McLeod Health: Expanding Access to Specialized Digestive Health Care For Children

McLeod Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Chad Thornhill performs a wide range of endoscopy procedures to provide accurate diagnoses for his patients.

McLeod Healt h: Expanding Access to Specialized Digestive Health Care for Children

story by Dr. Chad Thornhill, McLeod Pediatric Gastroenterology

Pediatric gastroenterology focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of digestive, liver and nutritional disorders in children. While there are common conditions that affect both adult and pediatric patients – Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel – there are some conditions that only pediatric gastroenterologists are trained to treat, such as infants with reflux or children with constipation. Children are not small adults. Their bodies are constantly changing as they grow, and they are not always able to express their concerns or the symptoms. Pediatric gastroenterologists care for the entire pediatric population, from infants to teens, and are experts in developing a personalized, age-appropriate approach to the treatment and management of digestive disorders. Pediatric gastroenterology covers a wide range of digestive disorders, each of which require unique testing and procedures as well as treatment approaches. Some of the most common conditions include food allergies, GERD, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Food Allergies

Food allergies result when a child’s immune system decides that a certain food is a danger. It sends out immunoglobulin antibodies, which react with the food and cause the release of histamines and other chemicals. These chemicals can lead to bothersome symptoms including hives, stomach pain, and vomiting. More severe symptoms can be life-threatening, such as anaphylaxis and loss of consciousness. Most food allergies are caused by milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish. It is important to determine what specific foods are triggering your child’s allergy. If your child’s symptoms are severe, be sure that you and your child carry an EpiPen.

GERD

Reflux occurs during or after a meal when the stomach contents go back up into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. For some people, reflux happens frequently and is so severe that it develops into a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. GERD occurs when reflux causes troublesome symptoms or complications such

as failure to gain weight, bleeding, respiratory problems or esophagitis. You can develop GERD at any age, and it often runs in families. There are some differences between the symptoms, management, and treatment of GERD in infants and GERD in older children and teens.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in children is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestines that does not have an identifiable cause such as infection. Nearly 1 in 4 patients diagnosed with IBD are under 20 years old. IBD should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD patients are usually sicker, with more severe symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and weight loss. Patients can also have inflammation in other parts of their body. The two major types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which affect different parts of the child’s digestive tract. It can often be managed effectively through medication or other treatments but requires close evaluation and follow-up by a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease in children is a serious autoimmune condition caused by a permanent intolerance for gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Consuming gluten damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing nutrients from food. This often leads to poor weight gain in children. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, irritability and slow growth. While the exact cause of celiac disease remains unknown, it does appear to be hereditary. Celiac disease is a lifelong condition, but it is very manageable. The best way to treat the condition is to stick to a gluten-free diet. It is also important to remember in addition to wheat, rye and barley, non-food items can contain gluten as well, such as shampoo, vitamins and supplements.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis in children is an inflammatory condition in which the wall of the esophagus becomes filled with large numbers of white blood cells called eosinophils. It has only recently been identified as a disease, but fortunately, many new options are emerging to treat and manage the condition. Symptoms usually include difficulty swallowing, pain, nausea, regurgitation and vomiting. In young children, symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis can resemble those of GERD, so it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis. This is a serious disease that can cause lifelong problems if undiagnosed.

Talk with your child’s pediatrician if you notice any digestive or nutritional concerns so they can refer you to a pediatric gastroenterologist if needed. McLeod Pediatric Subspecialists (left to right): Dr. David Steflik, Dr. Deidre Tyson, Dr. Chad Thornhill, Dr. Al Gilpin and Lisa Woodberry, NP.

McLeod Children’s Hospital

Serving more than 56,000 children from the Midlands to the Coast each year, McLeod Children’s Hospital is continually expanding access to pediatric subspecialists in the fields of cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and orthopedic surgery. One of only four Children’s Hospitals in the state of South Carolina, McLeod Children’s Hospital remains committed to delivering personalized, unrivaled care.

For more information, visit McLeodChildrensHospital.org.

Dr. Chad Thornhill

MeLeod Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dr. Chad Thornhill cares for patients at McLeod Pediatric Gastroenterology. Board certified in both general pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology, Dr. Thornhill specializes in digestive, liver and nutritional disorders in children, ranging from lactose intolerance to food allergies, severe or complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, pancreatic insufficiency and more.

For more information, call 843.777.7380.