Recomendaciones para el tratamiento del estreñimiento funcional / Guidelines for the treatment of functional constipation

El estreñimiento es un problema clínico frecuente. Afecta del 2 al 30% de los niños, según el criterio diagnóstico utilizado. El tratamiento recomendado se basa en: a) explicación-desmitificación; b) desimpactación fecal y c) mantenimiento con cambios en la dieta, modificación de los hábitos higiénicos y el uso de laxantes. En la última década ha variado el sistema de vaciado intestinal; de la clásica vía rectal hemos pasado al uso generalizado de la vía oral a base de polietilenglicol 3350.Se debe tener en cuenta las necesidades individuales y las preferencias del paciente. El tratamiento de mantenimiento se iniciará inmediatamente después de lograr el vaciado intestinal. Está basado en la modificación de los hábitos dietéticos, higiénicos y en el uso de laxantes. Una adecuada ingesta de fibra y agua, el entrenamiento del hábito defecatorio y el uso de laxantes orales logra una defecación diaria y no dolorosa, evitando la reacumulación de heces. El uso de enemas puede ser efectivo para la desimpactación, pero tiene el riesgo de lesión traumática y no es adecuado para el tratamiento de mantenimiento. Los laxantes recomendados son los osmóticos. El tratamiento de primera elección en niños de cualquier edad es el polietilenglicol 3350 por su seguridad, efectividad y tolerancia. Su dosis varia entre 0,25 a 1,5g/kg. El mejor conocimiento de la fisiología de la defecación ha permitido el desarrollo de nuevos fármacos: bloqueantes de los receptores de la serotonina o activadores de los canales del cloro (AU)

Constipation is common in childhood. It can affect around 5–30% of the child population, depending on the criteria used for diagnosis. The currently recommended treatment is based on three main points: a) explanation, b) disimpaction and c) maintenance therapy consisting of diet changes, behavioural modification, and the use of laxatives. In the last decades treatment on disimpaction have changed radically from the rectal route to the oral route with polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG), the most used and accepted regimen nowadays. Treatment and care should take into account the individual needs and preferences of the patient. Good communication is essential, to allow patients to reach informed decisions about their care. Maintenance therapy consists of dietary interventions, toilet training, and laxatives to obtain daily painless defaecation in order to prevent re-accumulation of stools. Maintenance therapy should be start as soon as the child's bowel is disimpacted. Early intervention with oral laxatives may improve complete resolution of functional constipation. Enemas using phosphate, mineral oil, or normal saline are effective in relieving rectal impaction, but carry the risk of mechanical trauma and are not recommended for maintenance therapy in the paediatric population. Among osmotic agents, polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolyte solutions appear to be the first-line drug treatment to use in children of any age, as it is safe, effective, and well-tolerated. Recommended doses ranges from 0.25 to 1.5g/kg. Advances in the understanding of the gastrointestinal enteric nervous system and epithelial function have led to the development of new substances that bind to serotonin receptors or are chloride channel activators (AU)

[Idiopathic intestinal lymphangiectasis. Evolution with M.C.T. (author's transl)]. / Linfangiectasia intestinal idiopática. Evolución con triglicéridos de cadena media

A case of idiopathic intestinal lymphangiectasis is reported in a three month old child. Clinical course and laboratory findings are given in relation to administration of three diets containing different concentrations and types of fat. Short term improvement was only noticed with diets containing low concentrations of long chain triglycerides supplement with medium chain triglycerides. Clinical manifestations related to fat malabsortion improved greatly but there was no relationship with serum protein level. No effect on low level of gamma-globulins and lymphatic displasia was found as sawn in an intestinal biopsy performed after three months of treatment. Nevertheless, long-term results were poor and only were evident in a diminution of steatorrhea and normalization of stools.