Nutritional assessment and intervention in children with cerebral palsy: a practical approach |
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| Authors: | Elena Scarpato Annamaria Staiano Massimo Molteni Gaetano Terrone Alessandra Mazzocchi Carlo Agostoni |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Translational Medical Sciences – Section of Paediatrics, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy;2. Child Psychopathology Unit, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) “Eugenio Medea”, Lecco, Italy;3. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS “Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico”, Milan, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with the presence of feeding disorders in almost 60% of the affected children with subsequent undernutrition reported in up to 46% of the subjects. Since undernutrition may have a detrimental impact on physical and cognitive development, the introduction of an adequate nutritional support should always be considered in children with neurological impairment. The aim of the present review is to provide a practical guide to the assessment of nutritional status in children with CP, in order to identify individuals at risk for malnutrition that need the introduction of an adequate and personalized nutritional support. This review summarizes the methods for the evaluation of oral-motor function, anthropometric parameters, body composition and energy balance in children with CP. Moreover, we reviewed the indications for the introduction of nutritional support, and the suggested modalities of intervention. |
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| Keywords: | Neurologically impaired children enteral nutrition nutritional support anthropometry |
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