Health Care : Current Reviews

Management of growth faltering in infancy and childhood: The need for good nursing care

Joint Event on 3^rd International Conference on Pediatric Nursing and Healthcare & 3^rd International Conference on Perinatal Nursing and Adolescent Psychiatry

September 21-22, 2018 | Vancouver, Canada

Ehab K E El-Khashab

Ain Shams University, Egypt

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Health Care Current Reviews

Abstract:

Growth faltering is defined as crossing down through length/height as well as weight centile(s). Growth faltering affects all body systems especially immunity and cognitive function. 2015 World Hunger and the United Nations FAO 2014 estimates that about 805 million of the 7.3 billion people in the world, (1:9) are suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2012-2014. Organic Factors, Faulty Weaning, Poverty, neglect and abuse are contributing factors but behavioral and feeding problems are the commonest causes. Early childhood feeding disorders should be grouped under the umbrella term ???avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.??? They include 3 fundamental, aberrant feeding behaviors: those not eating enough (limited appetite), those eating an inadequate variety of foods (selective intake) and those afraid to eat (fear of feeding). Good history taking, proper physical examination, dietary and feeding assessment as well as anthropometric measurements are essential for diagnosis and assessing severity of the case. Management is individualized according severity and chronicity of undernutrition, underlying medical disorders and the needs of the child and family. Caregivers should be involved in the formulation of the treatment plan. In addition to the pediatric healthcare provider, the interdisciplinary team is required (Dietitians, Occupational or speech therapists, Social workers, Nurses, Developmental specialists, Psychiatrists). We should determine the nutritional plan including calorie, protein, fat, fluid and micronutrient needs. Oral diet is preferred with appropriate mealtime behaviors, high-calorie diet and high-calorie beverages/oral nutritional supplements. Tube feeds are needed in cases of failure of oral feeding. The response to plan should be assessed by proper weight gain. Discharge plan and regular follow up are needed. We recommend Multidisciplinary interventions for the management of these cases.

Biography :

E-mail: aya.ihab@yahoo.com