Lower Gastrointestinal Functional and Motility Disorders in Children

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2021 Dec;68(6):1255-1271. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.07.010.

Abstract

Functional and motility gastrointestinal disorders are the most common complaints to the pediatric gastroenterologist. Disorders affecting the small intestine carry a significant morbidity and mortality due to the severe limitation of therapeutic interventions available and the complications associated with such interventions. Congenital colorectal disorders are rare but also carry significant morbidity and poor quality of life plus the social stigma associated with its complications. In this review, we summarize the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluations, and the therapeutic interventions available for the most common and severe gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders of the small bowel, colon, and anorectum.

Keywords: Anorectum; Colon; Constipation; Dysmotility; Hirschsprung’s; Incontinence; Manometry; Pseudo-obstruction.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anorectal Malformations / diagnosis
  • Anorectal Malformations / therapy
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Colonic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Colonic Diseases / mortality
  • Colonic Diseases / therapy
  • Constipation / diagnosis
  • Constipation / therapy
  • Erythromycin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / mortality
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Motility*
  • Hirschsprung Disease / diagnosis
  • Hirschsprung Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / therapy
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Lower Gastrointestinal Tract / pathology*
  • Male
  • Manometry / methods
  • Nutritional Status
  • Quality of Life

Substances

  • Erythromycin