What is gastroenterology?

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine that focusses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of medical conditions affecting the digestive system. Given the length of the digestive tract (from mouth to anus) and all the organs that encompass and feed into it, gastroenterology is a wide specialty that encompasses many areas. Paediatric gastroenterologists specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive and nutritional problems in children, which vary considerably from the problems typically seen in adults.

What conditions does a paediatric gastroenterologist treat?

Paediatric gastroenterologists are trained to diagnose and treat problems related to the digestive system and the liver in children. Paediatric gastroenterologists make use of special instruments (just like gastroenterologists) such as endoscopes in order to examine the digestive tract, perform certain procedures, and to take biopsies (small tissue samples) if necessary. Paediatric gastroenterologists commonly treat:

Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Ongoing constipation
Liver conditions
IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
Certain intolerances (e.g lactose, gluten)
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Nutritional problems, or disorders
Reflux and GORD (gastrooesophageal reflux disease)

Which subspecialties are included under gastroenterology?

Hepatology is a major sub-specialty, with some specialists preferring to be known as “hepatologists” rather than “gastroenterologists”. Hepatology primarily deals with diseases of the liver, while some hepatologists also cover the pancreas and/or biliary tree as well. However, hepatology tends to focus on diagnosis and treatment in adults rather than in children.

Other sub-specialty interests include:

Upper GI diseases (oesophagus and stomach)
Functional bowel diseases
Tropical diseases
Endoscopy
Clinical nutrition

When does my child need to see a gastroenterologist?

You should consult a paediatric gastroenterologist if your child is experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, bowel irregularities, blood in their stool, heartburn, persistent or repeated stomach aches, difficulty swallowing food, or any other digestive problem that has you concerned. You may also be referred to a paediatric gastroenterologist through your regular paediatrician or GP, for specialist treatment or diagnosis.

Medical articles from Dr Ahmed Kadir

Tiny tummies: Understanding and managing common GI issues in infants