Pediatric gastrointestinal care in Denver, CO
Problems with a child’s digestive system can range from stomach pain or diarrhea to Crohn’s disease, severe liver conditions and ulcerative colitis. Regardless of the cause of your child’s discomfort, we know you want the very best treatment from caring pediatric gastroenterology doctors.
At Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC) in Denver, our board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists are specially trained to treat digestive disorders in children of all ages. Your child’s gastroenterologist will provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan with care and compassion to ensure proper care for your child’s digestive disorder.
When you choose RMHC for your pediatric digestive care, you gain a comprehensive team of specialists and providers dedicated to your child’s health. Our gastroenterologists partner with other physicians, laboratory technicians, radiologists, nurses and support teams to ensure you and your child receive the most effective care and support.
Pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) conditions we treat
Our gastroenterology specialists treat pediatric GI disorders and diseases including:
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Appendicitis
- Celiac disease
- Colic
- Constipation
- Crohn’s disease
- Diarrhea
- Dysphagia
- Duodenal atresia
- Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
- Failure to thrive
- Feeding issues
- Food allergies
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/heartburn
- Helicobacter pylori
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Intestinal malrotation/volvulus
- Intestinal atresia
- Intussusception
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Lactose intolerance
- Liver disease
- Meckel’s diverticulum
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Polyps and rectal bleeding
- Poor weight gain/malnutrition
- Pyloric stenosis
- Reflux
- Stomach and duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers)
- Ulcerative colitis
- Viruses, bacteria and intestinal parasites in the digestive tract
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Children’s digestive system testing
To create an appropriate and effective treatment plan, your RMHC pediatric gastroenterologist will work with you and your child to accurately diagnose your child’s digestive issue—starting with a complete medical history and physical examination.
Depending on your child’s symptoms, your doctor may order one of the following digestive system diagnostic tests. We know any type of medical test can be scary for children and overwhelming for parents. Regardless of which type of test your doctor orders, our team will help ease your child’s anxieties and ensure your child is comfortable.
- Abdominal ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to view inside of your child’s abdomen.
- Abdominal X-ray: An abdominal X-ray uses beams of energy view the organs within the abdominal area.
- Anorectal manometry: This test looks at the muscles and nerves in the anus.
- Barium enema (lower GI series): This test looks at the large intestine using special fluid to create a better image of the area on an X-ray.
- Blood tests: Blood tests may be ordered to obtain specific information about your child’s health.
- Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray uses energy beams to create images of the organs, bones and internal tissues in the chest area.
- Colonoscopy: This test looks at the large intestine through a long, flexible, lighted tube that is inserted through the rectum.
- Colorectal transit study: This test examines the path of food through the colon using a special capsule visible on X-ray that is ingested and tracked through the body.
- Endoscopy: This test uses a small, flexible tube with a camera to examine the digestive tract.
- Esophageal manometric studies: This study looks at the muscles in the esophagus through a small tube that is inserted through the nose into the throat.
- Fasting tests: A fasting test may be used to determine food allergies.
- Gastric emptying studies: This test helps doctors evaluate how quickly a meal passes through your child’s stomach.
- Lactose breath hydrogen test: This test can help diagnose lactose intolerance, as well as to detect abnormal bacteria within the colon.
- Lactose tolerance test: This test looks at how lactose is absorbed into the system by testing stools after fasting and consuming a lactose drink.
- Laryngoscopy: This test involves inserting a tube in the patient’s throat to find any abnormally small areas or other problems.
- Meckel’s scan: During this test, a special substance is injected through an IV, and an X-ray is performed to show where stomach tissue exists.
- Oral-pharyngeal video swallow: For this test, a small amount of barium is ingested and a series of X-rays are taken to track the barium and see what happens as it is swallowed.
- pH monitoring: This test looks at the levels of acid in the esophagus by placing a tube through the nose into the throat and esophagus. The end of the tube has a sensor to measure the acidity (pH).
- Rectal biopsy: During this test, a small sample of cells is removed from the rectum and examined for abnormalities.
- Rectosigmoidoscopy: During this test, a tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the rectum and colon to examine the area for bleeding, blockage and other problems.
- Sigmoidoscopy: During this test, a short flexible tube, or sigmoidoscope, is inserted into the intestine through the rectum, which blows air into the intestine, making it more visible in an imaging test.
- Stool acidity test: This test measures the amount of acid in the stool.
- Stool culture: This test examines stools for abnormal bacteria, blood or other irregular contents.
- Stool guaiac: This test is used to detect blood in stool samples.
- Urine analysis and culture: This test detects bacteria in the urine.
- Upper GI (gastrointestinal) series: This test looks at the organs of the upper digestive system after ingesting barium to help the digestive organs show up.
