Gastroesophageal reflux, the dreaded infant colic, constipation… The functional gastrointestinal disorders (TFGI) They are diverse and can occur at any stage of childhood, but when they occur in babies and newborns It usually causes particular distress to parents, who do not always know how to proceed.
And they are not exactly few babies with a functional gastrointestinal disordersince 24.7% of babies from 0 to 12 months suffer from it, according to a study by the Emma Children’s Hospital in Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdamin which KidZ Health Castle, in Brussels, and the University of Naples Federico II have also participated.
This percentage drops to 11.3% in slightly older babies, from 13 to 48 months. However, although it is a very common problem in infants, it has not been possible to completely define the causesalthough it seems that different factors intervene.
“For example, in the case of infant colicthey apply neurodevelopmental and gastrointestinal factorssuch as the immaturity of the enteric nervous system, which results in altered intestinal motility, as well as a possible intolerance to cow’s milk proteins,” he points out. Dr. Anna Fàbrega Riera, pediatrician at the Catalan Institute of Health and the Bofill Clinic Group on the occasion of the international webinar Real Life Cases on the diagnosis & nutritional management of colic and constipationorganized by Nutricia. “And it also seems that the composition of the intestinal microbiota plays an important role.”
The pediatrician must not only make a diagnosis of FGID, but also recognize the impact of the baby’s symptoms on the family
What is functional gastrointestinal disorder in infants?
Despite the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders, affected newborns and babies are not always diagnosed correctly. The specialist explains that it has a lot to do with the limited time that pediatricians have to care for their patients: “You have to dedicate enough time to the visit to make the appropriate diagnosis, which will be clinical and without the need to perform additional tests. However, the lack of time in pediatric consultations sometimes causes unnecessary diagnostic tests to be performed and prevents the appropriate approach to TFGI“, warns the specialist.
© Adobe StockWhat exactly are the TFGI for this to happen? In this type of ailments, the intensity at which one suffers greatly influences; in fact, the criteria of Rome IV (which is a scale that categorizes functional gastrointestinal disorders based on symptoms) define when a mere occasional discomfort becomes classified as a functional gastrointestinal disorder. For this, what is taken into account is “a recurrence -which happens with some frequency- and the clinical or symptomatic involvement -degree of discomfort in the baby-, which are what define when we are faced with a FGID,” clarifies Dr. Fàbrega.
“Although they are common conditions throughout the pediatric age, the most characteristic during the first weeks or months of life are colic and infant reflux, dyschezia (difficulty expelling feces) and functional constipation,” he adds.
And, even though these are not serious pathologies, the reality is that they greatly impact the well-being not only of the affected child, but of the entire family, since the persistent crying of the baby due to the discomfort and discomfort in its body is a cause of great anguish and stress for its caregivers.
This is something that the pediatrician highlighted in the webinar organized by Nutricia for medical professionals, where she stressed the importance of providing education and support to parents to adequately manage these disorders. “The pediatrician must not only do a TFGI diagnosisbut also recognize the impact of the baby’s symptoms on the family. Therefore, you must dedicate time to listening and reassuring these parents, making them understand that they are not to blame for their babies’ crying and that it is a transient disorder; At the same time, it must encourage and advise on breastfeeding as the best nutritional option.”
Options for infants and newborns with functional gastrointestinal disorders
In the case of those infants who are not being exclusively breastfed, but who are doing well for mixed breastfeeding or exclusively for formula milkthere are options for this type of artificial milk that can be very beneficial. These are effective, accessible and safe nutritional therapeutic measures, according to Dr. Fàbrega Riera.
“Clinical benefit can certainly be obtained through the use of these formulas specifically designed to improve symptoms associated with colic or constipation and to improve the intestinal health of the infant.” The pediatrician points out those that contain a contribution of prebiotic oligosaccharides, beta palmitate, partially hydrolyzed proteins and a reduction in lactose content. Of course, the most advisable thing is to offer this type of formula to our child after consulting with his pediatrician.