Top Chinese experts in pediatric medicine converged on Shanghai this week to start work on compiling national guidelines aimed at standardizing the diagnosis and treatment of children's illnesses and other health issues.

The panel, which includes hospital presidents, surgeons and academics, met for the first time at Fudan University Children's Hospital on Tuesday and chose the first four topics for advisories to be shared with doctors nationwide.

Guidelines on inflammatory bowel disease, pediatric gastroscopy procedures, nutritional support for critically ill children and general physical activity are expected to be released by the end of 2018, according to Zhang Chongfan, editorial director of the Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Pediatrics and a member of the 41-strong panel.