EATING DISORDERS IN PEDIATRIC AGE: A BOOM PATHOLOGY

to determine the characteristics of pediatric patients suffering from eating disorders that were hospitalized at Hospital Universitario de Canarias. a retrospective study in a cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with eating disorders and admitted in our area was developed during the last seven years. out of 35 patients in our study, 85.7 % were women, onset average age 13.5. 77.1% of the cases were diagnosed as anorexia nervosa- restrictive type. The most frequent analytical alterations, detected when patients were in hospital, consisted in a drop in plasma levels in retinol binding protein (RBP)- in 57.6% of the cases- and D hypovitaminosis- in 46.9 % of them: the use of high - calories supplements was required in 71.4% of patients during hospitalization. The average weight gain was higher when the body mass index (BMI) was smaller at patient's admission to hospital (p = 0,006). Conclussions: eating disorders are increasing in pediatric age: puberty is a special vulnerable period for its development, as well as medical complications secondary to malnutrition. Admission to hospital is an essential tool for handling many cases; taking the necessary monitoring leading to a weight increase, preventing complications in nutritional support and tackling the underlying psychopathology. Diagnosis and a precocious treatment are crucial to avoid an excessive weight loss and more complications.