention of illness.
Central Nervous System ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Constipation ; Counseling ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Growth and Development ; Growth Charts ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Iron ; Malnutrition ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Physical Examination

Renal scintigraphic methods, which are physiologic and minimally invasive, have played important role in the management of various renal diseases in children, providing sensitive tool for early detection of disease even before structural changes become prominent and giving valuable functional and anatomical information to aid medical decision makings in the treatment and follow-up of patients. This review article focuses on the concept and advantages of renal scintigraphy in pediatric patients with various urologic diseases.
Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nuclear Medicine* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Urologic Diseases ; Urology*

Renal scintigraphic methods, which are physiologic and minimally invasive, have played important role in the management of various renal diseases in children, providing sensitive tool for early detection of disease even before structural changes become prominent and giving valuable functional and anatomical information to aid medical decision makings in the treatment and follow-up of patients. This review article focuses on the concept and advantages of renal scintigraphy in pediatric patients with various urologic diseases.
Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nuclear Medicine* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Urologic Diseases ; Urology*

Coexisting voiding and bowel dysfunction in children are common in the clinic. The idea that overactive bladder (OAB) and constipation arise from one single pathophysiology has been reinforced in many studies. In Korea, a nationwide multicenter study conducted in 2009 showed that overall prevalence of OAB in children, 5-13 years of age, was 16.59% and this number has increased more recently. The initial step to manage coexisting fecal retention and OAB in children is to characterize their bowel and bladder habits and to treat constipation if present. Although diagnosing constipation in children is difficult, careful history-taking using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and a scoring system of plain abdominal radiography, can help to estimate fecal retention more easily and promptly. Non-pharmacological approaches to manage functional constipation include increasing fluids, fiber intake, and physical activity. Several osmotic laxatives are also effective in improving OAB symptoms and fecal retention. Additionally, correction and education in relation to toilet training is the most important measure in treating OAB with fecal retention.
Child* ; Constipation ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Laxatives ; Motor Activity ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Toilet Training ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive*

Coexisting voiding and bowel dysfunction in children are common in the clinic. The idea that overactive bladder (OAB) and constipation arise from one single pathophysiology has been reinforced in many studies. In Korea, a nationwide multicenter study conducted in 2009 showed that overall prevalence of OAB in children, 5-13 years of age, was 16.59% and this number has increased more recently. The initial step to manage coexisting fecal retention and OAB in children is to characterize their bowel and bladder habits and to treat constipation if present. Although diagnosing constipation in children is difficult, careful history-taking using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and a scoring system of plain abdominal radiography, can help to estimate fecal retention more easily and promptly. Non-pharmacological approaches to manage functional constipation include increasing fluids, fiber intake, and physical activity. Several osmotic laxatives are also effective in improving OAB symptoms and fecal retention. Additionally, correction and education in relation to toilet training is the most important measure in treating OAB with fecal retention.
Child* ; Constipation ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Laxatives ; Motor Activity ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Toilet Training ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive*

Migraine is a common neurologic disorder with recurrent headache and variable accompanying symptoms. Patients with migraine have suffered by an enormous burden on daily life and impairment of quality of life (QoL), but migraine is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. For early and better diagnosis and treatment of migraine, headache education and instruments for evaluation of headache outcomes including QoL and disability are essential. Nonpharmachological treatment like cognitive-behavior therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, lifestyle modification and trigger avoidance, biofeedback, relaxation training can reduce frequency of pain, disability, so headache education might be helpful. Headache diary and instruments for evaluation of QoL, disability and comorbidity like Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ) are useful tools to decide plans of treatment. When nonpharmachological treatment and headache education are well applied and evaluation of the QoL and disability are reflected, it will help improve the quality of life for migraine patients.
J Korean Neurol Assoc 38(3):169-174, 2020

PURPOSE: We investigated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, urine protein-creatinine ratio (uProt/Cr), and urine electrolytes can be useful for discriminating acute pyelonephritis (APN) from other febrile illnesses or the presence of a cortical defect on 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scanning (true APN) from its absence in infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 150 infants experiencing their first febrile UTI and 100 controls with other febrile illnesses consecutively admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to December 2012. Blood (CRP, electrolytes, Cr) and urine tests [uProt/Cr, electrolytes, and sodium-potassium ratio (uNa/K)] were performed upon admission. All infants with UTI underwent DMSA scans during admission. All data were compared between infants with UTI and controls and between infants with or without a cortical defect on DMSA scans. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, the ability of the parameters to predict true APN was analyzed. RESULTS: CRP levels and uProt/Cr were significantly higher in infants with true APN than in controls. uNa levels and uNa/K were significantly lower in infants with true APN than in controls. CRP levels and uNa/K were relevant factors for predicting true APN. The method using CRP levels, u-Prot/Cr, u-Na levels, and uNa/K had a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 65%, positive predictive value of 60%, and negative predictive value of 95% for predicting true APN. CONCLUSION: We conclude that these parameters are useful for discriminating APN from other febrile illnesses or discriminating true APN in infants with febrile UTI.
Acute Disease ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Fever/microbiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Potassium/*urine ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria/diagnosis ; Pyelonephritis/*diagnosis/radionuclide imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sodium/*urine ; *Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid ; Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy/microbiology/*radionuclide imaging

Lower GI bleeding is one of the common and difficult problems in the practice of general pediatrics. Causes of bleeding are various but somewhat age-specific in children. A specific diagnosis can usually be made with a accurate history taking, physical examination, included rectal exam, simple laboratory investigations, and appropriate diagnostic studies. Further evaluations can be unnecessary if the patient have a small amount of bleeding and stable vital sign. But precise investigation included abdominal sonography, endoscopy, Meckel's scan, and bleeding scan, are needed on a case by case. Treatment should be directed at the underlying cause. In most children, bleeding ceases spontaneously, and only supportive therapy is necessary. If there is evidence of hypovolemia, the patient must be hemodynamically stabilized, active bleeding stopped, and recurrent bleeding prevented. This review included age-specific cases such as Allergic proctocolitis, Meckel's diverticulum, Juvenile polyps, Henoch-scholein purpura, and Crohn disease, of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Also it will assist the physician in determining appropriate assessment and treatment for children with lower GI bleeding through the usual cases.
Child ; Crohn Disease ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Pediatrics ; Physical Examination ; Polyps ; Proctocolitis ; Purpura ; Vital Signs

The relationship between functional abdominal pain (FAP) and occult constipation (OC) in children who did not meet the Rome III criteria for constipation has rarely been reported. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of OC in patients with FAP and to compare the effectiveness of prokinetic drugs and laxatives for FAP and OC. Pediatric outpatients (n = 212; aged 4–15 years) who satisfied the Rome III criteria for childhood FAP were divided into 2 groups based on Leech scores: group 1 < 8; group 2 ≥ 8. Group 2 received either prokinetic drugs or laxatives and pain severity was assessed after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. A total 52.4% (111/212) of patients had OC in this study. More patients who received laxatives had reduced pain scores compared with those who received prokinetic drugs. Those treated with laxatives in group 2 had a better response than those treated with prokinetic drugs throughout the study period (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002 after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months, respectively). OC was frequently encountered in children with FAP. Laxatives can be more effective than prokinetic drugs for relieving symptoms of FAP in children with a Leech score ≥ 8 and suspected OC.
Abdominal Pain* ; Child* ; Constipation* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Laxatives* ; Outpatients ; Pediatrics ; Prevalence