HJAR Nov/Dec 2024

40 NOV / DEC 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ADH CORNER COLUMN CHILDREN’S HEALTH MAYBE your patient can’t burp. Maybe you’re treating a child for chronic nausea, chronic abdominal pain, or chronic constipation. The laboratory tests haven’t identified abnormalities, and endoscopy hasn’t revealed inflammation. Maybe you care for a child who is still having poop accidents even with the use of laxative medication and adherence to toilet- sitting routines. If the child hasn’t responded to these therapies and has repeated school absence, limitation in activities, or anxiety about symptoms, it can be burdensome for the child and the caregivers. Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), formerly known as functional gastrointestinal disorders, are diagnosed based on symptoms but can be difficult to identify. Common dis- orders such as functional constipation, ir- ritable bowel syndrome, and colic may be obvious, whereas rumination syndrome or cyclic vomiting syndrome can create diag- nostic challenges. Motility disorders of the intestine — in- cluding esophageal achalasia, Hirschsprung disease, and chronic intestinal pseudo-ob- struction — may present with non-specific chronic symptoms and require specialized testing to diagnose. Arkansas has all the components to pro- vide comprehensive gastrointestinal care to children in the region, including those with DGBIs and diseases of GI motility. Providers skilled with advanced endoscopies and GI subspecialties complement the state’s dedi- cated pediatricians. Telehealth allows special- ized care to reach rural areas and patients’ homes to reduce the difficulties associated with travel, missed work and school, and hospital-associated anxiety. Partners in GI care include home health providers, pediat- ric surgeons, dietitians, physical therapists Neurogastroenterology &Motility in Children: Collaborating to Provide Comprehensive Pediatric GI Care for the Region