Chart — Pediatrics
Pediatric GI Disorders Comparison Chart
Four pediatric GI conditions, each with an unmistakable buzzword. Match the finding to the disorder, then the priority and the feared complication follow.
Educational use only. Surgical timing, fluid orders, and feeding plans are individualized — follow the surgical team’s orders and your facility’s pediatric protocols. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
The Four Side by Side
| Condition | Typical age | Buzzword findings | Diagnostic clue | Priority & complication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyloric stenosis | 3–6 weeks | Projectile NON-bilious vomiting; hungry right after; palpable olive-shaped RUQ mass; visible peristalsis | Hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis + dehydration | Correct fluids/electrolytes BEFORE pyloromyotomy. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance |
| Intussusception | 6 months – 3 years | Sudden colicky pain, knees to chest; sausage-shaped mass; currant-jelly (blood + mucus) stools | Air/contrast enema is diagnostic AND often therapeutic | Emergency: NPO, IV fluids, prep for reduction; report first normal stool. Bowel ischemia, perforation |
| Hirschsprung disease | Newborn (or chronic in older child) | No meconium in 24–48 h; abdominal distension; ribbon-like foul stools; failure to thrive | Aganglionic colon segment can't move stool | Surgical resection/pull-through; measure girth. Enterocolitis — explosive foul diarrhea, fever (life-threatening) |
| Cleft lip / palate | Birth (lip repair ~2–3 mo, palate ~9–18 mo) | Visible facial cleft; can't form suck-seal; feeding difficulty; aspiration risk | Specialized nipple/bottle, upright feeding (ESSR) | Feed safely; protect suture line post-op. Aspiration; post-op suture-line breakdown |
Exam Traps
- ✦Projectile NON-bilious vomiting + olive + metabolic alkalosis = pyloric stenosis; stabilize fluids/electrolytes BEFORE surgery.
- ✦Currant-jelly stools + sausage mass = intussusception; a normal brown stool after the enema may mean it reduced — report it.
- ✦No meconium in 24–48 h + ribbon stools = Hirschsprung; explosive foul diarrhea + fever = enterocolitis = emergency.
- ✦BILIOUS vomiting in an infant is a surgical emergency until proven otherwise.
- ✦Cleft LIP post-op: no prone, elbow restraints. Cleft PALATE post-op: nothing hard in the mouth, no straws/suction at the site.
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) · CDC / ACIP (immunization schedule). It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →