Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders Quiz

Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders

• Meckel diverticulum is caused by the failure of the fibrous band that connects the small intestine to the umbilicus, resulting in an outpouching of all layers of the small intestine.
• Hirschsprung disease is characterized by the absence of enteric ganglia and malformation of the parasympathetic nervous system in a segment of the colon, leading to inadequate colon motility and functional obstruction.
• Idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction presents as repetitive episodes or continuous symptoms of intestinal obstruction without an obstructing lesion and may be associated with atrophy of enteric nerves and/or muscles.
• Meconium ileus, now called DIOS, can occur due to abnormally thick intestinal contents obstructing the intestinal lumen, commonly associated with cystic fibrosis, pancreatic enzyme deficiency, and dehydration.
• Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal obstructions can be caused by meconium ileus, atresia, peritoneal bands, or acquired obstructive disorders.
• Meconium aspiration syndrome is a type of newborn respiratory distress caused by fetal inspiration of meconium-contaminated amniotic fluid associated with fetal hypoxic distress and in utero gasping respirations.
• Meconium ileus is a condition in the newborn in which intestinal secretions and amniotic waste products produce a thick tarry plug that obstructs the intestine, usually from lack of fetal digestive enzymes, with 10% to 15% of neonates with cystic fibrosis affected.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in infants is caused by the relaxation or incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is exacerbated by their diet, posture, and sphincter immaturity.
• Eosinophilic esophagitis involves an eosinophilic inflammation of the esophagus with dysphagia and vomiting, often associated with asthma and eczema.
• Intussusception is the most common cause of acquired intestinal obstruction in infants, occurring in the area of the ileocecal junction, where one portion of the bowel telescopes or invaginates into another.
• Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease caused by dysfunction of the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein, leading to pancreatic enzyme deficiency, overproduction of mucus in the respiratory tract, and abnormally elevated sodium and chloride concentrations in sweat.
• Celiac disease is an immune-mediated lifelong disease characterized by the loss of mature villous epithelium in the presence of a gluten-containing diet, resulting in malabsorption and growth failure. Nonceliac gluten sensitivity is wheat allergy without the autoantibodies associated with celiac disease.