Pediatric disorders of feeding, nutrition, and metabolism

Abstract: A college text presents normal and abnormal conditions that require nutritional considerations for medical students, pediatric house staff, and practitioners caring for children. The considerations relate to nutrition as a cause of disease, as a tool in diagnosis of metabolic disorders, or the use of nutrition in therapy. Major emphasis is placed on nutritional deficiencies and diseases of overnutrition. Genetic disorders that resemble nutritional deficiencies and diseases that respond to nutritional therapy also are covered (e.g., select inborn metabolic errors, gastrointestinal disorders, allergy or immunodeficiency diseases). Topics relevant to the entire health care team include infant feeding disorders, emotional deprivation syndromes, obesity, and anorexia nervosa, and their associated psychological factors. Practical, current therapeutic approaches and guidelines are given for each condition or disease, stressing health maintenance. (wz).