title: Nutritional problems in children with neuromotor disabilities: an Italian case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several neuromotor disorders share exclusive, although often overlooked, nutritional problems. The objective of this study is therefore to delineate the frequency of malnutrition, evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional care, and identify issues needing to be possibly strengthened when caring for these patients into a general pediatrics department.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 30 patients, 21 males and 9 females, aged between 2 and 15 years, affected by cerebral palsy, epileptic encephalopathy, and severe psychomotor developmental delay.Nutritional status was assessed by a dietary questionnaire administered to parents to investigate feeding difficulties; 3 days food diary to quantify daily calorie intake; anthropometrical (weight, height/length, body mass index percentiles, plicometry, specific body segments measurement) and blood (blood count, serum iron, albumin, transferrin, calcium, phosphorus) parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 44% individuals of the study population was at risk of malnutrition, according to feeding difficulties, progressive depletion of weight, reduced daily calorie intake, reduced albumin and transferrin levels. This occurred despite a massive caregivers commitment, as documented by almost universal parental constant assistance during their long-duration meals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results individuate the nutritional aspect being still a problem in the care of children with severe neuromotor disability.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sangermano
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Aniello
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budetta
authors.forename: Goffredo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scuccimarra
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Giangennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pediatrics Section, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081 Baronissi- Salerno, Italy. pvajro@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vajro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications*; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin