Introduction. Functional constipation (FC) is a common problem in childhood. This study intended to investigate the dietary properties and anthropometric findings of children with FC. Population and methods. Patients with FC were defined according to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria. The control group included children who were not diagnosed with FC or any other organic disease. The children who admitted to pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic between September 2017-March 2018 were included. Anthropometric measurements of weight, height, and body mass index were recorded. Body mass index z-scores were used to identify for overweight and obese children. Malnutrition was defined according to Waterlow criteria. The three-day nutritional diaries of both FC patients and control subjects were assessed and the daily average of calorie, fiber, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake were calculated by the same nutritionist. Results. Fourty patients with FC and fourty healthy control were included. Twenty-four patients with FC were in the normal height and weight ranges. There was no significant difference in the average daily calorie, carbohydrate, fat and fiber intake between the FC and control groups. Although protein ratios (%) in the diet were found to be significantly lower in children with FC, the amount of protein that taken daily was found to be within normal limits in both groups. Conclusion. Most children with FC were in the normal range for height and weight. There was no significant relationship between FC and carbohydrate, fat and fiber content in the diet, only low protein ratios were found in FC.

Introducción. El estreñimiento funcional (EF) es un problema frecuente en la niñez. El objetivo fue investigar los hallazgos alimentarios y antropométricos de los niños con EF. Población y métodos. Se clasificó a los pacientes con EF según Roma IV. El grupo de referencia incluyó a niños sin diagnóstico de EF ni ninguna otra enfermedad. Se incluyó a los niños de los consultorios de gastroenterología pediátrica entre septiembre de 2017 y marzo de 2018. Se registraron peso, estatura e índice de masa corporal. Se usaron los puntajes Z del índice de masa corporal para identificar sobrepeso y obesidad. La desnutrición se definió según Waterlow. Se evaluaron los diarios de alimentación de tres días de ambos grupos; el mismo nutricionista calculó el promedio diario de calorías, fibra, hidratos de carbono, proteínas y grasa. Resultados. Se incluyó a 40 pacientes con EF y 40 controles sanos. Veinticuatro pacientes con EF tenían estatura y peso normales. No hubo diferencias significativas en el promedio diario de calorías, hidratos de carbono, grasa y fibra entre los grupos de EF y de referencia. Si bien la proporción (%) de proteínas en la dieta fue significativamente más baja en los niños con EF, la cantidad de proteínas ingerida a diario estuvo dentro de los límites normales en ambos grupos. Conclusión. La mayoría de los niños con EF tenían estatura y peso normales. No hubo una relación significativa entre el EF y el contenido de hidratos de carbono, grasa y fibra; solo proporciones bajas de proteínas en el EF.

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Rapunzel syndrome is a rare form of gastric trichobezoar that develops through outstretching of the bezoar from the stomach to the intestine. CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with celiac disease six years earlier was brought to the department of pediatric gastroenterology because of abdominal distension. A palpable mass was detected. A trichobezoar that stretched to the small intestine was removed surgically. The patient was diagnosed as having anxiety and depressive disorder, and treatment started. Following the treatment, her previous trichophagia completely disappeared. CONCLUSION: Presence of trichobezoar should be kept in mind, especially when young girls who have psychiatric problems suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms.

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate psychiatric symptoms in adolescents diagnosed as having chronic gastritis, and to evaluate family functioning. Methods. The population consisted of adolescents who were diagnosed endoscopically and histopathologically as having chronic gastritis without additional chronic disease. The anxiety levels, depression levels, and emotional and behavioral symptoms of the adolescents were measured using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Family functioning was evaluated using the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Results. Fifty eight adolescents were included to study. According to the SDQ subscale results, adolescents with gastritis had more problems in emotional, hyperactivity, and peer relations areas, but the results in conduct problems and prosocial behaviors were normal. Levels of all subscales of Family Assessment Device were higher than 2, showing problems in family functioning. Conclusions. This study suggests that adolescents with chronic gastritis experience more difficulties in peer relations and family functioning, and they express more emotional problems.

Objetivos. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los síntomas psiquiátricos en adolescentes con diagnóstico de gastritis crónica y evaluar el funcionamiento familiar. Métodos. La población estuvo conformada por adolescentes con diagnóstico endoscópico e histopatológico de gastritis crónica sin otra enfermedad crónica adicional.Se midieron los niveles de ansiedad, los niveles de depresión y los síntomas emocionales y conductuales de los adolescentes mediante el cuestionario para trastornos emocionales infantiles relacionados con la ansiedad (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, SCARED), el inventario de depresión de Beck (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) y el cuestionario de capacidades y dificultades (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ). El funcionamiento familiar se evaluó con el instrumento McMaster de evaluación familiar (McMaster Family Assessment Device, FAD). Resultados. Se incluyó a 58 adolescentes en el estudio.Conforme a los resultados de las subescalas del SDQ, los adolescentes con gastritis tenían más trastornos en las dimensiones de problemas emocionales, hiperactividad y relación con los pares, aunque los resultados de problemas conductuales y conducta prosocial fueron normales. En todas las subescalas del instrumento McMaster de evaluación familiar, los puntajes fueron superiores a 2, lo que indica problemas en el funcionamiento familiar. Conclusiones. según este estudio, los adolescentes con gastritis crónica tienen más dificultades en la relación con los pares y en el funcionamiento familiar, y expresan más problemas emocionales.