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What Is Short Bowel Syndrome?

Short bowel syndrome happens when the small bowel (intestine) is too short. It can't fully absorb enough of the nutrients that kids need to grow, like water, protein, fat, and sugar. Food that isn’t fully absorbed stays in the intestine and can cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, malnourishment, and other problems.

Children with short bowel syndrome often need to get  to help them grow. This is nutrition given through a special IV into a vein.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Short Bowel Syndrome?

The most common symptoms of short bowel syndrome are:

  • bloating, gas, and belly pain
  • diarrhea and foul-smelling poop
  • weight loss
  • poor growth
  • vitamin and mineral deficiencies

What Causes Short Bowel Syndrome?

Short bowel syndrome can happen when a child's intestine is injured and doctors remove part of it in surgery.

Diseases and conditions that can injure the intestine this way include:

How Is Short Bowel Syndrome Diagnosed?

Usually short bowel develops because of an emergency while a baby or child is in the hospital. Your doctor will talk with you about the diagnosis and treatment plan before sending your child home.

Children with short bowel syndrome will need regular follow-up medical care. During these visits, the doctor will ask questions, take a medical history, and do an exam.

The doctor might also order blood tests and imaging tests (X-rays or computerized tomography (CT).

How Is Short Bowel Syndrome Treated?

Treatment for short bowel syndrome depends on how severe the condition is. It will be different for every child, and could involve a combination of: