Pediatric Education and Research

The supply and utilisation of nutrients are of greater biological relevance during early childhood than during any other period of life. The nutrient supply must cover maintenance requirements and the needs for physical activity. Children need large additional energy and substrate intakes for body growth. Healthy new-born infants double their body extremely rapidly in only 4–5 months after birth, and in preterm infants even in only about 6 weeks, which requires a very high substrate supply per kg bodyweight. The quantity and quality of nutrient supply during early life modulates the differentiation of tissues and organs and has short- and long-term consequences for health. The rapid growth of infants and children, who double their body weight within only 6 weeks in utero and within 4–5 months after birth, respectively, depends on very large nutrient supplies per kg body weight. Healthy young infants need about 3 times more energy per kg body weight than adults, primarily due to the added metabolic requirements for growth. Premature infants who grow at rates similar to normal intrauterine growth have even greater metabolic needs.

Rubeola, often known as measles, is a highly contagious viral infection. Measles is caused by infection with the measles virus. The measles virus is a non-segmented negative sense RNA virus that belongs to the morbillivirus genus of the paramyxoviridae family. It is spread through the air via respiratory droplets or aerosolized particles, and symptoms include fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, followed by an erythematous maculo-papular rash. Many organ systems are affected by measles complications, and pneumonia accounts for the majority of measlesrelated morbidity and mortality. Clinical presentation and laboratory test results, including the presence of anti IGM antibodies and/or viral RNA, are used to confirm a case. Vitamin A is given to measles patients as part of their treatment. Measles vaccines comprise of a live attenuated measles virus strains and great advance has been made to increase vaccination coverage in the world to decrease the incidence of measles from infection with measles virus.

Aim and Context: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical profile and estimate the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) in children based on recent Rome IV criteria. Settings, Design, Methods and Materials: Using Rome IV diagnostic criteria, the questionnaire was prepared and a cross-sectional study was done on children attending pediatric department to assess the clinical profile of FGIDs in children under the age of 18. Statistical Analysis: Categorical data were analyzed using the Fisher’s exact test, and continuous data were analyzed using a two-sided t-test. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The results showed that 1448 children (40%) fulfilled the criteria for having at least one FGID. FGIDs were found in 47% of infants between 1-48 months, 28% between 4 and 11 years, and 42% between 11and18 years. Functional constipation (53%) was the most prevalent FGID in children under the age of four, followed by infantile regurgitation (18%) and infantile colic (15%), and although functional constipation was the most common FGID in children aged four to eighteen. However, in older children aged 4 to 18, functional abdominal pain disorders and functional defecation disorders are about equal in prevalence. When it comes to subtypes, functional constipation (15%) outnumbers irritable bowel syndrome (5.5%) and functional abdominal pain (5%). Conclusion: FGIDs are common in pediatric outpatient clinics. These disorders can be identified using the Rome IV criteria. Parental education and reassurance should be the first steps in managing FGIDs.