Conditions affecting the small and large intestines.

Children are subject to a wide variety of bowel disorders, including obstructions and infections, as well as malabsorptive, inflammatory, and functional disorders. Causes range from genetic abnormalities to environmental factors such as diet, stress, and exposure to viruses and bacteria. The fully formed gastrointestinal tract is 12-15 ft (4-5 m) long at birth, but all of its components do not function maturely for several months. Intestinal problems resulting from birth defects are generally the first to be discovered, often manifesting themselves soon after birth.

Intestinal obstructions are a major type of bowel disorder. If left untreated, they cause malnutrition and other health problems. Some may lead to intestinal ruptures and result in peritonitis, a potentially life-threatening infection of the abdominal cavity. In pyloric stenosis, a common bowel obstruction, the muscle that surrounds the opening between the stomach and the...