Pediatric Nursing: Gastrointestinal System of Children VI
Gastrointestinal System of Children
Introduction and Overview of Digestive System
Disorders that affect the digestive (gastrointestinal) system are called digestive
disorders. The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food we eat into
smaller components so that nutrients can be easily absorbed by the body and the
waste discarded.
Several body parts, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestine, and anus, make up the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract.
Classification of digestive diseases
A- Congenital and structure disorders of digestive
1. Cleft lip and Palate.
2. Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula.
3. Pyloric Stenosis.
4. Intussusceptions.
5. Hirschsprung’s Disease.
6. Hernias.
7. Imperforated anus.
B- Infection and inflammatory Disorders
1. Appendicitis.
2. Peptic Ulcer.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Gastritis and Gastroenteritis.
5. Stomatitis.
C- Disorders of Motility
Constipation.
D- Allergic and Malabsorption disorders
Celiac Disease.
1
,Pediatric Nursing: Gastrointestinal System of Children VI
Common terminology
Enteritis: Inflammation of the intestines and especially of the human ileum.
Gastroenteritis: is means inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is a very
common and infectious illness involving vomiting and diarrhea.
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT): The administration of special fluids by mouth.
Oral rehydration solution (ORS): A liquid specially formulated to be given as a
drink to correct the water, mineral, and nutritional deficiencies in an individual,
especially an infant, who is affected by dehydration.
Vomiting: Throw up stomach contents: to expel the contents of the stomach through
the mouth as a result of a series of involuntary spasms of the stomach muscles.
Stomatitis: Is inflammation of the mouth and lips.
Meconium: is the infant’s first stool, composed of amniotic fluid and its constituents,
intestinal secretions, shed mucosal cells, and possibly blood (ingested maternal blood
or minor bleeding of alimentary tract vessels).
Transitional Stools: these usually appear by the third day after initiation of feeding.
They are greenish brown to yellowish-brown, thin, and less sticky than meconium
and may contain some milk curds.
Milk Stools: these usually appear by the fourth day.
In breastfed infants stools are yellow to golden, are pasty in consistency, and have an
odor similar to that of sour milk.
In formula-fed infants stools are pale yellow to light brown, are firmer in consistency,
and have a more offensive odor.
GI Facts
The newborn’s ability to digest, absorb, and metabolize food is adequate but
limited in certain functions.
The liver is the most immature of the gastrointestinal organs.
Some salivary glands are functioning at birth, but the majority do not begin to
secrete saliva until about age 2 to 3 month, when drooling is common.
Stomach capacity varies in the first few days of life, from about 5 ml on day
one to about 60 ml on day three; thus, the infant requires frequent small
feedings.
Newborns that breastfeed usually have more frequent feedings and more
frequent stools than infants who receive formula.
Control of stool is achieved by 18 months to 4 years.
Passage of meconium occurs within the first 24 hours for the vast majority of
newborns, although it is delayed in premature infants.
Assessment of GI Disorders includes
1. Child History.
2. Birth weight.
3. Prematurity.
4. History of maternal infection.
5. Feeding.
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, Pediatric Nursing: Gastrointestinal System of Children VI
The nurse Ask about:
1. Duration of illness.
2. Frequency of stools and associated vomiting.
3. Color of vomit (if green bilious vomit, consider obstruction).
4. Nature of stools, including presence of blood in stool.
5. Feeds (fluid and food intake).
6. Urine output (number of wet nappies).
7. Exposure to infect.
8. Recent antibiotic use
9. Weight loss.
10.Underlying problems e.g. Low birth-weight, malnutrition, neuro-disability.
Nurse Assessment
1. Weight, including any previous recent weight.
2. Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate.
3. Degree of dehydration.
4. Complete systemic examination.
5. Abdominal distention.
6. Abdominal circumference.
7. Abdominal pain.
Note: Children aged less one year is at increased risk of dehydration.
Common GI Diagnostic Test
1. General stool examination
2. Barium swallow/ enema.
3. Abdominal ultrasound.
4. CT scan with or without contrast.
5. MRI.
6. Endoscopy.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined either as watery stool or increased frequency (or both) when
compared to a normal amount.
Types of Diarrhea
1. Acute diarrhea (short-term, less than 14 days), which is usually related to
bacterial or viral infections.
2. Chronic diarrhea (long-term, longer than 14 days), which is usually related to
functional disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, or may be due to
diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, or Giardia.
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Gastrointestinal System of Children
Introduction and Overview of Digestive System
Disorders that affect the digestive (gastrointestinal) system are called digestive
disorders. The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food we eat into
smaller components so that nutrients can be easily absorbed by the body and the
waste discarded.
Several body parts, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestine, and anus, make up the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract.
Classification of digestive diseases
A- Congenital and structure disorders of digestive
1. Cleft lip and Palate.
2. Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula.
3. Pyloric Stenosis.
4. Intussusceptions.
5. Hirschsprung’s Disease.
6. Hernias.
7. Imperforated anus.
B- Infection and inflammatory Disorders
1. Appendicitis.
2. Peptic Ulcer.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Gastritis and Gastroenteritis.
5. Stomatitis.
C- Disorders of Motility
Constipation.
D- Allergic and Malabsorption disorders
Celiac Disease.
1
,Pediatric Nursing: Gastrointestinal System of Children VI
Common terminology
Enteritis: Inflammation of the intestines and especially of the human ileum.
Gastroenteritis: is means inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is a very
common and infectious illness involving vomiting and diarrhea.
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT): The administration of special fluids by mouth.
Oral rehydration solution (ORS): A liquid specially formulated to be given as a
drink to correct the water, mineral, and nutritional deficiencies in an individual,
especially an infant, who is affected by dehydration.
Vomiting: Throw up stomach contents: to expel the contents of the stomach through
the mouth as a result of a series of involuntary spasms of the stomach muscles.
Stomatitis: Is inflammation of the mouth and lips.
Meconium: is the infant’s first stool, composed of amniotic fluid and its constituents,
intestinal secretions, shed mucosal cells, and possibly blood (ingested maternal blood
or minor bleeding of alimentary tract vessels).
Transitional Stools: these usually appear by the third day after initiation of feeding.
They are greenish brown to yellowish-brown, thin, and less sticky than meconium
and may contain some milk curds.
Milk Stools: these usually appear by the fourth day.
In breastfed infants stools are yellow to golden, are pasty in consistency, and have an
odor similar to that of sour milk.
In formula-fed infants stools are pale yellow to light brown, are firmer in consistency,
and have a more offensive odor.
GI Facts
The newborn’s ability to digest, absorb, and metabolize food is adequate but
limited in certain functions.
The liver is the most immature of the gastrointestinal organs.
Some salivary glands are functioning at birth, but the majority do not begin to
secrete saliva until about age 2 to 3 month, when drooling is common.
Stomach capacity varies in the first few days of life, from about 5 ml on day
one to about 60 ml on day three; thus, the infant requires frequent small
feedings.
Newborns that breastfeed usually have more frequent feedings and more
frequent stools than infants who receive formula.
Control of stool is achieved by 18 months to 4 years.
Passage of meconium occurs within the first 24 hours for the vast majority of
newborns, although it is delayed in premature infants.
Assessment of GI Disorders includes
1. Child History.
2. Birth weight.
3. Prematurity.
4. History of maternal infection.
5. Feeding.
2
, Pediatric Nursing: Gastrointestinal System of Children VI
The nurse Ask about:
1. Duration of illness.
2. Frequency of stools and associated vomiting.
3. Color of vomit (if green bilious vomit, consider obstruction).
4. Nature of stools, including presence of blood in stool.
5. Feeds (fluid and food intake).
6. Urine output (number of wet nappies).
7. Exposure to infect.
8. Recent antibiotic use
9. Weight loss.
10.Underlying problems e.g. Low birth-weight, malnutrition, neuro-disability.
Nurse Assessment
1. Weight, including any previous recent weight.
2. Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate.
3. Degree of dehydration.
4. Complete systemic examination.
5. Abdominal distention.
6. Abdominal circumference.
7. Abdominal pain.
Note: Children aged less one year is at increased risk of dehydration.
Common GI Diagnostic Test
1. General stool examination
2. Barium swallow/ enema.
3. Abdominal ultrasound.
4. CT scan with or without contrast.
5. MRI.
6. Endoscopy.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined either as watery stool or increased frequency (or both) when
compared to a normal amount.
Types of Diarrhea
1. Acute diarrhea (short-term, less than 14 days), which is usually related to
bacterial or viral infections.
2. Chronic diarrhea (long-term, longer than 14 days), which is usually related to
functional disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, or may be due to
diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, or Giardia.
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