programs and services
The gastroenterology department at Dayton Children’s is skilled at providing expert care for children diagnosed with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
virtual care
Video visits at Dayton Children's provide you and your child a convenient, hassle-free environment for your appointment. Video visits are just like an office visit, only from the comfort of your home! Using video conferencing technology (similar to FaceTime or Google Meet) allow you to have an appointment from your mobile device or personal computer without the need to commute. If your child has an upcoming appointment, ask if a video visit is an option for care. Call 937-641-3000. Learn more about video visits.
our featured programs
celiac disease
About 1 in every 100 people in the United States has celiac disease, an intolerance to gluten, the main protein found in wheat. When someone with celiac disease eats food that contains gluten, it creates a toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and doesn’t allow food to be properly absorbed.
If your child is diagnosed with celiac disease they will be paired with a physician and a dietitian specialized in treating children with this disorder. The dietitian will work with both the parent and the child on implementing a new gluten-free lifestyle.
Learn more about celiac disease
congenital gastrointestinal surgery program
Dayton Children's congenital gastrointestinal surgery program combines the expertise of pediatric surgery and the division of gastroenterology and nutrition to provide a seamless continuum of care for babies born with complex gastrointestinal issues.
Learn more about the congenital gastrointestinal surgery program
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease (which is not the same thing as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS) refers to chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Up to 1 million Americans are thought to have IBD, which occurs most often in those ages 15 to 30, but can affect younger kids and older people.
Inflammatory bowel disease can be hard to diagnose, even if the bowel has been damaged over many years. And IBD symptoms often resemble those of other conditions, which may make it difficult for doctors to diagnose.
If IBD is suspected in your child, our specialists will use a variety of tests to make a diagnosis.
If your child is diagnosed with IBD our physicians will work with you to prescribe the appropriate therapy to help relieve the symptoms.
Dayton Children’s is also part of the ImproveCareNow network. ImproveCareNow is a network of care centers with clinicians, researchers, patients, families and improvers working together to transform the health, care and cost for children and youth with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
By being involved with ImproveCareNow, our team has seen remission rates for IBD increase from 60 to 80 percent in Dayton area children and teens without new medications or scientific breakthroughs. This means that 40 fewer families are receiving steroids medications that have multiple side effects, requiring major bowel surgeries, or being hospitalized due to their IBD diagnosis.
Learn how to use the IBD Decision Support Tool
Adapted from a teen's social media post, Becky shares an open letter to her ostomy and how it has changed her life.
related programs
aerodigestive
The Aerodigestive Clinic at Dayton Children’s is designed for chronically ill children with disorders of the upper airway, lungs and upper digestive tract, including sleep and feeding problems. Patients come to our center to meet with multiple specialists, including ENT, a pulmonologist and gastroenterologist. By evaluating your child’s condition together, the physicians can develop an understanding of his or her overall health and what kind of therapy is needed. This coordination of care is essential to your child’s well-being, since children who come to the center often have more than one disorder.
