Abstract

DAZA, Wilson; DADAN, Silvana  and  HIGUERA, Michelle. Gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatrics. Do they always lead to the correct diagnosis?. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2016, vol.64, n.1, pp.27-34. ISSN 0120-0011.  https://doi.org/10.15446/revfacmed.v64n1.51379.

Background. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common cause for pediatric consultation. There are very few studies that address the relationship between reasons for consultation (RC) and gastrointestinal diseases. Objective. To relate reasons for consultation to gastrointestinal definitive diagnoses (GIDD) in pediatric patients attending a gastroenterology unit. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study was performed between January 2009 and December 2013. The association of the top 10 RC with their first five GIDD under the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test was analyzed. Results. 1171 patients' info was collected. The main three RC were abdominal pain (AP) (12.3%), constipation (12.1%) and gastroesophageal reflux (8,4%). Chronic Functional Constipation (CFC) (33.9%), food allergy (FA) (17.3%) and FA suspicion(6.2%) were approximately the 50% of the GIDD. AP as RC was associated to the diagnosis of CFC, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and FA. Constipation as a RC was associated to the diagnosis of CFC, FA, FA suspicion and colonic inertia. Conclusions. Constipation is among the main MC and is the first DGID, with a significant association between each other. Professionals, especially pediatricians and family care physicians, must pay close attention to the detection and diagnosis of this entity.

Keywords : Diagnosis; Signs and Symptoms; Child; Constipation; Gastrointestinal Diseases.

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