(BPT) - The holidays are fast approaching. From Thanksgiving turkey to other holiday comfort foods, this time of year is synonymous with eating, which can present challenges for some children living with chronic GI issues. While festive treats can upset all tummies, children with conditions such as celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and food allergies may be particularly vulnerable. Not to mention, the stress and changes to a routine during the holidays can sometimes make GI symptoms much worse. At-risk children and young adults may also be due for their routine endoscopic monitoring at this time of year, which can add to their worry, as well as their parents'.
What can parents do to help their children's GI issues during the holiday season?
This is the time of year when you most want your child's GI system healthy, so there are steps you can take to enjoy a fun and comfortable holiday season.
- Be aware of trigger foods - Certain foods can exacerbate GI issues, and it's no secret that the holidays tend to focus on particularly rich, high-fat foods that can make symptoms worse for children with GI issues. Do your best to keep your kids away from the worst offenders: the foods that you know have made them sick in the past. You can also think about ways of making your children's favorite foods more gut-friendly. For example, if your child is living with celiac disease, look up a few gluten-free recipes that incorporate cinnamon, peppermint, and nutmeg, so your child can continue to taste the flavors of the season.
- Fiber, fiber, fiber - Holiday cookies and cakes lack fiber and are high in sugar and fats. Fiber is an essential nutrient to keep your child's gut healthy and their system regular. While you can't expect kids to eat bran flakes in place of desserts, it's important to make sure they get enough fiber throughout the day in anticipation of holiday gatherings. Pancakes made from ingredients like buckwheat and muffins that contain bran are great options. Even sprinkling their favorite granola over yogurt and fruit can help them add more fiber to their diet. Remember to increase your child's water intake when you increase fiber to avoid constipation.
- Encourage children to pace themselves - Eating fast can slow down digestion and lead to constipation and stomach pain. Try to encourage your kids to pace themselves; tell them to try to set their forks down in between bites and courses at the holiday table. This will also help them with portion control.
- Talk to your provider about the option of endoscopy of the upper GI tract without sedation - For children with chronic GI issues, more frequent endoscopies may be the standard of care to monitor specific conditions. If your child has a chronic GI condition that requires routine monitoring via endoscopy, you know it is often inconvenient and stressful. Moreover, anesthesia for children may be associated with additional fear and potential risks. It is important for parents to talk to their child's healthcare team because there are other options.
Some providers now have the option to offer the use of the EvoEndo Single-Use Endoscopy System as an alternative for patients five and older to undergo a transnasal endoscopy (TNE) upper gastrointestinal exam with biopsies. TNE avoids the need for any needles, sedation, or anesthesia, and the provider may choose to offer virtual reality distraction to enhance the patient experience. This may be more convenient and less stressful during this hectic time of year. Compared to traditional endoscopy, studies have shown children prefer TNE over their prior sedated endoscopy (Scherer et al.). Further, unsedated TNE of the upper gastrointestinal tract is associated with less time in the hospital and shorter recovery time (Nguyen et al.). Without general anesthesia or sedation, patients can return to school, work, or other fun holiday activities on the same day as their unsedated TNE.
To learn more about how to manage your children's GI issues during the holidays and all year round, remember to speak with their healthcare providers. To learn more about the EvoEndo System, visit https://www.evoendo.com/patients. US: RX only. For use by trained physicians only.
