Gastrointestinal or GI problems are among the most common medical conditions in children. According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, IFFGD, functional gastrointestinal disorders, which are conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract's normal function, occur at a rate similar to adults. Other common gastrointestinal problems in children include infections and anatomical abnormalities.
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder
This group of conditions often results from impaired functioning of the gastrointestinal system. They include common disorders in children like constipation and gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD, and other, less common conditions, like cyclic vomiting syndrome. Functional GI conditions often present with unexplained abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, passage of gas and belching. These are chronic, recurrent conditions; their symptoms come and go, and may initially respond to therapies like over-the-counter laxatives. According to the IFFGD, 40 to 50 percent of visits to pediatric gastroenterologists relate to these conditions. Physicians usually rule out other serious conditions before making the diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Constipation and GERD
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, constipation is a symptom, not a disease. It is defined as having less than three bowel movements in a week, with the passage of hard, dry, small stools. Constipation in children often occurs due to inadequate fiber or water uptake. Diet modification, over-the-counter laxatives and bulk-forming agents can help maintain bowel regularity in children. Children with reflux often present with frequent vomiting or belching, abdominal pain or discomfort, and can often aspirate the refluxed stomach contents, causing cough and pneumonia. Treatment includes anti-reflux medicines; small frequent feeds for babies; and avoidance of foods that cause reflux symptoms in older children.
Infections
Gastrointestinal infections, or gastroenteritis, are a common cause for dehydration and abdominal pain in children. According to MedlinePlus, viral gastroenteritis is the second most common illness in the United States. Bacterial causes, for example with Salmonella or E. coli, are also common in children, and usually cause bloody diarrhea. Children with gastroenteritis have vomiting, diarrhea, and run the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Most of these infections are self-limited and do not require antibiotics.
Anatomical Abnormalities
Appendicitis is one of the most common anatomical GI problems in children. Children with appendicitis initially have pain around the belly button, which then moves to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Other symptoms include fever, vomiting and loss of appetite. Prompt identification with an ultrasound or a CT scan and surgical correction are necessary to avoid long-term complications, like a ruptured appendix or an abscess.
