NCLEX Review & Nursing School

Gastrointestinal Disorders (Peds)

Hirschprung’s Disease

– in children with this disease, there is an absence of ganglion cells in the colon of the child, causing a decrease in peristalsis and an accumulation of contents from the intestine.

Assessment in newborns:

• failure to pass meconium within the first 24-48 hours.
• refusal to feed, ribbon like stools.
• ♣ Management includes the use of enema.

Gastrointeritis

• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Give intravenous fluids if necessary

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Repair of Cleft Lip: performed between 1 and 3 months of age

Repair of Cleft Palate: performed between 12 and 18 months.



Tracheoesophageal fistula

• An abnormal opening between the trachea and esophagus.

Esophageal atresia

• The failure of the esophagus to develop a continous passage.
  

Intussusception

– a total obstruction of the bowel, most common site is the illoceal valce

Assessment: Child draws knees to abdomen, abdominal distention and passage of the “currant jelly” stools.

Enterobiasis (Pinworms)

Symptoms in children would include:

• perianal itching
• poor sleep and restlessness

Interventions:

• To check, place transparent tape against child’s perianal area and assess.
• The clothing and bed linens should be washed with hot water and house vacuumed.

Treatment of choice is: Mebendazole (Vermox)

Celiac Disease

• Intolerance to gluten
• Gluten is found in wheat, oats, barley and rye
• Treatments is to avoid gluten and instead use grains with corn & rice.

Phenylketonuria

– The child is unable to metabolize phenylalanine into tyrosine.

• Diagnostic test is the Guthrie Test.

Ingestion of Hazadous Substance