Diagnostics, Procedures & Treatments
Advanced Care for Pediatric Digestive Disorders
Every child deserves a care plan that's as unique as they are. At UI Health, our pediatric gastroenterologists use advanced diagnostic tools, minimally invasive procedures, and evidence-based treatments to identify the cause of digestive symptoms and provide personalized care for infants, children, and adolescents.
Whether your child has chronic abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, poor growth, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, or a feeding disorder, our multidisciplinary team works together to provide comprehensive care—from diagnosis through long-term management.
Diagnostic Services
Accurate diagnosis is the first step toward helping your child feel better. Our specialists use a combination of advanced testing, imaging, laboratory evaluation, and minimally invasive procedures to understand the underlying cause of digestive symptoms.
Diagnostic services may include:
- Comprehensive medical history and physical examination
- Laboratory testing, including blood and stool studies
- Food allergy and nutrition assessments
- Growth and nutritional evaluations
- Imaging studies coordinated with Pediatric Radiology
- Endoscopic procedures with tissue biopsy when appropriate
By combining multiple diagnostic approaches, we can identify even complex digestive conditions while minimizing unnecessary testing.
Pediatric Endoscopy & Colonoscopy
When additional evaluation is needed, our pediatric gastroenterologists perform specialized endoscopic procedures designed specifically for children.
Endoscopy allows physicians to examine the digestive tract using a thin, flexible camera while your child is comfortably asleep under pediatric anesthesia.
Procedures may be recommended to evaluate:
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Chronic vomiting or reflux
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chronic diarrhea
- Blood in the stool
- Poor growth or weight gain
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Our pediatric specialists perform procedures in a child-focused environment with specially trained pediatric anesthesia providers and care teams to maximize safety and comfort.
Procedures We Offer
Our Pediatric Gastroenterology team performs a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including:
- Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
- Colonoscopy
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Small bowel and gastrointestinal tissue biopsies
- Foreign body removal
- Polyp identification and removal
- Evaluation and management of gastrointestinal bleeding
- Endoscopic monitoring of chronic digestive diseases
- Video Capsule Endoscopy
Following each procedure, families receive a detailed explanation of findings along with recommendations for ongoing care and treatment.
Medical Treatments
Many pediatric digestive conditions can be successfully managed without surgery. Our specialists create individualized treatment plans that focus on improving symptoms, supporting healthy growth, and helping children return to normal daily activities.
Treatment options may include:
- Prescription medications to reduce inflammation and control symptoms
- Biologic therapies for inflammatory bowel disease
- Acid suppression therapy for GERD
- Treatment for constipation and bowel disorders
- Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic disorders
- Medical management of liver diseases
- Vitamin and nutrient supplementation
- Long-term monitoring for chronic gastrointestinal conditions
Because many digestive disorders evolve as children grow, treatment plans are regularly adjusted to meet each child's changing needs.
Nutrition Therapy
Nutrition plays an important role in nearly every digestive condition. Our pediatric gastroenterology team partners with registered dietitians to ensure children receive the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
Nutrition services include:
- Celiac disease education and gluten-free nutrition counseling
- Dietary management for inflammatory bowel disease
- Food elimination diets for eosinophilic esophagitis
- Nutrition support for poor growth or malnutrition
- Feeding tube nutrition management
- Vitamin and mineral supplementation
- Personalized nutrition plans for chronic digestive disorders
Our goal is to help families make sustainable nutrition choices while supporting normal childhood growth.
Feeding & Swallowing Support
Some children experience difficulty eating, swallowing, or gaining weight because of digestive or developmental conditions.
Our specialists evaluate and manage:
- Feeding difficulties
- Oral aversion
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Failure to thrive
- Poor weight gain
- Tube feeding management, including G-tubes, J-tubes, GJ-tubes, and NG-tubes
When appropriate, we collaborate with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, nutrition specialists, and other pediatric experts to provide coordinated care.
Long-Term Care for Chronic Digestive Diseases
Many pediatric digestive disorders require ongoing care throughout childhood and adolescence. Our team develops long-term treatment plans that help children stay healthy while monitoring growth, nutrition, and disease activity.
We provide comprehensive management for children with:
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Celiac disease
- Autoimmune liver disease
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Liver disorders
- Motility disorders
- Complex nutritional conditions
Regular follow-up appointments allow us to monitor progress, adjust medications when needed, and help children remain active and healthy.
Multidisciplinary Pediatric Care
Digestive disorders often affect more than the gastrointestinal tract. That's why our pediatric gastroenterologists work closely with specialists across UI Health to coordinate every aspect of your child's care.
Depending on your child's needs, care may include collaboration with:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pediatric Radiology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Adolescent Medicine
- Development and Behavioral
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Pediatric Psychology
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Pathology
- Primary Care Providers
This collaborative approach allows families to receive coordinated, comprehensive care from one experienced pediatric team.
What Families Can Expect
From the first appointment through ongoing treatment, our team is committed to making every visit as comfortable and informative as possible.
Families can expect:
- Thorough evaluations and clear explanations
- Shared decision-making with parents and caregivers
- Individualized treatment plans
- Child-friendly procedures and environments
- Coordination with other pediatric specialists when needed
- Education and support throughout every stage of care
Our mission is to help every child achieve better digestive health, support healthy growth and development, and improve their overall quality of life.
