A pediatric gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating digestive problems in children. He or she is well-versed in digestive disorders as well as the developmental challenges that some infants and children face. Doctors evaluate clinical test results, write prescriptions, and perform minimally invasive treatment procedures. Children’s hospitals, general hospitals, specialty clinics, and private offices are all places where experienced pediatric gastroenterologists work.
The majority of patients referred to pediatric gastroenterologists come from primary care pediatricians. The gastroenterologist asks questions about symptoms and reviews previous medical findings when meeting with a new patient and his or her parents to get a basic understanding of the problem. A physical examination and diagnostic images of the gastrointestinal tract are usually performed the doctor to look for physical abnormalities. He or she might also decide to take blood and urine samples for testing in the lab.
Patients with common digestive problems, such as diarrhea and lactose intolerance, as well as more complex issues, such as Crohn’s disease and pancreatitis, are seen pediatric gastroenterologists. Such disorders frequently necessitate more in-depth diagnostic procedures. To detect inflammation or blockages, a doctor may need to insert an endoscope, a tiny camera on the end of a lighted tube, through the mouth and into the gastrointestinal tract.
The pediatric gastroenterologist can determine the best treatment options after making a specific diagnosis. Many problems can be treated with prescription medications and laxatives, but in more difficult cases, more direct therapies are required. To avoid serious health complications, blockages and structural disorders frequently necessitate surgery. In his or her office, a pediatric gastroenterologist may be able to perform simple procedures that can be done with an endoscope. If a problem cannot be resolved without major surgery, the doctor can refer the patient to a pediatric surgeon with experience.
To become a pediatric gastroenterologist, a person must first complete four years of medical school, followed up to seven years of practical experience. A new doctor typically enters a three-year internal medicine residency program at a general hospital after earning a doctor of medicine degree to gain supervised experience working directly with patients of all ages. After that, he or she enters a two- to four-year specialty fellowship, during which time the doctor focuses solely on young patients with digestive disorders. A pediatric gastroenterologist can start practicing independently after completing a fellowship and passing a board certification exam.