Symposium: NutritionOral nutritional supplementation: a user's guide

Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are substances taken by mouth as an addition to the child's usual diet. They can benefit a child who does not manage to ingest and absorb sufficient nutrients to grow and develop in the usual way. ONS can be used in the management of a wide range of medical conditions such as neurodevelopmental disorders with associated dysphagia, intestinal inflammatory disorders e.g. Crohn's disease and non-IgE slow onset food allergies (when a protein hydrolysate or amino-acid based ONS is usually needed) major organ failure or in areas of food insecurity to avoid starvation. Appropriate use at the earliest opportunity may preclude or postpone the need to insert an artificial feeding device. Once on treatment children need to be reviewed at least 6-monthly by a dietitian as well as a paediatrician.