title: Gastrointestinal motility in neonatal and pediatric practice.
abstract: Caring for children with gastrointestinal motility disorders requires an understanding of age-related changes in gastrointestinal function and in the clinical expression of disease. Successful evaluation of the child with a gastrointestinal motility disorder necessitates an approach that takes into account not only the child's symptoms, but also the stage of development. This article reviews the ontogeny of gastrointestinal motility; the techniques available for the study of gastrointestinal motility in children; and the presentation, pathophysiology, and treatment of pediatric functional bowel diseases. Differences in children compared to adults in performing and analyzing motility testing and in evaluating motility disorders are emphasized. A more complete understanding of pediatric motility disorders may provide important insights in approaching functional bowel diseases in adults.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DiLorenzo
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hyman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D003112:Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology