Common gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric palliative care: nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, cachexia

Abstract

Gastrointestinal symptoms are suffered commonly by children at the end of life. Diagnosis and management of these common symptoms include careful history and physical examination to assess for possible causes; treatment - pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic; and a discussion with patients and families of care goals. Aggressive management of these symptoms is essential to improving the quality of life for these children.