Common gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric palliative care: nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, cachexia.
Gastrointestinal symptoms are suffered commonly by children at the end of life. Diagnosis and management of these common symptoms include careful history and physical examination to assess for possible causes; treatment - pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic; and a discussion with patients and families of care goals. Aggressive management of these symptoms is essential to improving the quality of life for these children.
Santucci
Gina
G
Pediatric Advanced Care Team, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, 4th floor Wood Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Mack
Jennifer W
JW
D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010166:Palliative Care; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*