Journal of Associated Medical Sciences (Sep 2017)
Feeding Problems and Treatment in Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Children
Abstract
Background: Newborn babies with cleft lip and cleft palate in Thailand around 2,000 cases a year. These children often suffer from feeding problems. It affects the nutritional status. As a result, these children growth and development slower than typical. Objectives: To survey characteristics, feeding problems, impact and treatment of feeding problems in cleft lip and cleft palate children. Materials and methods: Studying retrospective pediatric history data, using purposing sampling of 119 children who came to receive services at the Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, during 2013 to 2016. By the criteria of the children must have history of feeding problems. Results: There were 64 (53.78%) of cleft lip and cleft palate children with feeding problems. All of them had bilateral complete cleft lip and cleft palate, most of them were male and aged between 1 to 5 years. The most common feeding problems were choking and sucking problems. The impact of feeding problems was: fatigue or difficulty breathing during feeding, delayed development, malnutrition, respiratory tracts or nasal infection or inflammation and flatulence. Cleft lip and cleft palate children with feeding problems were received intervention by interdisciplinary teams. All children underwent twice Palatoplasty surgery from a surgeon. The most children were getting an obturator by a dentist within 1 year. In addition, nurses taught parents how to feed their children. The most impact of feeding problems was delayed development, but there was no any service from any department. Conclusion: Children with cleft lip and cleft palate have feeding problems that impact to their quality of life. There are specialists in various fields join a multidisciplinary team to assist with the exception of delayed developmental effects. Occupational therapists should play a role in becoming a multidisciplinary team to do intervention in the delayed development aspect of cleft lip and cleft palate children with feeding problems.
