Coexistencia de trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales en lactantes y preescolares latinoamericanos / Coexistence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in Latin American infants and preschoolers

Resumen Introducción: se ha descrito la coexistencia de trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales (c-TGF) en lactantes y preescolares (LactPre); sin embargo, hay poca literatura sobre los principales c-TGF y sus características. Objetivo: describir la prevalencia y posibles asociaciones de c-TGF en un mismo LactPre latinoamericano. Metodología: estudio de prevalencia en LactPre de Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua y Panamá de consulta externa y urgencias, a quienes, según los criterios de Roma III en español, se identificaron regurgitación, síndrome de rumiación, síndrome del vómito cíclico, cólico, diarrea funcional, estreñimiento funcional y disquecia. Se tuvieron en cuenta la edad, el sexo y el origen. La estadística incluyó t de Student, chi cuadrado, prueba exacta de Fisher, análisis uni y multivariados y el cálculo de los OR e IC 95%, siendo una p <0,05 significativa. Resultados: se analizaron 2417 niños (2,4±19,8 meses de edad, 51,3% masculinos, con diagnóstico de por lo menos algún TGF del 35,7%). Se presentó c-TGF en el 3,6%, siendo el principal el síndrome de rumiación del lactante (SRL) más estreñimiento funcional (EF). Hubo predomino del género masculino en los lactantes y ser colombiano. Conclusión: la principal c-TGF en este grupo de LactPre de Latinoamérica es el SRL más EF, presentándose principalmente en el sexo masculino y en lactantes menores de 24 meses.

Abstract Introduction: Coexistence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) in infants and preschool children has been described, but there is little literature on the main types of FGID coexistence or their characteristics. Objective: This study describes the prevalence and possible associations of FGID coexistence among Latin American infants and preschool children. Methodology: This is a prevalence study of infants and preschool children conducted in Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Panama. Children included were outpatients and emergency patients who were identified according to the Rome III Criteria in Spanish as suffering from regurgitation, rumination syndrome, cyclic vomiting syndrome, colic, functional diarrhea, functional constipation and/or dyspepsia. Age, sex and origin of patients were registered. Statistical analyses included Student's T test, chi squared test, Fisher's exact test, univariate analysis, multivariate analysis and calculation of odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals with p <0.05 set as significant. Results: Two thousand four hundred and seventeen children were included. Their age range was 2.4 months to 19.8 months of age, and 51.3% were male. The proportion of patients with a diagnosis of at least one FGID was 35.7%. FGID coexistence was found in 3.6% of the patients. The most frequent combination was rumination syndrome plus functional constipation. There were predominances of males, infants and Colombian children in the total sample. Conclusion: The most commonly coexisting FGIDs in this group of Latin America infants and preschool children were infant rumination syndrome and functional constipation which were found together most frequently among boys who were under 24 months old.

[Irritable bowel syndrome subtypes and characteristics in children from Panama, Ecuador,El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico]. / Caracterización y subtipos del síndrome de intestino irritable en niños de Panamá, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua y México.

INTRODUCTION: Few pediatric studies classify the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subtypes. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and subtypes of IBS in children from Panama, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prevalence study performed in children between 8 and 18 years of age with a diagnosis of IBS. The children answered the Questionnaire for Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Roma III for Schoolchildren and Adolescents (QPGS-III) to identify functional gastrointestinal disorders. Variables such as age and sex were taken into account. The subtypes of IBS were classified in IBS with constipation (IBS-c), with diarrhea (IBS-d), mixed (IBS-m) and without subtype (IBS-ss). Statistical analysis included measures of central tendency, two-tailed student t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test, with a significant p<0.05. RESULTS: We included 79 children (54.4% female, 12.1±2.1 years) presenting IBS-ss in 55.7%, IBS-c in 15.2%, IBS-m in 15.2% and SII-d in 13.9%. Severe pain predominated most of the day and with mucous stools; possible associations for IBS-d school and sex. CONCLUSION: After IBS-ss, the IBS-e, IBS-d and IBS-m are similar, being the possible risk factors for IBS-d, the public school and the female gender.

Caracterización y subtipos del síndrome de intestino irritable en niños de Panamá, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua y México / Irritable bowel syndrome subtypes and characteristics in children from Panama, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico

Introducción: Pocos estudios pediátricos clasifican los subtipos del síndrome de intestino irritable (SII). Objetivo: Describir las características y subtipos del SII en niños de Panamá, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua y México. Material y métodos: Estudio de prevalencia realizado en niños entre los 8 y 18 años de edad con diagnóstico de SII. Los niños respondieron el Cuestionario para Síntomas Gastrointestinales Pediátricos Roma III para Escolares y Adolescentes (QPGS-III) para identificar desordenes gastrointestinales funcionales (DGFs). Se tuvieron en cuenta variables como edad y sexo. Los subtipos de SII se clasificaron en SII con estreñimiento (SII-e), con diarrea (SII-d), mixto (SII-m) y sin subtipo (SII-ss). El análisis estadístico incluyó medidas de tendencia central, t-student a dos colas, chi cuadrado, y prueba exacta de Fisher, siendo una p<0,05 significativa. Resultados: Fueron incluidos 79 niños (54,4% femeninos; 12,1±2,1 años) presentándose SII-ss en 55,7%, SII-e en 15,2%, SII-m en 15,2% y SII-d en13,9%. Predominó el dolor severo la mayor parte del día y con heces mucosas; siendo posibles asociaciones para SII-d el colegio y el sexo. Conclusión: Luego del SII-ss, los SII-e, SII-d y SII-m son similares, siendo los posibles factores de riesgo para SII-d, el colegio público y el género femenino

Introduction: Few pediatric studies classify the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subtypes. Objective: To describe the characteristics and subtypes of IBS in children from Panama, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico. Material and methods: Prevalence study performed in children between 8 and 18 years of age with a diagnosis of IBS. The children answered the Questionnaire for Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Roma III for Schoolchildren and Adolescents (QPGS-III) to identify functional gastrointestinal disorders. Variables such as age and sex were taken into account. The subtypes of IBS were classified in IBS with constipation (IBS-c), with diarrhea (IBS-d), mixed (IBS-m) and without subtype (IBS-ss). Statistical analysis included measures of central tendency, two-tailed student t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test, with a significant p<0.05. Results: We included 79 children (54.4% female, 12.1±2.1 years) presenting IBS-ss in 55.7%, IBS-c in 15.2%, IBS-m in 15.2% and SII-d in 13.9%. Severe pain predominated most of the day and with mucous stools; possible associations for IBS-d school and sex. Conclusion: After IBS-ss, the IBS-e, IBS-d and IBS-m are similar, being the possible risk factors for IBS-d, the public school and the female gender

Prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Schoolchildren in Ecuador.

The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children in Ecuador is unknown. We describe a survey study in 2 schools in Quito, Ecuador, using a Spanish translation of the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Rome III Version (QPGS-RIII). A total of 417 children (51% boys) with a mean age of 12.0 years were included. FGIDs were present in 95 children (22.8%) and occurred in 25% of girls and in 20.7% of boys (P = 0.296). Functional defecation disorders were found in 12.0% of children, 9.4% had an abdominal pain-related FGID and 3.8% was diagnosed with a vomiting or aerophagia FGID.

Emergency room visits for respiratory conditions in children increased after Guagua Pichincha volcanic eruptions in April 2000 in Quito, Ecuador observational study: time series analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study documented elevated rates of emergency room (ER) visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections and asthma-related conditions in the children of Quito, Ecuador associated with the eruption of Guagua Pichincha in April of 2000. METHODS: We abstracted 5169 (43% females) ER records with primary respiratory conditions treated from January 1-December 27, 2000 and examined the change in pediatric ER visits for respiratory conditions before, during, and after exposure events of April, 2000. We applied a Poisson regression model adapted to time series of cases for three non-overlapping disease categories: acute upper respiratory infection (AURI), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), and asthma-related conditions in boys and girls for three age groups: 0-4, 5-9, and 10-15 years. RESULTS: At the main pediatric medical facility, the Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital, the rate of emergency room (ER) visits due to respiratory conditions substantially increased in the three weeks after eruption (RR = 2.22, 95%CI = [1.95, 2.52] and RR = 1.72 95%CI = [1.49, 1.97] for lower and upper respiratory tract infections respectively. The largest impact of eruptions on respiratory distress was observed in children younger than 5 years (RR = 2.21, 95%CI = [1.79, 2.73] and RR = 2.16 95%CI = [1.67, 2.76] in boys and girls respectively). The rate of asthma and asthma-related diagnosis doubled during the period of volcano fumarolic activity (RR = 1.97, 95%CI = [1.19, 3.24]). Overall, 28 days of volcanic activity and ash releases resulted in 345 (95%CI = [241, 460]) additional ER visits due to respiratory conditions. CONCLUSION: The study has demonstrated strong relationship between ash exposure and respiratory effects in children.

Effects of moderate doses of vitamin A as an adjunct to the treatment of pneumonia in underweight and normal-weight children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials have shown inconsistent responses of childhood pneumonia to the use of vitamin A as an adjunct to the standard treatment of pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of a moderate dose of vitamin A as an adjunct to standard antimicrobial treatment on the duration of respiratory signs in children with pneumonia. DESIGN: Children, aged 2-59 mo, with pneumonia and weight-for-age <50th percentile who had been admitted to the Baca Ortíz Children's Hospital in Quito, Ecuador, were randomly assigned to receive 50,000 IU (aged 2-12 mo) or 100,000 IU (aged >12-59 mo) vitamin A or a placebo. RESULTS: Of the 287 children enrolled, 145 received vitamin A and 142 received placebo. No overall differences were observed between the 2 groups in the duration of signs of pneumonia. Multiple linear regression showed a significant interaction between basal serum retinol concentration and vitamin A group for the time (in h) to remission of respiratory signs (beta = -3.57, SE = 1.09, P = 0.001). Duration of clinical signs was less in children with basal serum retinol concentrations >200 microg/L who received vitamin A supplements than in children with similar concentrations who received placebo (69.9 +/- 49.9 h compared with 131.3 +/- 143.9 h; P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we found no effect of a moderate dose of vitamin A supplementation on the duration of uncomplicated pneumonia in underweight or normal-weight children aged <5 y. However, a beneficial effect was seen in children with high basal serum retinol concentrations.