Pediatric Digestive Health

Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI)

These conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can cause chronic belly pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Triggers may include stress or eating certain foods. IBS differs from irritable bowel disease, a condition that involves more severe symptoms.

Constipation

Infrequent or hard bowel movements that can cause painful stool or abdominal discomfort.

Feeding and swallowing disorders

Difficulty with feeding and swallowing can put babies and kids at risk for many health concerns, including nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and respiratory infections. Our doctors can address the root causes of feeding and swallowing disorders, whether they involve the digestive, nervous, respiratory, or cardiovascular systems.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Swelling and inflammation in the digestive tract, which causes belly pain, cramping, diarrhea, and other possible symptoms. Children with IBD may also experience delays in growth. The two main forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis

White blood cells accumulate in the lining of the food pipe (esophagus), which can lead to pain, swallowing problems, and difficult feeding — particularly in infants and children.

Autoimmune hepatitis

The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy liver cells, causing pain, nausea, and other potential symptoms, as well as permanent liver damage over time.

Pancreatic diseases

A group of conditions that may cause inflammation, damage or dysfunction of the pancreas, an organ that provides chemicals that help with digesting food. Depending on the cause, pancreatic disease may be a one-time event or a chronic condition that causes constant or recurring pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.

Celiac disease

Children with celiac disease are unable to eat gluten — the protein found in wheat and many other grains — without triggering an immune reaction that can damage the small intestine and make it less able to absorb nutrients from food.

Malabsorption

This means that the body isn’t able to absorb nutrients from food as well as it should, which may result in indigestion or malnourishment even if your child is eating a full, healthy diet.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

Fat buildup in the liver gradually leads to pain, inflammation, and liver damage. This condition is also sometimes called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Pancreatic insufficiency

The pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes, leading to symptoms like greasy, foul-smelling stools, bloating, poor weight gain, and abdominal pain. This condition can be genetic, like cystic fibrosis, or acquired, like chronic pancreatitis.

Short bowel syndrome

A portion of the small intestine is either damaged or missing, reducing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Contents from the stomach, such as stomach acid and food, flow backward from the stomach into the food pipe (esophagus), which can cause damage over time.

Intestinal polyps

Small clumps of tissue can form in the lining of the intestine, where they can cause blockages.

Peptic ulcer disease

Painful ulcers can form in the stomach or small intestine when there is a breakdown in the lining of tissue that protects the digestive tract.

Strictures

Strictures narrow the gastrointestinal tract, causing pain, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting. 

Endoscopy

These procedures use a small camera on a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) inserted inside the body to get detailed images of your child’s digestive tract. They are used to diagnose conditions and, in some cases, guide minimally invasive procedures like collecting tissue samples (biopsies).

• Upper endoscopy: doctors use an endoscope to examine the throat, esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum)
• Lower endoscopy: doctors use an endoscope to examine the rectum and colon

Capsule endoscopy

Your child swallows a pill-sized camera, which takes pictures of the entire digestive system — including places that endoscopes can’t easily reach, like the small intestine.

Intestinal biopsy

Doctors examine the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) and collect several tissue samples using an endoscope. This can help diagnose intestinal conditions, such as celiac disease.

pH probe monitoring

A thin tube with sensors is inserted into the esophagus to measure reflux frequency and help diagnose symptoms like chronic cough, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing.

Botox injection

Botox is used to treat chronic nausea and vomiting by relaxing the pyloric sphincter, the small muscle at the end of the stomach that works like a gate, controlling how food moves into the small intestine.

Esophageal dilation

This endoscopic procedure widens a narrowed esophagus to help a child swallow food more easily.

Gastronomy tube (G-tube) feeding

Doctors place a feeding tube through a small hole in your child’s belly, allowing you to provide food and medicine directly into their stomach. The G-tube can stay in place for as long as it is necessary for your child; some children may need it permanently if there is no other way to get sufficient nutrition through eating and drinking.

Intestinal dilation

Doctors widen portions of an intestine that have become narrowed or blocked, typically using a soft, inflatable balloon guided by an endoscope.

Lifestyle modifications

Doctors work closely with Pediatric Weight Management to manage metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MSLAD) through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.

Medication management

Biological treatments, which are made from living cells and target specific inflammation causing proteins, are used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal conditions.

Polyp resection

A procedure to remove abnormal growths from a child’s gastrointestinal tract using an endoscope.