Florida Hospital Best in Care, Women and Children - Spring 2012 - (Page 3)

ere can be many reasons for digestive problems in children. What to do: If you notice a reaction after your child eats certain foods, make an appointment with your pediatrician to help identify the culprit. GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE GERD What it feels like: For babies, obvious discomfort during or right after feeding. Preschool-age and older kids may have a burning sensation (heartburn) in the chest and mid-abdomen, which may wake them up at night. What to do: For babies, try smaller, more frequent feedings, and keep them upright for 15 minutes afterward. For older kids, avoid spicy, fried, acidic fruits (like oranges), or fatty foods, large meals and late-night snacks. Sanjay Khubchandani, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterology Tummy How to tell when a stomachache is serious. Troubles? GASTRITIS AND ULCERS What it feels like: Sharp, concentrated pain between the bellybutton and rib cage, sometimes with nausea and vomiting. Frequently can appear during or after eating, especially if the food is acidic or spicy. What to do: For school-age children, oral antacids can provide temporary relief, but if your child reaches the point where he’s frequently asking for it, see your pediatrician. APPENDICITIS What it feels like: Pain beginning around the bellybutton and migrating to the right lower abdomen, accompanied by a low fever (100 to 101 degrees), poor appetite, mild diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. What to do: If your child shows these symptoms, see your pediatrician or head for the emergency room immediately. This is not something that can be treated at home! Once diagnosed, the inflamed organ is surgically removed. Otherwise, there’s a risk of rupture, and the contents of the colon will spill into the abdominal cavity. Sangeeta Bhargava, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterology “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve heard these words and wondered what, exactly, do they mean? To help ﬁgure it out, Sangeeta Bhargava, MD, Lina Hernandez, MD, and Sanjay Khubchandani, MD, pediatric gastroenterologists at the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children, tell you what you need to know about kids’ most common stomach ailments. CONSTIPATION What it feels like: Cramping and uncomfortable bloating, two days or more without having a bowel movement. What to do: Make sure your child gets enough ﬁber and ﬂuid, and limit processed foods like white bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, milk and cheese. Whole-grain cereals and pear or prune juice can ease symptoms, but consult with your pediatrician to see if your child needs an over-the-counter stool softener. FOOD REACTIONS/INTOLERANCE What it feels like: Bloating, cramping, gas or diarrhea within two hours of eating a particular food. Also can include rash/hives and wheezing. EVENT APR DEMYSTIFY DIGESTIVE ISSUES IN YOUR CHILD Lina Hernandez, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterology Join our specialists at 7 pm, April 11, for a FREE online Q&A about common tummy troubles in kids. Register online today at FloridaHospitalForChildren.com/GI. HEALTHY 00tips Enjoy the blessings of the natural world today — sunlight, fresh air, water, natural remedies and animals. ACKNOWLEDGE THE GIFTS AROUND YOU FloridaHospital.com 3 http://www.FloridaHospitalForChildren.com/GI http://www.FloridaHospital.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Florida Hospital Best in Care, Women and Children - Spring 2012

Florida Hospital Best in Care, Women and Children - Spring 2012