• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제65권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

With advancements in neonatal care and nutrition, the postnatal growth of preterm infants has improved; however, it remains an issue. Accurate assessments of growth using a standardized reference are needed to interpret the intrauterine and postnatal growth patterns of preterm infants. Growth in the earlier periods of life can contribute to later outcomes, and the refinement of postnatal growth failure is needed to optimize outcomes. Catch-up growth occurs mainly before discharge and until 24 months of age, and very low birth weight infants in Korea achieve retarded growth later in life. Knowing an infant's perinatal history, reducing morbidity rates during admission, and performing regular monitoring after discharge are required. Preterm infants with a lower birth weight or who were small for gestational age are at increased risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Furthermore, poor postnatal growth is predictive of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Careful monitoring and early intervention will contribute to better development outcomes and national public health improvements.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.325-336
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• 2021

The occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is a formidable challenge for infants, parents, and healthcare professionals. Although data from the Middle East are scarce, experts consider FGIDs a prevalent condition in everyday clinical practice. The new Rome IV criteria revisited the definitions from a clinical perspective to provide a practical and consistent diagnostic protocol for FGIDs. However, the treatment practices for functional disorders vary considerably among Middle Eastern countries, often resulting in mismanagement with unnecessary investigations and treatments. In addition, the role of various treatment modalities, including probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, in FGIDs requires further discussion and evaluation. During a consensus meeting, a locally relevant approach for treating common FGIDs such as infant regurgitation, infant colic, and functional constipation was discussed and approved by regional experts. The participants suggested a simplified treatment plan and protocol for general pediatricians and other primary care physicians managing FGIDs. This easy-to-follow standardized protocol will help streamline the initial management of this complex disorder in the Middle East region and even globally.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.262-266
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• 1999

Obstruction of the extrahepatic bile ducts is the most common cause of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in early infancy. More than 90% of such obstructive lesions are accounted for by extrahepatic biliary atresia. A rare lesion is obstruction of the common duct by impacted, thickened secretions and bile. Bile plug syndrome is defined as extrahepatic obstruction of the bile ducts by bile sludge in term infants without anatomic abnormalities, congenital chemical defects of bile, or hepatocellular lesions. Obstruction of extrahepatic ducts by plugs of biliary material apperas to be due to the inspissation and precipitation of bile and mucus within the lumen of the ducts. Cholestasis and precipitation of bile develop in association with abnormal composition of bile in cystic fibrosis, hepatocellular damage, prolonged erythroblastic jaundice, altered biliary dynamics with total parenteral nutrition, gut dysfunction, diuretic therapy, exchange transfusions and perinatal hemolysis. In those cases, the term inspissated bile syndrome is used. The clinical and laboratory findings in bile plug syndrome are identical to those observed in biliary atresia and choledochal cyst. The diagnosis can be suspected based on the findings of clinical and laboratory examinations together with hepatobiliary imaging, ultrasonography, radionuclide scan and liver biopsy. We experienced a case of spontaneous resolution of bile plug syndrome in a 4-year-old girl. We report this case with brief review related literatures.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제49권10호
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• pp.1019-1025
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• 2006

Motor delay, when present, is usually the first concern brought by the parents of children with developmental delay. Cerebral palsy that is the most common motor delay, is a nonspecific, descriptive term pertaining to disordered motor function that is evident in early infancy and is characterized by changes in muscle tone, muscle weakness, involuntary movements, ataxia, or a combination of these abnormalities. A wide range of causative disorders and risk factors have been identified for cerebral palsy, and broadly classified into 5 groups; perinatal brain injury, brain injury related to prematurity, developmental abnormalities, prenatal risk factors, and postnatal brain injury. Delay in attaining developmental milestones is the most distinctive presenting complaint in children with cerebral palsy. A detailed history and thorough physical and neurologic examinations are crucial in the diagnostic process. The clinician should be cautious about diagnostic pronouncement unless the findings are unequivocal. Several serial examinations and history review are necessary. All children with cerebral palsy should undergo a neuroimaging study, preferably MRI, because an abnormality is documented on head MRI(89%) and CT(77%). The high incidence rates for mental retardation, epilepsy, ophthalmologic defects, speech and language disorders and hearing impairment make it imperative that all children with cerebral palsy be screened for mental retardation, ophthalmologic and hearing impairments, and speech and language disorders; nutrition, growth, and swallowing also should be closely monitored.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of perinatal morbidity, persistent short stature, and metabolic alterations in later life. Recent studies have focused on the association between birth weight (BW) and later body composition. Some reports suggest that fetal nutrition, as reflected by BW, may have an inverse programing effect on abdominal adiposity later in life. This inverse association between BW and abdominal adiposity in adults may contribute to insulin resistance. Rapid weight gain during infancy in SGA children seemed to be associated with increased fat mass rather than lean mass. Early catch-up growth after SGA birth rather than SGA itself has been noted as a cardiovascular risk factor in later life. Children who are born SGA also have a predisposition to accumulation of fat mass, particularly intra-abdominal fat. It is not yet clear whether this predisposition is due to low BW itself, rapid postnatal catch-up growth, or a combination of both. In this report, we review the published literature on central fat accumulation and metabolic consequences of being SGA, as well as the currently popular research area of SGA, including growth aspects.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.189-195
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• 2018

Purpose: We investigated fecal calprotectin (FC) levels in preterm infants with and without feeding intolerance (FI), and compared the FC levels according to the type of feeding. Methods: The medical records of 67 premature infants were reviewed retrospectively. The fully enteral-fed infants were classified into two groups; the FI group (29 infants) and the control group (31 infants). Seven infants with necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and perinatal asphyxia were excluded. If breast milk (BM) or preterm formula (PF) could not be tolerated by infants with FI, amino acid-based formula (AAF) was tried temporarily. Once FI improved, AAF was discontinued, and BM or PF was resumed. We investigated the FC levels according to the type of feeding. Results: Significant differences were found in gestational age, birth weight, age when full enteral feeding was achieved, and hospital stay between the FI and control group (p<0.05). The FC levels in the FI group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). The FC levels in the AAF-fed infants with FI were significantly lower than those in the BM- or PF-fed infants (p<0.05). The growth velocities (g/d) and z scores were not significantly different between the FI and control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The FC levels in AAF-fed infants with FI showed significantly lower than those in the BM- or PF-fed infants with FI. The mitigation of gut inflammation through the decrease of FC levels in AAF-fed infants with FI could be presumed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.217-223
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• 2015

The obesity epidemic is a worldwide problem. Factors predisposing to obesity include genetics, race, socioeconomic conditions, birth by cesarean section, and perinatal antibiotic use. High protein (HP) content in infant formulas has been identified as a potential culprit predisposing to rapid weight gain in the first few months of life and leading to later obesity. In a large multicountry study the effects of lower protein (LP) formula (1.77 and 2.2 g protein/100 kcal, before and after the 5th month, respectively) were compared to those of higher protein (2.9 and 4.4 g protein/100 kcal, respectively). Results indicated that at 24 months, the weight-for-length z score of infants in the LP formula group was 0.20 (0.06, 0.34) lower than that of the HP group and was similar to that of the breastfed reference group. The authors concluded that a HP content of infant formula is associated with higher weight in the first 2 years of life but has no effect on length. LP intake in infancy might diminish the later risk of overweight and obesity. At 6 years of age HP children had a significantly higher body mass index (by 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-0.90; p=0.009) and a 2.43 (95% CI, 1.12-5.27; p=0.024) fold greater risk of becoming obese than those who received the LP. In conclusion, several factors may influence development of metabolic syndrome and obesity. Breastfeeding should always be encouraged. An overall reduction of protein intake in formula non breastfed infants seems to be an additional way to prevent obesity.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.109-115
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• 1999

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been identified as an important cause of posttransfusion hepatitis, but vertical transmission of chronic infected HCV RNA positive mothers has been documented in some cases. The reports of the risk of perinatal infection have been widely varied in the literature. The authors experienced one case of vertical transmission of HCV in an infant of a mother who had hepatitis C during pregnancy. At admission, HCV RNA (+), Ig G anti HCV (+) and Ig M anti HCV (+) were found in the mother. Also at admission, HCV RNA (+), Ig G anti HCV (+), Ig M anti HCV (+), elevation of liver aminotransferase level and hepatosplenomegaly on ultrasonography were found in the baby on day 31. HCV RNA (-), Ig M anti HCV (-) and normal of liver aminotransferase level were noted on day 250 in the serum of the infant. We used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique to find a very small amount of HCV RNA in the serum. All the findings suggest vertical transmission of HCV RNA from mother to infant during 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2003

목 적 : 신생아 집중치료실 입원아는 오랫동안 전비경구 영양(total parenteral nutrition, TPN)을 필요로 하는 경우가 많다. 미숙아에게 있어 TPN을 오래 시행하는 경우 담즙 울체성 황달은 가장 중요한 합병증 가운데 하나이나 그 임상 양상에 대한 보고는 많지 않다. 이에 저자들은 신생아집중치료실 입원 미숙아 가운데 발생한 TPN 관련 담즙울체(TPN associated cholestasis, TPNAC) 환아를 대상으로 발생빈도, 임상 경과와 생화학적 지표의 변화 및 위험인자를 조사하였다. 방 법 : 2000년 6월부터 2002년 5월까지 2년 동안 경북대학교 병원 신생아 집중치료실에 입원하여 2주 이상 TPN을 시행 한 출생체중 2,000 gm 미만의 미숙아 66명 가운데 담즙 울체가 발생한 환아 21명을 대상으로 울체가 발생하지 않은 45명을 대조군으로 하였다. TPN 관련 담즙울체의 진단은 혈청 직접 빌리루빈이 2.0 mg/dL 이상이고 간염이나 담도 폐쇄 등의 다른 울체의 원인이 배제된 경우로 하였다. 담즙 울체의 발생시기, 빈도, 지속기간, 임상경과, 생화학적 지표의 변화 및 위험인자는 대상 환아의 의무기록지를 검토를 통해 후향적 조사를 시행하였다. 결 과 : TPNAC의 발생빈도는 31.8%였으며, 출생 체중이 적고 재태주령이 낮을수록, TPN 기간이 길수록 증가하였다. 발생시기는 TPN 시작 후 평균 41.7일${\pm}$17.4일이었으며 지속기간은 평균 $33.6{\pm}23.4$일이었다. TPNAC 환아는 대조군보다 생후 3주째의 경구 섭취량이 유의하게 적었으나 TPNAC 환아와 대조군 사이에 감염이나 가사의 빈도 차이는 없었다. TPNAC의 생화학적 지표로 사용되는 혈청 직접 빌리루빈은 4-6주에 증가하였으며 ALT(alanine aminotransferase, SGPT)는 생후 6-8주에 증가하였다. 결 론 : 본 조사에서 TPNAC는 출생체중이 적고 재태주령이 적은 미숙아에서 발생 빈도가 높고 TPN 기간이 길수록 호발하 였다. TPNAC 환아들은 TPN 시행 중 병행한 경구 수유량이 생후 3주째 대조군에 비해 적었다. 따라서 고위험 환아들은 TPN 영양 중에도 경구 영양을 적극적으로 시행하여 경구량을 증가시킴으로써 TPNAC 발생을 경감 시킬 수 있을 것으로 사료되나 이에 대한 추가적 연구가 계속되어야 할 것이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제46권7호
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• pp.635-641
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• 2003

목 적 : 임신 시 모유 수유를 계획한 수유모의 모유 수유 실천과 이에 영향을 주는 요인을 알아보고자 본 조사를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 임신 시 모유 수유를 계획했던 1,128명 중에서 지역과 병원급을 층화하여 무작위 추출한 152명을 연구의 대상으로 하였다. 2001년 11월부터 2002년 3월까지 연구 대상자의 출산 후 4개월에 전화로 설문을 실시하여 결과를 분석하였다. 결 과 : 1) 임신 시 모유 수유를 계획한 수유모 중에서 출산 4개월 후의 모유 수유율은 37.5%였고, 실패 이유는 66.3%가 모유가 나오지 않거나 양이 적어서라고 대답하였고 그 외 수유모의 직장 또는 일 13.7%, 수유모의 질환 7.4%, 변이 묽어서 5.3%, 아기의 질병 4.2% 등이었다. 2) 수유모의 연령, 자녀의 유무, 모유 수유를 결정한 사람, 가족의 형태에 따른 차이는 없었으나, 임신 시 모유 수유를 4개월 이상으로 계획했던 경우 모유 수유율이 2.3(95% 신뢰구간 1.15-4.62)배로 유의하게 높았다(P<0.05). 3) 전문대졸 이상의 수유모의 모유 수유율이 고졸 수유모보다 0.43(95% 신뢰구간 0.21-0.86)배로 유의하게 낮았으며 취업 수유모의 모유 수유율이 0.37(95% 신뢰구간 0.17-0.83)배로 유의하게 낮았다(P<0.05). 4) 모유 수유 장점과 수유의 방법에 대한 인식항목 20개에 대한 점수의 중앙값 12점을 기준으로 할 때 12점 이상인 사람의 모유 수유율은 41.5%였던 반면, 12점 미만인 경우 34.5%의 모유 수유율을 보여 인식이 높은 군이 낮은 군에 비해 1.35(95% 신뢰구간 0.70-2.62)배의 모유 수유율을 보였다(P>0.05). 5) 출산 장소가 산부인과 의원인 경우 종합병원 보다 모유 수유율이 3.97(95% 신뢰구간 11-14.23)배로 유의하게 높았다(P>0.05). 출산아 성별, 병원내 모유 수유, 모자동실 및 분만 형태에 따른 모유 수유율의 유의한 차이는 없었다. 결 론 : 모유 수유율 높이기 위해서 적극적인 산전 교육과 출산 후 병의원에서 모유 수유를 할 수 있도록 모자동실, 모유 수유 상담 및 교육이 적절하게 제공되어야 할 것이다. 또한 취업 수유모의 모유 수유를 위한 공간과 시설 및 휴가 문제 등이 사회 정책이나 국가 정책으로 제도화 되어야 할 것이다.