Paediatric gastroenterology: Difference between revisions
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Gastroenterological problems are the most common problems in [[paediatrics]] (with the possible exception of [[paediatric respiratory|respiratory disease]]). Diarrhoea and fluid management are the bread and butter of paediatrics - it is essentially about differentiating between seriously ill and mildly ill children. [[image:breadandbutter.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A complement to a meal for many, but in paediatrics, you can expect this to be replaced with diarrhoea and fluid management]] Abdominal pain can often be indiciative of serious or life-threatening pathology and again detection of the seriously sick child is essential.<br> | Gastroenterological problems are the most common problems in [[paediatrics]] (with the possible exception of [[paediatric respiratory|respiratory disease]]). ''Diarrhoea and fluid management are the bread and butter of paediatrics'' - it is essentially about differentiating between seriously ill and mildly ill children. [[image:breadandbutter.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A complement to a meal for many, but in paediatrics, you can expect this to be replaced with diarrhoea and fluid management]] Abdominal pain can often be indiciative of serious or life-threatening pathology and again detection of the seriously sick child is essential.<br> | ||
Below are the main problems covered by paediatric gastroenterology. These are not complete differentials but broad categories into which each of these differentials fit. | Below are the main problems covered by paediatric gastroenterology. These are not complete differentials but broad categories into which each of these differentials fit. | ||
Revision as of 17:54, 30 August 2008
Gastroenterological problems are the most common problems in paediatrics (with the possible exception of respiratory disease). Diarrhoea and fluid management are the bread and butter of paediatrics - it is essentially about differentiating between seriously ill and mildly ill children.
Abdominal pain can often be indiciative of serious or life-threatening pathology and again detection of the seriously sick child is essential.
Below are the main problems covered by paediatric gastroenterology. These are not complete differentials but broad categories into which each of these differentials fit.
Vomiting
Be careful when given the symptom of 'vomiting' by parents. Often, this can be something physiological which is not due to a disease process and does not need to be treated.
- Feeding
- Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastroenteritis
- Other Infectious Causes Of Vomiting
- Malformations Of The GI Tract
Diarrhoea
Probably the most common symptom in paediatrics, it is massively important to be able to pick out the serious causes of this symptom. Toddler's diarrhoea is benign and a normal part of childhood whereas inflammatory bowel disease is a serious long-term illness with huge consequences.
Abdominal Pain
This can be split further into acute and recurrent/chronic abdo pain.
Acute
As mentioned above, this condition can by symptomatic of a range of illnesses which are fatal if untreated. These fatal illnesses are generally surgical in nature and, as such, acute abdominal pain should be considered surgical until proven otherwise.