Most Common Digestive Disorders in Children - By Muhammad Azim Qureshi, MD
Dr. Muhammad Azim Qureshi is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Carlisle, PA. With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. Muhammad Azim Qureshi is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Muhammad... more
There are plenty of digestive disorders that can develop in children. These are just some examples:
1. Colic
Colic affects infants between 3 to 4 months of age. When your baby is crying for at least 3 hours a day, more than 3 days per week, for at least 3 weeks, they are considered "colic".
2. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is either watery stool or increased frequency of stool. It can be acute, lasting for a few days, or chronic, lasting longer than four weeks.
3. Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is characterized by the lack of an enzyme known as lactase. When you have inadequate amounts of lactase, you aren't able to digest lactose, which is found in dairy products.
4. Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that makes you intolerant to gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. In celiac, your immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine.
5. Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is inflammation in the digestive system. Two types of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's.
6. Eosinophilic Esophagitis
This is inflammation of the esphagus that is caused by a build-up of white blood cells. It can cause nausea and vomiting, pain, and difficulty swallowing.
7. Acid reflux (also known as GERD)
Acid reflux, or GERD which stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, causes the stomach acid to back up and irritate the esophagus.
8. Constipation
Constipation involves infrequent bowel movements or hard stools. This can be caused by changes in diet and also early potty training. Most cases, however, are temporary.
