Globally, acute malnutrition triggers more than 50% of childhood mortality in children under 5 years old, which implies that about 3.5 million children die of malnutrition each year. Prior to the advent of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), the management of acute malnutrition was limited to hospitals, resulting in low coverage rates with high mortality, as malnourished cases were indentified at later stages often plagued with complications. However, current availability of RUTF has enabled malnourished children to be treated at communities. Further, because RUTF is dehydrated and sealed, it has the added advantage of a lower risk of bacterial contamination, thereby prolonging its storage life at room temperature. Recent data indicate that Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is as cost effective as other high-impact public health measures such as oral rehydration therapy for acute diarrheal diseases, vitamin A supplementation, and antibiotic treatment for acute respiratory infections. Despite the high efficacy of CMAM programs, CMAM still draws insufficient attention for global implementation, suggesting that CMAM programs should be integrated into local or regional routine health systems. Knowledge gaps requiring further research include: the definition of practical screening criteria for malnourished children at communities, the need for systematic antibiotic therapy during malnutrition treatment, and the dietary management of severe malnutrition in children below 6 months of age.
Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; Developing Countries ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Malnutrition ; Mass Screening ; Nitro Compounds ; Public Health ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Vitamin A

The syndrome of protracted diarrhea (PD) includes several diseases with diverse etiologies. This study was conducted to characterize the spectrum of causes, clinical manifestations, and the outcomes of PD. A retrospective analysis of the clinical and pathological findings was performed on 25 patients with diarrhea starting within the first 2 yr of life and a requirement of parenteral nutrition (PN). According to the intestinal histopathology, patients were classified into four groups: immune enteropathy (12 cases), lymphangiectasia (6 cases), epithelial dysplasia (5 cases), and unclassified (2 cases). All patients with epithelial dysplasia had earlier onset of diarrhea and longer duration of PN than those in the other groups. Three patients (12%) had an evidence of a familial condition. Five patients (three with microvillous inclusion disease and two with immune enteropathy) died. Sixteen patients recovered, and three (two with primary lymphangiectasia and one with microvillous inclusion disease) still had diarrhea. One patient underwent intestinal transplantation for tufting enteropathy. In conclusion, infants with PD should be referred to specialized centers where advanced diagnostic and therapeutic facilities are available, because histological analysis is critical for the diagnosis of PD, and PN or intestinal transplantation is the only therapeutic option in a subset of cases.
Academic Medical Centers ; Age of Onset ; Autoimmune Diseases/pathology ; Child, Hospitalized ; Child, Preschool ; Data Collection ; Diarrhea/*pathology ; Enteritis/immunology/*pathology ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Intestine, Small/immunology/pathology ; Korea ; Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal/pathology ; Male ; Microvilli/pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Many diagnostic modalities for neonatal cholestasis have shown features that are helpful, however until recently none of them are not pathognomonic of biliary atresia (BA). We carried out a prospective study of infants with cholestatic jaundice with the aim of establishing an efficient method of diagnosing BA. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive infants with cholestatic jaundice were enrolled in this study and ranged from 7 to 152 days in age (mean; 51.2+/-34.2 days). Gastroduodenoscopy was carried out using a fiberscope (Olympus N30). All the babies were fasted for at least 4 hours before the procedure and 20 ml of 10% dextrose solution was given at the time of endoscopy. The endoscopic examination focused on the 5 minutes observation of the evidence of biliary secretion. If there was lack of the evidence of the biliary secretion, endoscopy was removed and repeated the examination with some pause. RESULTS: There are lack of the evidence of biliary secretion in all infants with BA. In non-BA group, 8 out of the 10 infants showed biliary secretion on the first trial, however one (Alagille syndrome) of the two infants without evidence of biliary secretion, finally exhibited biliary secretion on the second trial. The above observations resulted in the diagnostic accuracy of 96.3% with 100.0% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. CONCLUSION: In light of the results from our relatively small study, endoscopy is a convenient, and relative inexpensive procedure. we strongly support the use of endoscopy for the diagnosis of BA in the screening and evaluation of infantile cholestasis.
Biliary Atresia* ; Cholestasis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Endoscopy* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Mass Screening ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy(EVS) has been considered the mainstay therapy for bleeding esophageal varices in adults. However, recent data have shown that endoscopic variceal ligation is just as efficacious and has fewer complications than EVS. Although there are many reports concerning EVL in adults, only a few studies have been done of children. METHODS: We performed EVL in 9 children under 6 years of age(mear age, 2.5 year) with esophageal varices. Outcome was assessed with respect to survival, rebleeding, and complications. RESULTS: The causes of portal hypertension were 3 cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis, 3 cases of biliary atresia, 2 cases of portal vein thrornbosis, and one case of portal vein fibromuscular dysplasia. The age at diagnosis ranged from 10 months to 6 years. The patients underwent a mean of 2.6+/- 0.7 sessions of EVL(ranging from two to four). The numbers of bands per person were 5.6+/-1.8, and the numbers of bands per session were 2.2+/-1.0 Two complications of esophageal rebleeding were noted, and none of the cases experienced symptoms of esophageal stenosis, nor gastroesophageal reflux. CONCLUSION: EVL is safe and effective in controlling variceal hemorrhage in children with portal hypertension, regardless of etiology. The cornplication rate is low and EVL is an acceptable and perhaps preferable altemative to EVS in children with esophageal varices. But regular periodic examination for recurrence of varices after eradication should be required.
Adult ; Biliary Atresia ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Fibrosis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Ligation* ; Portal Vein ; Recurrence ; Varicose Veins

PURPOSE: To obtain basic data on cyclic vomiting syndrome(CVS) and clinical findings of CVS. METHODS: Fifteen patients diagnosed as CVS from April 1995 to July 1999 were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Among 15 children with CVS(11 boys, 4 girls), 4 patients were put in the migraine group and 11 patients in non-migraine group. The onset age ranged from 7 months to 11.4 years(mean: 5.5 years). The prodromal symptoms of the migraine group were headache, flank pain and unpleasant feeling, and those of the non-migraine group were abdominal pain and dizziness. Vomiting began at characteristic times specific for each individual in 73% of patients; in the migraine group, 75% had syrnptoms on arising in the morning. In the non-rnigraine group, 36% were wakened during the night and 27% had symptoms on arising in the morning and 9% had episodes beginning at other characteristic tirnes and the rernaining 27% at no characteristic times. Durations of episodes were of fairly uniform length and mostly between 2 days and 10 days. In regards to precipitating factors, stress was the most frequently mentioned and other reported precipitants included infections, and sensitivity to food and hot or cold weather. Continuous vomiting causes ketosis, electrolyte irnbalance, poor growth, peptic esophagitis and other cornplications, including learning problems and psychosocial dysfunction. Both groups had positive response to prokinetic agents. CONCLUSION: There was no clinical differences between the migraine group and non-migraine group. The response to therapy was poor, but the response to prokinetic agents was better than that to anti-migraine agents.
Abdominal Pain ; Age of Onset ; Child ; Dizziness ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Flank Pain ; Headache ; Humans ; Ketosis ; Learning ; Migraine Disorders ; Precipitating Factors ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Vomiting* ; Weather

Microvillous inclusion disease (MID) or congenital microvillous atrophy is a rare cause of intractable, persistent secretory diarrhea shortly after birth or at birth. The prognosis of MID is very poor and most of the reported patients have died within 6.5 years. Diagnosis is based on the ultrastructural demonstration of intracytoplasmic inclusion of microvilli. There have been several cases reported in the literature. To evaluate the clinicopathologic features of MID, we have reviewed 4 cases of MID which was confirmed by the ultrastructural study of the duodenal biopsy. All patients suffered from life-threatening diarrhea since birth. Many other radiologic or laboratory findings were of no value in the evaluation of causative agents. One of the patients died of the disease and remaining patients have been alive on intravenous fluids or total parenteral nutrition. Histological findings of all cases were similar and characterized by varying degrees of mucosal atrophy and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration in the duodenal mucosa. PAS stain revealed a discontinuous brush border over the atrophic villous surface with or without small vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the surface epithelium. Ultrastructural changes were found mainly in the surface epithelium of the duodenal mucosa and characterized by the presence of membrane bound inclusions lined by intact or degenerating microvilli, as well as degeneration of surface epithelial cells with loss of microvilli, or with sparse, short microvilli.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Child ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Membranes ; Microvilli ; Mucous Membrane ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Parturition ; Prognosis ; Vacuoles

PURPOSE: Anorectal manometry is a way of investigation for anti-rectal sphincters. In this paper we evaluated the usefulness of anorectal manometry in constipation patients and compared the anal spnincter function in control, constipation and encopresis patients. METHOD: We analysed the data of anorectal function studies in normal children (control, n=11), children with constipation (constipation group, n=20) and children with encopresis (encopresis group, n=16). RESULTS: The specific manometric parameters in normal children were like as follows; external anal sphinter pressure 21.0+/-8.00 mmHg, internal anal sphicter pressure 30.0+/- 14.57 mmHg, conscious rectal sensitivity threshold 11.4+/-4.52 mmHg. The above results were not different from that of previous studies except conscious rectal sensitivity threshold, which was slightly lower than that of others. Internal and external anal sphincter pressure were elevated significantly in constipation and encopresis groups than in control, which results was the same in conscious rectal sensitivity threshold. But the values of rectoanal inhibitory threshold and percent relaxation of rectoanal inhibitory reflex were not different among control group, constipation group and encopresis group. External sphincter activity was increased during the act of bearing down for defecation in none of the child in control group, in 6 of 17 children in constipation group and 5 of 12 children in encopresis group. CONCLUSION: With the results of above we could say that complete history taking and physical examination are important in diagnosis of constipation, and we could say also that the anorectal manometry was a valuable tool to understand the physiology of normal defecation and the pathophysiology of constipation and encopresis.
Anal Canal ; Child* ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diagnosis ; Encopresis ; Humans ; Manometry* ; Physical Examination ; Physiology ; Reflex ; Relaxation

PURPOSE: Recurrent abdominal pain(RAP) is a common problem in childhood, and has a reported prevalence of 10 to 20% in children. Functional abdominal pain is classified into nonulcer dyspepsia(NUD) and irritable bowel(IB) in adults. We designed this study to evaluate clinical manifestations of RAP according to its subclassification. METHODS: Patients who visited Samsung Medical Center from January to July 1998 due to recurrent abdominal pain were included. According to questionaire and history taking, RAP was classified into NUD, its subtypes, and IB. RESULTS: Among 118 children, 93 children were included. Fifteen patients were excluded because we knew the causes of RAP and 10 patients were excluded because they couldn't understand the questionaire. Thirty-five patients(37.6%) had symptoms of NUD, 11(11.8%) had symptoms of IB, and 47(50.5%) had both symptoms. Among the patients with NUD, 16(19.5%) were classified into dysmotility-like dyspepsia(NUDD), 18 patients(22%) into ulcer-like dyspepsia(NUDU) and 1 patient(1.2%) into reflux-like dyspepsia(NUDR). Twenty eight patients(34%) had both symptoms of NUDD and NUDU, 8 patients(9.8%) had both NUDD and NUDR, 3 patients(3.7%) had both NUDR and NUDU and 8 patients(9.8%) had all symptoms. Among patients with IB and NUD, symptom of NUDD(63.2%) was most prevailing. NUDR significantly correlated with autonomic nervous symptoms(P=0.006). However, the prevalence rate of H. pylori IgG antibody were not significantly different among subgroups. CONCLUSION: NUDD is the most common symptom that is manifestated in children and it is the same in adults. This study showed that the subclassification of RAP in children is feasible.
Abdominal Pain* ; Adult ; Child ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: In children, dysphagia is a common cause of recurrent pneumonia and malnutrition and can be fatal. However, till now no studies were performed concerning the clinical investigation of dysphagia in Korea. METHODS: In this study we evaluated the clinical manifestations of dysphagia in children with an age range between 1 month and 12 years by reviewing the clinical records, and we classified the dysphagia by videofluoroesophagography. RESULTS: The etiologies of dysphagia demonstrated as follows; developmental delay in 7 patients, treacheoesophageal fistula in 2 patients, and ischemic encephalopathy, encephalitis, brain tumor, subepiglottic stenosis, bronchiolitis, and Williams syndrome in 1 patient, respectively. The presenting symptoms of dysphagia revealed as follows; choking in 7(46%) patients, nasal regurgitation in 2(13.3%) patients, hypersensitive gag reflex in 2(13.3%) patients and drooling, foreign body sensation, and feeding refusal in 1 patient, respectively. The complications of dysphagia were malnutrition in 12(80%) patients, which was followed by aspiration pneumonia in 8(53.3%) patients. On videofluoroesophagography, 5 patients showed oral phase dysphagia, Seven and two patients showed pharyngeal and esophageal phase dysphagia, respectively. Two patients presented normal deglutition on videofluoroesophagography. Total of 8 patients required gastrostomy because of recurrent aspiration and poor weight gain. In 7 patients, however, dysphagia improved with rehabilitation therapy only. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that the complications of dysphagia in childhood were not uncommon, and suggested that diagnostic workup including videofluoroesophagography were helpful in classifying the feeding difficulties of these children. Gastrostomy and rehabilitation offered effective therapeutic possibilities.
Airway Obstruction ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain Neoplasms ; Bronchiolitis ; Child* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Disulfiram ; Encephalitis ; Fistula ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Malnutrition ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Reflex ; Rehabilitation ; Sensation ; Sialorrhea ; Weight Gain ; Williams Syndrome

PURPOSE: In children, dysphagia is a common cause of recurrent pneumonia and malnutrition and can be fatal. However, till now no studies were performed concerning the clinical investigation of dysphagia in Korea. METHODS: In this study we evaluated the clinical manifestations of dysphagia in children with an age range between 1 month and 12 years by reviewing the clinical records, and we classified the dysphagia by videofluoroesophagography. RESULTS: The etiologies of dysphagia demonstrated as follows; developmental delay in 7 patients, treacheoesophageal fistula in 2 patients, and ischemic encephalopathy, encephalitis, brain tumor, subepiglottic stenosis, bronchiolitis, and Williams syndrome in 1 patient, respectively. The presenting symptoms of dysphagia revealed as follows; choking in 7(46%) patients, nasal regurgitation in 2(13.3%) patients, hypersensitive gag reflex in 2(13.3%) patients and drooling, foreign body sensation, and feeding refusal in 1 patient, respectively. The complications of dysphagia were malnutrition in 12(80%) patients, which was followed by aspiration pneumonia in 8(53.3%) patients. On videofluoroesophagography, 5 patients showed oral phase dysphagia, Seven and two patients showed pharyngeal and esophageal phase dysphagia, respectively. Two patients presented normal deglutition on videofluoroesophagography. Total of 8 patients required gastrostomy because of recurrent aspiration and poor weight gain. In 7 patients, however, dysphagia improved with rehabilitation therapy only. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that the complications of dysphagia in childhood were not uncommon, and suggested that diagnostic workup including videofluoroesophagography were helpful in classifying the feeding difficulties of these children. Gastrostomy and rehabilitation offered effective therapeutic possibilities.
Airway Obstruction ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain Neoplasms ; Bronchiolitis ; Child* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Disulfiram ; Encephalitis ; Fistula ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Malnutrition ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Reflex ; Rehabilitation ; Sensation ; Sialorrhea ; Weight Gain ; Williams Syndrome