Pediatric Gastroenterology

• Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older

  Covers symptoms and possible causes of abdominal pain, such as peptic ulcer disease, indigestion, appendicitis, or stomach flu. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor. Offers home treatment tips.

• Diarrhea: Here's Help

  Take a minute to learn about diarrhea and what you can do to feel better.

• Cleaning Up Diarrhea

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you wear disposable gloves when cleaning up diarrhea or other body fluids. You may wear reusable rubber gloves if you wash and disinfect them after each use. If you don't have gloves, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when you...

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker

  The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by a virus. It is an illness that was first found in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has since spread worldwide. The virus can cause fever, cough, and trouble breathing. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia and make it hard to breathe without help. It can cause...

• Your Baby's Pyloric Stenosis Repair: Before Surgery

  Find out what to expect when your baby has surgery to repair pyloric stenosis.

• Your Baby's Pyloric Stenosis Repair: Returning Home

  Find out what you can do at home to care for your child after a pyloric stenosis repair.

• Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger

  Covers possible causes of abdominal pain in children 11 and younger, including stomach flu, urinary tract infection, constipation, and appendicitis. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor. Offers home treatment tips.

• Bowel Resection

  Learn what to expect during bowel resection surgery.

• Colostomy

  Learn how a colostomy is done and what to expect after surgery.

• Following a Low-Fiber Diet

  What is a low-fiber diet? A low-fiber diet contains foods that don't create much waste (stool). This diet slows down your bowels and gives them a chance to rest. Fiber is the part of plants that your body can't digest. It gives bulk to your diet and helps you feel full. It also helps you have regular bowel...

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Should I Have Tests for IBS Symptoms?

  Guides you through decision to have tests when you have IBS symptoms. Covers kinds of tests that may be done and what tests results might mean. Lists reasons for and against tests. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Criteria for Diagnosis

  Experts on digestive diseases developed these criteria, known as the Rome III criteria, to help doctors determine whether symptoms are caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). You meet the Rome III criteria for IBS if your symptoms began at least 6...

• Traveler's Diarrhea

  What is traveler's diarrhea? Traveler's diarrhea is a common medical problem for people traveling from developed, industrialized countries to developing areas of the world. High-risk areas for traveler's diarrhea include developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Low-risk areas...

• Fructose or Sorbitol Intolerance

  Fructose and sorbitol are two sugars that often are added to processed foods and medicines to make them taste sweet. Fructose can be found in soda pop and many fruit juice drinks. Sorbitol is found in diet products, chewing gum, candy, frozen ice...

• Diabetes and Constipation or Diarrhea

  Diabetes is a disease in which the body either does not produce or is unable to use the hormone insulin properly. The pancreas produces insulin, which helps the body use sugar (glucose) from foods. If the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, or if the body cannot use the insulin properly, blood sugar levels rise and...

• Diarrhea, Age 11 and Younger

  Discusses diarrhea in those 11 and younger. Covers causes such as infection or inflammatory bowel disease. Offers home treatment tips. Discusses signs of dehydration. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor.

• Diarrhea, Age 12 and Older

  Discusses diarrhea in older children and adults. Covers causes and symptoms such as abdominal pain and black or bloody stools. Offers home treatment tips. Discusses signs of dehydration. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  Discusses disorder of intestines that causes symptoms such as belly pain, cramping or bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. Covers treatment by avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. Includes medicines.

• Lactose Intolerance

  What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance means the body cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. This is not the same thing as a food allergy to milk. When lactose moves through the large intestine (colon) without being properly digested, it can cause...

• Pyloric Stenosis

  What is pyloric stenosis? Pyloric stenosis is a problem with a baby's stomach that causes forceful vomiting. It happens when the baby's pylorus, which connects the stomach and the small intestine, swells and thickens. This can keep food from moving into the intestine. A baby may get pyloric stenosis anytime between...

• Hirschsprung's Disease

  What is Hirschsprung's disease? Hirschsprung's disease is a birth defect that affects the nerve cells in the large intestine. These nerve cells control the muscles that normally push food and waste through the large intestine. In babies who have Hirschsprung's disease, the muscles in the wall of the large intestine...

• Bowel Resection

  Discusses surgical treatment of digestive system problems by removing diseased or damaged part of the colon (bowel resection). Includes laparoscopic surgery. Covers what to expect after surgery. Discusses risks.

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cancer Risk

  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of colon cancer. The amount of increased risk depends on the type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of the colon), how much of the intestine is involved, and how...

• Crohn's Disease: When Surgery Is Needed

  Surgery for Crohn's disease usually is needed if ongoing symptoms do not respond to medicine or if side effects of medicine cause other serious problems. Surgery may be needed when you have: Bowel blockage (obstruction). Abscesses or tears...

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Enteral or Total Parenteral Nutrition

  The following nutritional treatments may be used for inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease). Enteral nutrition is a fluid given through a tube that is inserted into the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach. This...

• Ileoanal Anastomosis for Ulcerative Colitis

  This surgery is done to treat ulcerative colitis. The doctor removes all of the large intestine (colon) and the diseased lining of the rectum. This surgery is also called an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). In an ileoanal procedure, the lining of the rectum is removed, and the lower end of the small intestine (the...

• Proctocolectomy and Ileostomy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

  In proctocolectomy, the large intestine and rectum are removed, leaving the lower end of the small intestine (the ileum). The doctor sews the anus closed and makes a small opening called a stoma in the skin of the lower abdomen. The surgical procedure to create the stoma (or any other artificial opening) is called an...

• Intussusception

  What is intussusception? Intussusception means that one part of the intestine has folded into itself, like a telescope. This can happen anywhere along the intestinal tract. It usually happens between the lower part of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. The part of the intestine that...

• Nausea and Vomiting, Age 12 and Older

  Nausea is a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. When you are nauseated, you may feel weak and sweaty and have too much saliva in your mouth. You may even vomit. This forces your stomach contents up your esophagus and out of your mouth. Most of the time, nausea and vomiting are not serious. Home treatment will often...

• Mild, Moderate, or Severe Diarrhea

  Diarrhea is described as an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or a decrease in the consistency of stools that causes the discharge of watery, loose stools. The severity of diarrhea is determined by the size and number of stools passed within a period of time. Severe diarrhea means having more...

• Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP)

  Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) with no cause is defined as at least 3 separate episodes of abdominal pain that occur in a 3-month period. These episodes are often severe, and the child is not able to do his or her normal activities. It may affect up to 30% of children between the ages of 4 and 12. Symptoms of RAP are...

• Medicines That Can Cause Nausea and Vomiting

  Many nonprescription and prescription medicines can cause nausea or vomiting. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Antidepressants. Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve). Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy). Opioid pain medicines. Vitamins and mineral supplements, such...

• Medicines That Can Cause Diarrhea

  Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause diarrhea. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Antidepressants. Antacids. Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy). Many antibiotics cause diarrhea. Usually the diarrhea...

• Video Capsule Endoscopy

  What is video capsule endoscopy? Video capsule endoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to examine your small intestine for sources of bleeding. It may be especially helpful for diagnosing Crohn's disease. How is it done? For this procedure, you swallow a capsule that is less than an inch long (about 23...

• Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies and Children

  What is gastroesophageal reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux happens when food and stomach acid flow from the stomach back into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. In adults, reflux is often called heartburn or acid reflux. Reflux is common in babies and...

• Bowel Disease: Changing Your Diet

  Covers following an eating plan for inflammatory bowel disease. Helps you learn more about how to eat so you can manage your symptoms but still get the nutrition you need. Looks at common problem foods.

• Oral Rehydration Solutions for Children

  When a child has diarrhea or is vomiting, it is important to replace the fluids he or she is losing. Give your child small sips of water. Let your child drink as much as he or she wants. Ask your doctor if your child needs an oral rehydration solution (ORS) like Pedialyte or Infalyte. Oral rehydration solutions contain...

• Cancer: Home Treatment for Nausea or Vomiting

  Home treatment may be all that is needed to treat mild nausea caused by cancer or the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. If you are having chemotherapy, your doctor can give you medicines to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting. Be sure to tell your doctor if you continue to have problems after your...

• Cancer: Home Treatment for Diarrhea

  Home treatment may be all that is needed to treat diarrhea caused by cancer or the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Be sure to follow any instructions and take any medicines your doctor has given you to treat diarrhea. Check with your doctor before using any nonprescription medicines for your diarrhea...

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Controlling Symptoms With Diet

  Covers controlling irritable bowel syndrome with diet. Discusses limiting foods that may make symptoms like bloating or diarrhea worse. Explains importance of adding fiber to your diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting regular exercise.

• Ulcerative Colitis: Should I Have Surgery?

  Guides through decision to have surgery for ulcerative colitis. Explains symptoms, long-term risks involved with the disease. Discusses common surgery options. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

• Crohn's Disease

  Discusses Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. Covers symptoms, which include diarrhea and abdominal pain. Discusses treatment with medicines, including corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics. Also covers treatment with surgery.

• Ulcerative Colitis

  Discusses ulcerative colitis, a common type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon and rectum. Covers symptoms and what happens as the disease progresses. Offers home treatment tips. Discusses treatment with medicine and surgery.

• Types of Ulcerative Colitis

  The severity of ulcerative colitis is determined by certain criteria. Ulcerative colitis can be classified as mild, moderate, severe, or fulminant (very severe), which may guide treatment choices. People who have mild ulcerative colitis may have: Fewer than four bowel movements (stools) a day. No...

• Ulcerative Colitis: Problems Outside the Digestive Tract

  Complications of ulcerative colitis can include: Arthritis, in 5 to 20 out of 100 people. Some people develop colitis-related arthritis, which may resemble rheumatoid arthritis. In people who have ulcerative colitis, inflammation limited to the lower joints of the spine (sacroiliitis) is more common than ankylosing...

• Crohn's Disease: Problems Outside the Digestive Tract

  Sometimes symptoms of Crohn's disease can develop outside the digestive tract in other parts of the body (systemic symptoms), including the eyes, liver, blood, and bones. These systemic symptoms suggest that the immune system is involved in Crohn's disease. Systemic symptoms can include: Joint problems, which occur in...

• Bowel Disease: Caring for Your Ostomy

  Caring for your ostomy is an important part of maintaining your quality of life. You will need to: Empty your pouch as needed. Replace your pouching system as needed (usually every 3 to 7 days). This may include measuring your stoma (the exposed section of intestine) and cutting the barrier to size. Care for your...

• Anal Fistulas and Crohn's Disease

  Crohn's disease may cause sores, or ulcers, that tunnel through the intestine and into the surrounding tissue, often around the anus and rectum. These abnormal tunnels, called fistulas, are a common complication of Crohn's disease. They may get infected. Crohn's disease can also cause anal fissures. These are narrow...

• Nausea and Vomiting, Age 11 and Younger

  Vomiting occurs when a child's stomach contents are forced up the esophagus and out of the mouth. Although nausea may accompany vomiting in adults and older children, children younger than age 3 are usually not able to tell you if they are having nausea. Most of the time vomiting is not serious. Home treatment will...

• Cancer: Controlling Nausea and Vomiting From Chemotherapy

  Discusses controlling and preventing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. Looks at antinausea drugs including Zofran and Ativan. Also discusses complementary therapy, acupuncture, and nutrition.