Pediatric Gastroenterology in Maine, Portland

Pediatric Gastroenterology provides diagnosis and treatment of children with inflammatory diseases of the Gastrointestinal tract:

• Crohn's disease;
• Ulcerative colitis;
• Congenital and acquired diseases of the liver;
• Hyperlipidemia;
• Acute and chronic diarrhea;
• Violation of absorption;
• Coeliac;
• Violations of defecation;
• Chronic abdominal pain;
• Peptic ulcers;
• Intestinal bleeding;
• Violations of the growth and nutrition.

Liver disease:

• Jaundice and hepatitis of various nature;
• Infectious disease of the liver;
• Biliary atresia (pre- and postoperative status);
• Cholelithiasis;
• Gaucher's disease;
• Glycogen storage disease;
• Mitochondrial diseases;
• Disease Niemann-Pick;
• Wilson's disease;
• Tyrosinemia;
• Galactosemia.

Diseases of the Pancreas:

• Acute and chronic pancreatitis;
• Mucoviscidosis.

Diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease 

In case of violation of the gastrointestinal tract the growing body does not get the necessary nutrients, so gastrointestinal diseases in children, it is important to identify early in their development. Accurate diagnosis will allow spend effective treatment.

In the majority of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in gastroenterology widely used special equipment for children. These procedures include:

• Endoscopic gastroscopy (endoscopy of the upper departments of a gastroenteric tract);
• Capsule endoscopy - the introduction of a capsule with built microscopic camera into the small intestine;
• A biopsy of the liver and the small intestine;
• Polypectomy;
• Colonoscopy;
• Increased restrictions;
• Immunological and Manometric study.

Are also conducted a variety of diagnostic tests, including tests of the respiratory system, tolerability of drugs and blood tests.

Many procedures require the use of sedatives and follow-up in a special ward where to children provides psychological support, and conducted exercises in relaxation.

Methods of treatment

• Immunosuppressive therapy to achieve remission;
• Enteral and parenteral nutrition to ensure normal development of children and the quality of life.
• Plasmapheresis(blood purification);
• The treatment of children suffering from hereditary homozygous hypercholesterolemia, of liver diseases and pancreas, and many other diseases;
• Evaluation and monitoring of the course of the disease in childhood.

Liver transplantation - This is an important area in the experience of diagnosis and treatment of congenital metabolic and acquired liver diseases.

Severing liver failure - This is a critical condition, where the liver stops functioning as a result of viral, metabolic damage or other causes. Children with this disorder is required special care, for this there are the necessary means that can provide vitally important conditions for examination and treatment, including a liver transplant.

Treatment of Proctologic diseases depends on the character and age of the child. Some malformations of the rectum is necessary to operate immediately after birth, at other diseases intervention is possible be postponed to a later date.

Constipation in a child - the reason may be a violation of the microflora (dysbiosis) bowel, gastrointestinal malformations, dysfunction of the liver and pancreas, parasites. The problem should not be ignored, only a doctor can find out and prescribe treatment.

Giardia have a child - a child's immune system is not always adequately responsive to parasitic invasion, so the absence of antibodies in the blood not a sufficient basis to exclude the diagnosis. At suspicion on giardia need to spend a special analysis of feces.

At occurrence in a child of pain in the liver, nausea, vomiting, weakness, immediately seek medical attention. This condition can be caused by Liver disease, as well as toxic effects of drugs prescribed for treatment of other diseases.

If a child has the Peptic ulcer, treatment should not be delayed, otherwise it can lead to serious complications, such as perforation of ulcers and bleeding. In this case, the will need a surgery.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach (Gastritis) in children is often the consequence of errors nutrition and hereditary predisposition. For effective treatment of gastritis, necessary to correct power mode of the child and to eliminate harmful products.

The diet for the child - one of the main paths to recovery from gastrointestinal diseases in children. The list of permitted products depends on the diagnosis, but in any case the new products in the diet should be introduced gradually and carefully.