Pediatric Digestive Health & Gastroenterology

Pediatric gastroenterology is a specialty that diagnoses and treats nutrition problems and illnesses of the digestive system and liver in infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric gastroenterologists study and understand problems in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. 

Common Conditions

• Abdominal pain
• Chronic or severe vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Food allergies and intolerance
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Lactose intolerance
• Liver and pancreas problems or diseases including jaundice
• Malnutrition, failure to thrive
• Obesity
• Short bowel syndrome, intestinal failure
• Ulcer disease

Because children, especially young children and infants, cannot always explain their symptoms, pediatric gastroenterologists are trained in a way that helps them diagnose conditions and work with small children. Our pediatric gastroenterologists are experts in how to perform and understand the results of diagnostic tests.

ImproveCareNow 

Our physicians seek to provide the highest level of care available in the United States and have partnered with ImproveCareNow. St. Mary’s for Kids is the only Care Center in central Virginia to be a member of ImproveCareNow.

ImproveCareNow is a national quality improvement group of pediatric centers from across the country, dedicated to improving the care provided for pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.