Gastroenterology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the human digestive tract. Pathological processes in the digestive system of children are quite common, caused by poor nutrition, genetic inheritance, and nervous disorders.
Timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment can prevent many complications and stop the disease from progressing to a chronic form.
What symptoms may warrant a visit to a gastroenterologist:
- loss of appetite, weight loss;
- nausea, belching, heartburn; vomiting;
- abdominal pain;
- bad breath, coating on the tongue;
- disorders of stool – constipation, diarrhea.
The digestive system of children has its own characteristics. Nowadays, there is an increase in gastrointestinal diseases due to low-quality food products. In general, about 80 percent of people suffer from various gastroenterological pathologies.
Among them:
- gastroduodenitis; - gastritis; - non-ulcer dyspepsia;
- ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum;
- intestinal diseases;
- cholecystitis;
- biliary tract diseases.
A very relevant problem today is diseases that arise due to the presence of Helicobacter infection. Helicobacter pylori is found in 85 percent of children suffering from gastroenterological diseases. Screening is especially necessary in families with a hereditary predisposition to ulcer diseases. The presence of Helicobacter infection in children manifests as loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, changes in taste, and severe pain. The disease often occurs without symptoms; however, appropriate examinations in Israel reveal significant changes in the stomach and duodenum. When Helicobacter infection is detected, a course of treatment is conducted, primarily using antibiotics. This guarantees almost a hundred percent recovery.
For diagnosing gastroenterological diseases in Israel, modern endoscopic equipment and methods are used. These include computed tomography, ultrasound, gastroscopy, and colonoscopy. Many laboratory methods are employed for diagnosis: blood tests (hormonal and biochemical), urine, stool, gastric mucosa biopsy, and monitoring of gastric acid function.