Gastrointestinal Conditions

What’s in the gastrointestinal system?

The digestive system is also known as the gastrointestinal tract, and in broad terms, it includes a range of vital digestive organs:

• The mouth
• Esophagus (the “feeding pipe”)
• Stomach
• Small and large intestines
• Rectum, and anus

It also includes other connected organs – the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Common gastrointestinal conditions include:

Even if you don’t realise, it’s likely that you and/or your kids have suffered from a gastrointestinal condition at some stage – and they can be very serious, especially if not detected or addressed. Common conditions include:

• Celiac Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD & IBS)
• Diarrhoea & Constipation
• Reflux
• Crohn’s Disease
• Colitis
• Gallstones

What causes these conditions?

The causes are multifactorial, but can include things like:

• A low fibre diet‍
• Stress
• Not drinking enough water
• Too many dairy foods
• Inactivity
• Aging
• Genetic factors

Are there cures?

While there is no cure for many of these conditions, for kids who have something like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a range of treatments can be used to manage symptoms – accompanied by education and self-management – which can help kids go about their normal daily activities.