CHILDREN LIVING WITH A GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER
It is normal for children to have occasional digestive problems, some of the time it is nothing to worry about and goes away on its own or with simple treatments like medicine or dietary changes. But sometimes, undiagnosed digestive problems can cause ongoing issues, impacting a child’s growth, development, and overall health.1 It is therefore really important that if you are concerned about any of the digestive problems your child has, that you speak to their healthcare professional (e.g. GP or nurse) about these.
This page provides more information about what nutritional support might be available for your child if they experience ongoing digestive problems that could cause disease-related malnutrition.
Digestive problems can happen for different reasons, such as:
Infections (like
gastroenteritis)2
Abnormal body
reactions (like with
coeliac disease)3
Swelling or
inflammation (like in
Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis)4
Digestive function
issues (like with
irritable bowel
syndrome or IBS)5
Digestive problems can cause symptoms like:1
Stomach pain
Diarrhoea
Nausea or vomiting
Poor appetite
Bloating or cramps
Constipation
Changes in stool consistency or blood in stools
Weight loss or poor growth
Some digestive problems come and go quickly (acute), while others stick around for a long time (chronic).1
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Digestive problems can also cause issues with tolerating food and absorbing nutrients properly. If children can’t get the nutrients they need, then they may become or be at risk of becoming malnourished which in severe cases, can lead to malabsorption (where the body is unable to absorb all of the nutrients it needs).6
When these issues are linked to a specific condition, it can make it hard for the body to handle certain foods or for nutrition plans to be effective due to issues with digestion, absorption, or side effects from medication.7
Signs of disease-related malnutrition may include:8
Not growing or putting on weight at the expected rate (sometimes known as faltering growth)
Changes in their behaviour, such as being irritable, moving slowly or becoming anxious
Having low energy or feeling tired more easily than normal
If children can’t get all the nutrients they need, it can impact their growth, weight, cognitive function, and immune system, making them more at risk of getting ill.9 It can also affect their behaviour, sleeping patterns, and learning ability.10-12
It is therefore very important if your child has, or is displaying symptoms of having a digestive problems, or disease-related malnutrition, that you speak to their healthcare professional as soon as possible. They may recommend nutritional support in the form of oral nutritional supplements (sometimes called sip feeds) if they believe your child has, or is at risk of developing, malnutrition in order to help provide the calories, protein and other important vitamins and minerals that their body needs.
If your child is having trouble tolerating food or nutritional supplements, they may be recommended a special type of formula called a peptide-based feed. This can help lessen the chances of intolerance and improve how well their body absorbs nutrients to meet their nutritional needs.6
Long term digestive problems can have a negative impact on you as well as your child13,14 so it is important that you speak to a healthcare professional about your own concerns and anxiety.
References:
1. NHS Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, 2022. Gastrointestinal conditions. Available online: https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/resources/gastrointestinal-conditions/ Last accessed March 2024.
2. NHS Inform, 2023. Gastroenteritis. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/gastroenteritis/ Last accessed March 2024.
3. NHS, 2023. Coeliac disease. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease/ Last accessed March 2024.
4. NHS, 2021. Crohn’s disease. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/ Last accessed March 2024.
5. NHS, 2021. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/ Last accessed March 2024.
6. Selimoglu MA, et al. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2021;9:2296-2360.
7. Ibrahim H et al. Arch Med Sci. 2020;16(3):592-596.
8. NHS 2023. Malnutrition. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition Last accessed February 2024.
9. Yue T et al. Nutrients 2022;14:2685.
10. Martins V et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2011;8(6):1817–1846.
11. Stanga Z et al. Clin Nutr 2007;26(3):379-382.
12. Carter LE et al. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2019;80(4):195-199.
13. Sullivan PB et al. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2000;42:674–680. 14. Hommel KA et al. J Clin Psychol Med Setting. 2010;17(2):159–166.
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