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Pediatric Gastroenterologist |
Career OverviewA pediatric gastroenterologist has the expertise to treat children with nutritional, digestive system and liver problems as these conditions are often very different from the same problems in an adult. This is why the specialized training of a pediatric gastroenterologist is extremely important. They treat children from newborns to teenagers and young adults; pediatric care is the specialty of the pediatric gastroenterologist.
Some of the many conditions that a pediatric gastroenterologist treats are lactose intolerance, complicated or very severe gastro esophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal tract bleeding, short bowel syndrome, food intolerances, allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Pediatric gastroenterologists have the training to perform the necessary diagnostic tests on children’s digestive systems. They use endoscopes and other high-tech instruments to examine and obtain tissue or liquids to determine the cause or existence of a disease. Along with swallowing problems, bleeding and other intestinal diseases and conditions, a pediatric gastroenterologist also manages and treats children’s nutrition problems.
Pediatric gastroenterologists also diagnose and treat the following conditions in children:
- Severe and chronic diarrhea
- Liver disease
- Feeding disorders
- Chronic constipation
- Malnutrition, obesity and failure to thrive and other nutritional problems
- Chronic and also acute abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Inflammation of the pancreas and cystic fibrosis
One of the methods a pediatric gastroenterologist uses to examine inside a patients colon is a colonoscopy. This procedure takes a tiny camera into a patient’s digestive tract to assess a variety of problems such as changes in bowel habits, blood loss due to chronic diarrhea and other abnormalities.
They also use a colonoscopy to treat active bowel bleeding. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two inflammatory bowel diseases that affect not only the digestive system but also cause intestinal bleeding, cramping and abdominal pain. In extreme cases where a child needs a new liver, a pediatric gastroenterologist refers him or her to a liver transplant surgeon.
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Career RequirementsEducation and training requirements to become a pediatric gastroenterologist is very demanding. After completing undergraduate school of four years and medical school for an additional four years, a pediatric gastroenterologist continues their education with three years of pediatric residency training.
The last three years of training are spent studying pediatric gastroenterology and treatment of infants to young adults with liver, nutritional and digestive disorders.
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Job OutlookAs the health care industries and population continues to grow, so does the need for qualified pediatric gastroenterologists using the advanced technologies, treatments and diagnostic tests now available. Job openings for pediatric gastroenterologists will also result from replacing those doctors retiring through 2014.
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Career TrackThere are several options available in career advancement and changes for a pediatric gastroenterologist. Some choose to do research on the digestive system, teach at universities and colleges or go into private practice. In addition, some choose to further their education and become transplant surgeons.
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CompensationPediatric gastroenterologists are trained and skilled doctors that provide valuable care to infants and children in hospitals as well as other medical facilities. Their average salaries across the United States range from approximately $253,900 annually to over $385,500.
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