Conditions We Treat

Abdominal pain
Bellyaches or stomachaches can be acute (lasting less than a few weeks) or chronic (lasting longer than 1 or 2 months).  It can be a sign of many diseases and conditions, depending on the age of the child.  

Celiac disease
Children with celiac disease have inflammation of the lining of their small intestine. This is an autoimmune disease, triggered by a protein called gluten often found in wheat and many other grains.

Constipation
Constipation is common in childhood, but causes can differ, depending on the age of the child. Some children have less frequent bowel movements, while others go regularly, but pass large or hard stools.  

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases (EGIDs)
Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases (EGIDs) are a group of conditions that involve abnormally high numbers of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. One specific type of EGID, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), occurs when high numbers of eosinophils are found only in the lining of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). The underlying cause of EGIDs, including EoE, is still not known, although much research is being done in the field. Allergies are thought to play a role.

Feeding problems
Children, especially infants and toddlers, may have difficulties with feeding and swallowing, which could be a sign of underlying disease.

Food allergies
A food allergy causes reproducible inflammation in the body each time a food is ingested. This is different from food sensitivity where food may trigger various symptoms, but there is no inflammation or disease.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders
These disorders are from sensitive nerves and changes in pain/sensory pathways. 

• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
  This is a condition where a child has stereotypical attacks of nausea and vomiting for several hours or days. During these attacks, the child may also have headaches or stomach pain. The episodes of being ill are separated by periods of complete wellness, lasting for days, weeks, or even months.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  It’s a common condition that causes a sense of irritation of the large intestine, resulting in chronic abdominal pain with constipation and/or diarrhea.  

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
This is a chronic, inflammatory disease of all or part of the gastrointestinal tract.

• Crohn’s disease
  It causes swelling and sores in a child’s digestive tract, making it harder for the body to get nutrients from food.
• Ulcerative colitis
  It causes swelling, bleeding, and sometimes sores in the large intestine (colon) and rectum (where stool is stored before leaving the body).

Liver conditions
Infections, genetic diseases, medications, and autoimmune problems can affect a child’s liver.

Malnutrition
Children with poor nutrition or growth may have underlying gastrointestinal problems.  

Metabolic Health
Metabolic Syndrome (abbreviated MetS) now afflicts at least 1 out of every 4 teenagers in the U.S.  MetS is defined as having any or all of the following 4 problems: increased waist circumference, abnormal blood lipid levels (i.e., elevated triglycerides in comparison to HDL in blood), abnormal blood sugar response, and/or high blood pressure. Having MetS increases the risk of several chronic problems including cardiovascular, kidney, gastrointestinal and liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, mental health illness, stroke, and cancer. Our team of specialized pediatric physicians, nurses, dietitians, health coaches, and feeding specialists is determined and dedicated to strategically deliver a comprehensive care plan to children. Their experience has also shown them that in childhood, MetS is not only reversible, but preventable, especially with early, integrative, targeted interventions focused on diet and lifestyle.

Reflux / Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Reflux happens when stomach contents flow back up into the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). For some kids, this leads to problems, which can include heartburn, pain, and difficulty swallowing.