A survey on clinical presentation and nutritional status of infants with suspected cow' milk allergy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cow's milk is the most common food allergen in infants and the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy is difficult, even with the use of several diagnostic tests. Therefore, elimination diets and challenge tests are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. The aim of this study is to report the clinical presentation and nutritional status of children evaluated by pediatric gastroenterologists for the assessment of symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational cross-sectional study was performed among 9,478 patients evaluated by 30 pediatric gastroenterologists for 40 days in 5 different geographical regions in Brazil. Clinical data were collected from patients with symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy. The nutritional status of infants (age ≤ 24 months) seen for the first time was evaluated according to z-scores for weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and height-for-age. Epi-Info (CDC-NCHS, 2000) software was used to calculate z-scores.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of suspected cow's milk allergy in the study population was 5.4% (513/9,478), and the incidence was 2.2% (211/9,478). Among 159 infants seen at first evaluation, 15.1% presented with a low weight-for-age z score (< -2.0 standard deviation - SD), 8.7% with a low weight-for-height z score (< -2.0 SD), and 23.9% with a low height-for-age z score (< -2.0 SD).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The high prevalence of nutritional deficits among infants with symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy indicates that effective elimination diets should be prescribed to control allergy symptoms and to prevent or treat malnutrition.</p

Manometria anorretal em crianças com constipação intestinal crônica funcional refratária a tratamento Anorectal manometry in children with chronic functional intestinal constipation refractory to treatment

OBJETIVO: Descrever os resultados da manometria anorretal dos pacientes com constipação intestinal crônica funcional (CICF), refratária aos tratamentos habituais, quanto ao tônus esfincteriano, presença do reflexo inibitório retoanal (RIRA), capacidade de expulsão do balão intrarretal e comportamento durante manobra evacuatória. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo por meio de análise de prontuários médicos entre janeiro de 2003 e junho de 2007, avaliando-se 31 pacientes ambulatoriais com CICF refratária a tratamentos convencionais por manometria anorretal com cateter de quatro canais (processador MPX 816 e software Proctomaster 5.0, Dynamed). RESULTADOS: Dos 31 pacientes, 24 (77%) eram do sexo masculino. A idade média foi 8,9±2,6 anos. A média de pressão máxima fisiológica do canal anal foi 82±38mmHg. Dos 31 pacientes, 15 (48%) apresentaram esfíncter anal normotônico e 16 (52%), hipertônico. O RIRA esteve presente em todos os casos. A prova de expulsão do balão intrarretal foi positiva em 12/31pacientes, sendo 4/12 com esfíncter normotônico e 8/12 com esfíncter hipertônico (p=0,22). Anismo foi detectado em 6/15 pacientes com esfíncter normotônico (40%) e em 4/16 com esfíncter hipertônico (25%) (p=0,45). CONCLUSÕES: Houve predomínio de esfíncter anal normotônico nos casos de CICF refratária. Pouco mais de 1/3 dos pacientes conseguiram a expulsão do balão durante a prova evacuatória, independentemente da tonicidade do esfíncter anal e cerca de metade dos pacientes apresentavam anismo sem relação com a tonicidade do esfíncter anal. A manometria anorretal é apropriada para o estudo da fisiologia e dinâmica evacuatória e pode ser útil para orientar o tratamento.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate anorectal manometry results in children with chronic functional intestinal constipation refractory to conventional treatment regarding mean anal sphincter resting pressure, presence of recto-anal inhibitory reflex (RAIR), expulsion capability of the intra-rectal balloon and behavior during the defecation maneuver. METHODS: Retrospective study by review of medical records from January 2003 to June 2007 with 31 patients who presented chronic functional constipation refractory to standard treatment. Anorectal manometry was performed by a four-channel catheter (MPX 816 processor and Proctomaster 5.0 software, Dynamed). RESULTS: Among the 31 studied children, 24 (77%) were male. The mean age was 8.9±2.6 years. The mean maximal squeeze pressure of the anal sphincter was 82±38 mmHg. Among the patients, 15 (48%) had normotonic anal sphincter and 16 (52%) hypertonic anal sphincter. RAIR was present in all patients. Intra-rectal balloon expulsion was positive in 12/31 patients, being 4/12 with normotonic sphincter and 8/12 with hypertonic sphincter (p=0.22). Anism was detected in 6/15 patients with normotonic sphincter (40%) and in 4/16 patients with hypertonic sphincter (25%) (p=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: There was a predominance of normotonic anal sphincter in children with refractory chronic functional constipation. More than 1/3 of the patients were able to expulse the balloon during the defecation test, regardless of anal sphincter resting pressure, and about half of them presented anism not related to the anal sphincter tonus. The anorectal manometry is appropriate to study physiology and evacuatory dynamic, and can be useful to guide the treatment