Treatments and Conditions

We provide a wide variety of studies for children with motility disorders—when the nerves and muscles in the digestive tract do not work properly. Common symptoms of motility disorders include gastrointestinal symptoms, such as severe constipation that doesn’t get better with treatment, bloating, abdominal pain, chronic nausea, chronic diarrhea, inability to burp, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation.

Sometimes, treatment can be as simple as determining which medicines are optimal or which require adjusting. Other treatments can include enemas, physical therapy, rehabilitation of the colon, stimulation of the digestive tract, and occasionally, surgical options. We also partner with specialty GI clinics, including the Esophageal Disorders Clinic, to provide your child with exceptional care.

We commonly help diagnose the following conditions:

  • Achalasia. Damaged nerves in the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach), which make it difficult to move food and liquid through the esophagus.
  • Anorectal malformation. A birth defect that predisposes children to have difficulties with stooling.
  • Chronic nausea. Nausea that can last days, weeks, or months, and may indicate a gastrointestinal condition or a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI).
  • Disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). A disconnect between the nerves of the intestinal tract and the brain, such as with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Esophageal dysphagia. Difficulty with swallowing or passing food or liquids into the esophagus.
  • Fecal incontinence (soiling). Loss of the ability to control bowel movements.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A backwash of stomach contents into the esophagus, commonly known as acid reflux.
  • Gastroparesis. When the stomach isn’t able to empty normally. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, feeling full, and pain.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome. A long-term (chronic) disorder that may include constipation or diarrhea and cause painful abdominal symptoms.
  • Hirschsprung disease. A newborn condition where nerve cells can be missing in any length of the GI tract, which can lead to severe constipation or bowel obstruction (blockage).
  • Imperforate anus. A birth defect where the opening of the anus doesn’t form correctly in the womb and may not work normally.
  • Neurogenic bowel syndrome. A neurological condition that can cause a loss of normal bowel function in conditions like spina bifida.
  • Pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction (PIPO). A condition where nerves or muscles are not working correctly in the intestines, causing slow or stalled movement.
  • Recurrent vomiting. A disorder where a child has bouts of vomiting that last a few hours or several days.
  • Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD). When patients are unable to belch (burp) due to inappropriate relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter (or cricopharyngeal muscle).
  • Rumination syndrome. A condition related to disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) where patients regurgitate (bring food back up) after swallowing, and may rechew it, swallow it again, or spit it out.
  • Severe constipation. Everyone experiences constipation at times. Severe constipation refers to constipation that is not responding to regular medicines and can lead to stool blockages.