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# Mometrix ## Folic Acid * Intake is often low among teenagers, resulting in high rates of congenital abnormalities if they get pregnant. * Cereals and breads are fortified with folic acid to combat this. ## Iron * Newborns deplete their maternally-supplied iron by about 4 months and may become...

# Mometrix ## Folic Acid * Intake is often low among teenagers, resulting in high rates of congenital abnormalities if they get pregnant. * Cereals and breads are fortified with folic acid to combat this. ## Iron * Newborns deplete their maternally-supplied iron by about 4 months and may become anemic if breast-fed without supplementary rice cereal. * Formula is iron-fortified. * Teenage girls are also often iron-deficient because of menses and poor dietary intake. * Vitamin D - Deficiencies are on the rise because of judicious use of sunscreen and protecting children from all sun exposure. * Breast-fed infants may need Vitamin D supplements. ## Hirschsprung Disease * (Congenital aganglionic megacolon) is failure of ganglion nerve cells to migrate to part of the bowel (usually the distal colon), so that part of the bowel lacks enervation and peristalsis, causing stool to accumulate and leading to distention and megacolon. * There is a genetic predisposition to the disease that affects more males than females and is associated with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). ### Symptoms: * **Early diagnosis:** * Failure to pass meconium in 24-48 hours. * Poor feeding. * Bilious vomitus. * Abdominal distension. * **Delayed diagnosis (1-2 years):** * Chronic constipation. * Failure to thrive. * Periods of diarrhea and vomiting. * (With infection) Severe prostration with watery diarrhea, fever, hypotension. * **Childhood:** * Chronic constipation with ribbon-like stools. * Abdominal distension with visible peristalsis and palpable fecal mass. * Poorly-nourished, anemic child. ### Treatment Includes: * Resection of aganglionic section and colorectal anastomosis. * There are a number of procedures (Swenson, Duhamel, and Soave), but recently laparoscopic or transanal minimally-invasive approaches have proven successful. * Supportive care, depending on symptoms, complications. ## Ulcerative Colitis * Superficial inflammation of mucosa of colon and rectum, causing ulcerations in the areas where inflammation has destroyed cells. * These ulcerations, ranging from pinpoint to extensive, may bleed and produce purulent material. * The mucosa of the bowel becomes swollen, erythematous, and granular. * Onset is usually between ages 15 and 30, and there is a genetic component. * Ulcerative colitis may affect only the rectum ( ulcerative proctitis), the entire colon (pancolitis), or only the left colon (limited or distal colitis).