This page contains useful resources for patients (and their caregivers) and clinicians. If you have any questions about your child’s condition, please speak with your healthcare provider.
Table of Contents
General
Overview of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children (YouTube video):
The website for the International Foundation for Functional GI Disorders has good infomation on pediatric GI challenges:
https://aboutkidsgi.org
Abdominal Pain
Functional abdominal pain (YouTube video)
Pediatric chronic abdominal pain (website)
www.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/pediatric-chronic-abdominal-pain
Irritable bowel syndrome (websites):
- Information written for children: kidshealth.org/en/kids/ibs.html
- Information for teens: kidshealth.org/en/teens/ibs.html?ref=search
- Information for parents: www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome-children
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Diet (.pdf)
Monash University website on low FODMAP diet (Monash University FODMAP diet app also available) (website)
www.monashfodmap.com
What is a FODMAP diet? (website, PDF)
gikids.org/digestive-topics/fodmap/
ImaginAction – A series of audio guides that coach mind-body skills and self-hypnosis for pain management (website, audio)
imaginaction.stanford.edu/
Happy Inside: Gut-based psychotherapy (website)
happyinside.com.au/
Hypnosis for abdominal pain
https://hypnosis4abdominalpain.com
Constipation & Encopresis
AHS Digestive Health Strategic Clinical Network – patient and primary care information on digestive health including pediatric constipation (website)
www.ahs.ca/dhpathways
Provincial pathway for pediatric constipation (for health care providers) (PDF)
www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/about/scn/ahs-scn-dh-pathway-pediatric-constipation.pdf
Childhood Constipation from the Stollery Children’s Hospital (PDF)
Childhood Constipation
The Poo in You: Constipation and Encopresis educational video (YouTube video)
Constipation: Everyone Poops, Or Do They? (YouTube video)
Modified O’Regan Protocol – Support and solutions for nocturnal enuresis, urge incontinence, encopresis (website)
www.bedwettingandaccidents.com
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
What is cyclic vomiting? (website)
gikids.org/digestive-topics/cyclic-vomiting/
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome 301: A guide for patients and families (.pdf)
Rumination Syndrome
What is rumination syndrome? (website)
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/rumination-syndrome
Diaphragmatics breathing for relaxation and rumination syndrome (YouTube video)
Rumination breathing exercises:
https://www.chop.edu/video/rumination-syndrome-breathing-exercises-helping-your-body-get-unstuck
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Visual Guide: Diaphragmatic Breathing
Chronic Pain
The Pain Kete – Managing chronic pain in pediatric patients (website)
media.starship.org.nz/the-pain-kete/pain-kete.pdf
Pain Management – Video resources to help youth manage their pain (video resources)
cassieandfriends.ca/pain/
ImaginAction – A series of audio guides that coach mind-body skills and self-hypnosis for pain management (website, audio)
imaginaction.stanford.edu
iCanCope – Pain education and self-management platform for youth and adults living with pain (app)
icancope.ca
MyCarePath – Learning about and managing chronic pain (website)
mycarepath.ca
The mysterious science of pain (Ted-Ed) (YouTube video)
How does your brain respond to pain? (YouTube video)
Tame the Beast – Evidence-based direction to guide recovery from pain (website)
www.tamethebeast.org/#tame-the-beast
Miscellaneous
The Breath Project – Resources to deal with stress (website)
thebreathproject.org/about/introduction/
Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products available in Canada (website, chart)
www.probioticchart.ca/PBCPediatricHealth.html?utm_source=pediatric_ind&utm_medium=civ&utm_campaign=CDN_CHART
Guided exercises for mindfulness
https://www.thecomfortability.com/blogs/guided-exercises-mindfulness
Mental Health Resources
Anxiety Canada – Resources for children, youth and parents (website)
www.anxietycanada.com
Downloadable anxiety management resources (PDFs)
www.anxietycanada.com/free-downloadable-pdf-resources/
Kelty Mental Health Resources Centre – Resources and tools for wellbeing
keltymentalhealth.ca (website)
Pediatric somatization – Professional handbook (PDF handbook)
keltymentalhealth.ca/sites/default/files/resources/BCCH%20Ped%20Somatization%20Professional%20Handbook%20-%202021.docx.pdf
Centre for Clinical Interventions – Mental health resources (website)
www.cci.health.wa.gov.au
Information sheets & self-help resources; including worksheets (modules – online or PDF)
www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself
CanREACH: Promoting mental health in primary care (website)
For healthcare providers: Information on a mini-fellowship for diagnosing and treating common psychiatric disorders in children. Listing of Alberta providers with experience in treating kids with psychiatric disorders.
wp.hmhc.ca/canreach/
Apps for Relaxation/Mindfulness
Available through both Apple and Android (Google Play) app stores:
- HEADSPACE – Mindful Meditation
- CALM – Sleep, Meditation, Relaxation
- Smiling Mind – Meditation for all ages
- Mindshift (for teens) – Anxiety relief
The Webmap Mobile App (available only on Apple) is a free app to help teens cope with chronic pain and teaches cognitive behavioural therapy. More information is here:
https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/2022/07/22/webmap-mobile/
Zemy: Children’s Tummy Relief – helping children to learn how to manage and reduce symptoms of functional abdominal pain disorders (free app)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zemy-childrens-tummy-relief/id1497659477
iBeatPain for Teens – helps kids practice relaxation techniques to learn to function despite pain (free app)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibeatpain-for-teens/id961976820?mt=8