Parental knowledge of fecal incontinence in children.

Objectives: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a common and stressful symptom of constipation in children. Recurrent FI causes psychological and physiological changes, complicating treatment as symptom duration progresses; however, parental misconceptions about the causes of FI may delay seeking medical care. The aim of the present study was to assess parental knowledge about FI and determine how this relates to the care and treatment of FI.

Outcomes of catheter-associated infections in pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome.

Children with short bowel syndrome requiring long-term total parenteral nutrition are at high risk for catheter-associated infections. The optimal management of catheter infections in this patient population is unknown. We conducted a retrospective observational study in children with short bowel syndrome to compare outcomes of catheter-associated infections treated with catheter removal plus antibiotic therapy versus antibiotic therapy alone.

Audio-recorded guided imagery treatment reduces functional abdominal pain in children: a pilot study.

Objective: This study was designed to develop and to test a home-based, guided imagery treatment protocol, using audio and video recordings, that is easy for health care professionals and patients to use, is inexpensive, and is applicable to a wide range of health care settings.

Methods: Thirty-four children, 6 to 15 years of age, with a physician diagnosis of functional abdominal pain were assigned randomly to receive 2 months of standard medical care with or without home-based, guided imagery treatment. Children who received only standard medical care initially received guided imagery treatment after 2 months.

Parents' worries about recurrent abdominal pain in children.

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common childhood disorder characterized by multiple episodes of stomachaches severe enough to interrupt daily activities. Recurrent abdominal pain is a difficult diagnosis for parents, children, and clinicians since there is no definitive cause of the symptoms. Research has shown recurrent abdominal pain is at least partly learned through social modeling.

Prevalence of factor V G1691A (Leiden), prothrombin G20210A, and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T thrombophilic mutations in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased incidence of thromboembolic events. This risk may be caused by an increased frequency of thrombophilic mutations such as factor V Leiden G1691A (FVL), prothrombin G20210A (PT), or methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C667T (MTHFR). Prevalence rates of heterozygous mutations in FVL, PT, and MTHFR are reported for whites (1.