Buenos Aires, December 1 (NA) -- Functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as colic, abdominal discomfort or pain, constipation, recurrent abdominal pain, regurgitation, or even gastroesophageal reflux, are common conditions in early childhood.
Although they usually do not involve structural diseases (hence their 'functional' nature), they cause great discomfort in children, alter their feeding, sleep, and growth, and interfere with the daily family dynamics, rest, and tranquility of all its members.
Now, the association Medicinal Milks has expressed its concern over the increase in consultations from families due to obstacles in the provision of treatment for functional gastrointestinal disorders in babies and young children, a reason that represents half of the complaints received by the entity, according to the latest survey of diagnoses associated with coverage requests.
According to the report accessed by the Argentine News Agency, the main diagnoses correspond to functional digestive disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux (53.6%), followed by food allergies (35.2%), prematurity (10.4%), and low weight (0.8%).
These data reflect a sustained trend in which digestive and allergy cases account for the vast majority of consultations.
Dr. Leandro Desplats, lawyer and founder of the association Medicinal Milks, highlighted that these conditions represent a considerable emotional burden for families, who often go through a long path of consultations until they get an adequate diagnosis and treatment, but he emphasized that "the situation worsens when, with a precise medical indication, they cannot access the specific medicinal milks for these disorders due to delays, evasion, or refusals by their social work or prepaid health plan".
Access to medicinal milks for children who need them is a right guaranteed by national law No. 27.305.
"What we do from the organization is to help families achieve their right to be fulfilled, for social works and prepaid health plans or the State to comply with what the law guarantees, no more and no less," he added.
Often, the problem is resolved administratively by presenting the corresponding documentation, but other times, it reaches legal instances, generating an unnecessary wear and tear for all parties, while the baby suffers from something they need and do not receive on time and properly.
The association emphasizes that the treatment indication for these conditions is usually to maintain breastfeeding.
However, for those cases—for whatever reason—where the health professional so indicates, medicinal milks constitute a fundamental therapeutic tool to alleviate symptoms, improve digestion, and promote healthy development (without a quantity or age limit for the child, with the corresponding medical prescription).
"We are receiving more and more consultations from families facing delays or unjustified restrictions in the delivery of medicinal milks.
"Financers of the health system must comply with current regulations, because the health and well-being of children depend on it," the specialist emphasized.
"Those people who find obstacles to access medicinal milks can contact the Medicinal Milks association, which advises families administratively and legally, many of which would not have been able to access coverage without this support."
