Approach to mild digestive disorders in infants at the primary care level: a multicenter cross-sectional and observational study

Introduction: mild digestive disorders (MDDs) are common in early childhood and a general cause of concern for families.

Objective: to describe the clinical profile, prevalence and approach to the management of MDDs in pediatric practice in Spain.

Material and methods: multicenter, retrospective, and observational study through a survey of pediatricians who managed infants and children under 2 years of age with MDDs in primary care pediatric clinics in Spain. Participants completed a questionnaire that included items on sociodemographic variables, the prevalence, symptoms, and management of MDDs, and parental perception of the impact of the disorder.

Results: a total of 199 pediatricians (78.9% female; mean age, 46.3 years) participated in the study. Infant colic was the most common MDD (37.6%), followed by regurgitation (26.8%) and functional constipation (21.9%). Nearly all participants (96.5%) reported not recommending switching to formula feeding for breastfed infants, 67.3% recommended special formulas to treat MDDs, and 82.9% recommended probiotics, especially Lactobacillus reuteri. In addition, 91.5% asked about the impact on parental quality of life, and the most frequently reported effects were lack of rest (96.5%) and family distress (94.5%).

Conclusions: mild digestive disorders are common and significantly affect families. The approach to management includes dietary and postural measures and the use of probiotics, with a focus on the well-being of the infant and caregivers.