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Malabsorption, Pediatric

Ninfa M. Candela, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Malabsorption is characterized as a syndrome, as opposed to a disease entity, and is defined as any state in which there is a disturbance of digestion and/or absorption of nutrients ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • GI symptoms

    • Common in patients with malabsorption syndromes

    • Range from mild abdominal gaseous distention to severe abdominal pain and vomiting

    • Chronic or recurrent diarrhea is by far the...

TREATMENT

  • Overall, nutritional support is paramount.

  • Specific treatment depends on etiology, for example, gluten-free diet for celiac disease, metronidazole for Giardia infection, or elimination diet o...

ONGOING CARE

COMPLICATIONS

  • Complications of malabsorption syndromes vary according to etiology, but malnutrition and other consequences of malabsorption will almost always become progressively worse if...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Ali SA, Hill DR. Giardia intestinalis. Curr Opin Infect Dis.  2003;16(5):453–460. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Chumpitazi BP, Shulman RJ. Dietary carbohydrates and childhood ...

CODES

ICD9

  • 579.9 Unspecified intestinal malabsorption

  • 579.8 Other specified intestinal malabsorption

  • 579.0 Celiac disease

ICD10

  • K90.9 Intestinal malabsorption, unspecified

  • K90.4 Malabsorption due to intoler...

FAQ

  • Q: Why do patients with malabsorption become anemic?

  • A: Patients with malabsorption can become deficient in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid and in turn can become anemic.

  • Q: Why do patients with c...

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