11 - Nutrition and Gastroenterology

Abstract

Nutritional and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are two of the most common themes encountered in general pediatric medicine. Globally, undernutrition and diarrheal disease cause substantial morbidity and mortality. In the developed world, nutritional assessment is paramount in well-childcare and chronic illness management. GI symptoms are common in acute and chronic illnesses. Since one of the main functions of the GI system is to provide fluid, vitamins/minerals, and the energy requirements to sustain viability and growth, the relationship between gastroenterology and nutrition is readily apparent. However, for the purposes of this chapter, nutrition and gastroenterology are divided into two sections, with a focus on the entities commonly seen by pediatric primary care providers.