Food consumption by children and adolescent with dysphagia due to esophageal stricture: assessment based on the Brazilian food guide pyramid

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed food intake by patients with dysphagia due to esophageal stricture and compared liquid, soft and solid diets based on the Brazilian Food guide pyramid. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consecutively included 31 patients with esophageal stricture, of which 18 (58.0%) were caustic, 7 (22.6%) were postoperative, 3 (9.7%) were peptic and 3 (9.7%) were of unknown etiology. The 24-hour dietary recall was used and the foods were converted into servings according to the eight food groups, as recommended by Philippi. The Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's Exact Test were used and the significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The ages of the patients varied from 15 to 176 months (median: 56 months). There were 28 children and 3 adolescents, of which 28 were males. Twenty-nine patients (93.5%) presented dysphagia, of which 34.4% (10/29) were severe, 41.3% (12/29) were moderate and 24.1% (7/29) were mild. The median intake of grain, legume and fat servings was smaller in the liquid diet group (p<0.005). This group also had a significantly greater proportion of patients whose intakes were below those recommended by the food pyramid (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Nutritional support is extremely important in the treatment of patients with esophageal stricture, especially those with severe dysphagia. These patients need a liquid diet because of the nutritional risk associated with inadequate food intake, which also allows early introduction of the dietary treatment.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o consumo alimentar de pacientes com disfagia decorrente de estenose de esôfago, comparando a dieta de consistência líquida com a dieta de consistência pastosa e sólida, com base na Pirâmide Alimentar Brasileira. MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal, no qual foram incluídos consecutivamente 31 pacientes com estenose esofágica, sendo 18 (58,0%) cáustica, 7 (22,6%) pós-cirúrgica, 3 (9,7%) péptica e 3 (9,7%) sem causa definida. Empregou-se o recordatório de 24 horas; os alimentos foram transformados em porções em função dos oito grupos de alimentos, conforme recomendado por Philippi. Utilizou-se o teste Kruskal-Wallis e Exato de Fisher, fixando em 5% o nível de rejeição da hipótese de nulidade. RESULTADOS: A idade variou entre 15 e 176 meses (mediana, 56 meses), sendo 28 crianças e três adolescentes, e 18 do sexo masculino. Vinte e nove pacientes (93,5%) apresentavam disfagia, sendo grave em 34,4% (10/29), moderada em 41,3% (12/29), e leve em 24,1% (7/29). O consumo mediano de porções de cereais, leguminosas, e óleos e gorduras foi menor no grupo com dieta líquida (p<0,005), o qual também apresentou maior proporção de pacientes cujo consumo foi abaixo do proposto pela pirâmide alimentar quando comparado ao grupo com dieta pastosa e sólida, com diferença estatisticamente significante (p