Pediatric Gastroenterologists

Pediatric specialists receive extensive medical training pertaining to the unique needs of children. Pediatric gastroenterologists specialize in the the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases adversely affecting various structures and processes of the digestive system.

Significance

• According to the Department of Health and Human Services, less than 800 pediatric gastroenterologists serve children in the U.S. Due to this low number of providers, about 19 percent of all children travel 50 miles and 6 percent of all children travel more than 100 miles to see a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Function

• Pediatric gastroenterologists specialize in treating children with chronic symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gallstones, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and inadequate weight gain. Also, pediatric gastroenterologists treat jaundice, gastoesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance, peptic ulcers, celiac disease, H. pylori, Crohn's disease, short bowel syndrome, hepatitis, malabsorption disorders, polyps, ulcerative colitis, biliary atresia, gallstones, pancreas diseases and liver diseases.

Time Frame

• Pediatric gastroenterologists first attend a pre-medical program at a university and then four years of medical school. After medical school, they complete a three-year pediatric residency program. Then, they complete another three years of specialized training in pediatric gastroenterology, nutrition and hepatology. They receive board certifications from the the American Board of Pediatrics before beginning medical practice.

Considerations

• According to a study conducted by the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in 2009, pediatric gastroenterologists are in high demand due to shortages of practicing pediatric gastroenterologists. Shortages of pediatric gastroenterologists result in significantly delayed medical treatment and reduced quality of medical care for children with digestive disorders and diseases.

Benefits

• According to the Healthy Children organization, children have unique medical needs and benefit from being treated by doctors specially trained to meet those needs. Also, many gastroenterology conditions occur only in children; thus, an adult gastroenterologist may not be adequately trained to treat childhood diseases and conditions.