Gastroenterology - January 2014 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it possible for children to have irritable bowel syndrome? My 9-year-old son often complains of stomach pain, but we can’t seem to find a cause or pattern. ANSWER: Although irritable bowel syndrome is possible in a 9-year-old, it is very rare. Stomach pain, on the other hand, is quite common in children that age. When stomach pain persists, it should be evaluated. If you have not already done so, make an appointment for your son to see his primary care provider. If necessary, that individual may recommend that he see a gastroenterologist who specializes in caring for children. Even if the exact source of stomach pain cannot be identified, there often are ways it can be effectively managed. Many children have stomach pain. Usually it is not a symptom of a larger medical problem, and the pain often goes away on its own. But when stomach pain in children lasts, it does become a concern, particularly when it continues to be a problem for three months or more.

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and leads to a host of cancers and illnesses. A new report by the Surgeon General released today, The Health Consequences of Smoking, highlights a half a century of progress in tobacco control and prevention since the first report in 1964. The report also includes new findings on the health effects of smoking and a call to action on how to end the continuing tobacco use epidemic. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Hurt are available in the downloads. “We lose over 480,000 Americans every single year to tobacco-related diseases,” says Richard Hurt, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center. “Cigarette smoke affects every organ system in the body. We’ve known for a long time that cigarette smokers have a larger number of polyps of the colon, which are the precursor to colon cancer. So it’s not a big surprise that now the committee is concluding that cigarette smoking is associated with colon cancer.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXzyJ1520cA&hd=1

Research Features from Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. — January  8, 2014 — Here are highlights from the latest online issue of Discovery's Edge, Mayo Clinic's research magazine. You may cite and link to this publication as often as you wish. Republication is allowed with proper attribution. Please include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit Discovery's Edge for subscription information.  Reducing the Panic of Fecal Incontinence Fecal incontinence is an embarrassing and common problem, especially for women. A Mayo Clinic researcher's institution-wide collaboration into its causes has led to new ways to better identify this seldom-discussed problem. Genomics: The Dawn of a New Medical Era Using a person's genes to prescribe the right medications once seemed like science fiction. Building on decades of research, Mayo Clinic researchers are now exploring how deeper genetic knowledge can be used for early detection of and better treatment for such pressing medical problems as heart disease, Alzheimers disease and cancer.