Background Malnutrition is a determining factor of pediatric mortality and morbidity, especially in low and middle-income countries. Hospitalized children are at a higher risk of malnutrition. Several malnutrition screening tools have been used, among which STAMP, PYMS, and STRONGkids are valid tools with high sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this study was to compare these screening tools to find the best ones in identifying the risk of malnutrition in hospitalized children. Methods This is a cross-sectional study performed on hospitalized children aged 1 to 16 years. The questionnaires of PYMS, STAMP, STRONGkids malnutrition risk assessment tools were filled. The weight for height and BMI for age Z-scores were calculated. The data were analyzed by SPSS. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values of the risk scores based on weight for height and BMI for age Z-scores were calculated. Results Ninety-three patients with a mean age of 5.53 ± 3.9 years were included. The frequency of malnutrition was reported as 26% and 39% according to weight for height and BMI for age Z-scores, respectively. A significant relationship was found between PYMS and Weight for height Z-score (P-value < 0.001), and BMI for age Z-score (P-value < 0.001). Moreover, STRONGkids was found to be associated with weight for height Z-score (P-value: 0.017). Conclusion The PYMS is a practical and beneficial tool in early identifying the risk of severe malnutrition in hospitalized patients. It is a suitable method for patients in our settings.

The infantile colic is one of the most common complaints in the infancy; however, limited therapeutic approaches are described in the literature. Recently probiotics have been suggested as a potential strategy in the treatment of infantile colic. We conducted this study to investigate the efficacy of probiotics in relieving colic symptoms in Iranian infants. This double-blind clinical trial was performed among 70 infants aged 3 to 16 weeks with the presumed diagnosis of infantile colic according to Wessel criteria who were breastfed or formula fed. They were assigned at random to receive Pedilact® (Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus) (N=33) or placebo (N=32). Demographic data were recorded in the questionnaires at the beginning of the study. The number of daily episodes of crying and fussiness, number of weekly crying days, and duration of crying were separately analyzed on 7, 21, and 30th  days of investigation. Baseline demographic data showed no statistically significant difference between intervention and placebo groups. Infants given Pedilact® showed a significant reduction in daily episodes of crying, duration of crying, and the weekly number of crying days at the end of the treatment period compared with those receiving placebo (P=0.000). On 21th day of the study, daily episodes of fuss and crying (P=0.032) and duration of crying reduced significantly in the intervention group in comparison to the placebo group (P=0.000). Administration of Pedilact® drop significantly improved colic symptoms by reducing crying and fussing times in breastfed or formula fed in Iranian infants with colic. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Acta Med Iran 2019;57(7):405-411.

Chronic constipation is one of the most common problems in children. It can cause anxiety and psychological problems in patients and parents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) in children with chronic functional constipation. This is a case-control study performed at the gastroenterology clinic of Besat Hospital Sanandaj for one year. The children aged 7-14-year-old with chronic functional constipation were selected as a case group, and the healthy children were recruited as a control group, who referred for growth control. Then, the Maudsley questionnaire for obsessive-compulsive disorders was completed by a trained assistant. With this questionnaire, the presence or absence of OCD and its type can be determined. Forty-three children were selected as the case group and sixty-seven children as the control group. The mean age of the case and control group was 9.3±1.5 and 8.8±1.6 years, respectively. Based on the results, there was a significant difference between the groups in terms of checking, cleaning, slowness, doubting, and total obsessive score (P˂0.05). Therefore, all five types of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the case group were greater than the control group. Obsessive-compulsive disorders were more common in children with functional constipation, and the total obsessive score in these children than the healthy children was a significant difference.