Clinical Clues in Infant Stool

Celiac disease in kids is more common than you think, and often harder to spot than you’d expect. Celiac disease affects about 1 in 100 people globally, yet studies suggest as many as 80% of cases remain undiagnosed. For many community providers around the globe, it’s a diagnosis that certainly feels like it’s become much more prevalent in both diagnosis rates and public awareness in recent years. There is no ‘growing out’ of celiac disease, so that diagnosis for our kiddos is the beginning of a life full of gluten avoidance. Should we be screening for celiac disease in all of our kids and taking their gluten-filled donuts away? In this episode, we explore all of that and more. To understand the current status of celiac and to explore the future of screening, we are joined by two experts. Marisa Stahl, MD, and Mary Shull, MD, both specialize in pediatric gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Additionally, they are both assistant professors of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include:  How common it is amongst our youth and how that prevalence was determined  Why it seems the number of incidents is rising  How does geography play a role  The argument for screening and the role of the pediatrician  Charting Pediatrics is in the running for a People’s Choice Podcast Award, and we need your help to get nominated! Starting July 1, you can head to www.podcastawards.com and nominate us for the “science and medicine” category, as well as the “people’s choice” category. Listeners like you are the reason we have become one of the top pediatric podcasts for providers around the world. Your nomination could make all the difference in us receiving this recognition! Nominate us by July 31 and help Children’s Hospital Colorado lead the way in pediatric podcasting. Thank you for your support!   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

When it comes to babies, there is one true common denominator for new parents — poop. While it’s one of the first things parents can fixate over, pediatricians know what’s in the diaper can say a lot about what’s going on inside that tiny body. From understanding different stool colors and consistency, to the difference in diaper contents between breast-fed and formula-fed babies, there’s a lot to learn about baby poop. This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joining us for this episode is Adrienne Hoyt-Austin, DO, a pediatrician and lactation consultant with UC Davis Health. She specializes in general pediatrics and breastfeeding medicine and is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics. Some highlights from this episode include:  What baby poop can reveal about their health How to distinguish between normal variations in stool and potential concerns   Common colors and consistencies  Biggest red flags to look for in baby poop  Charting Pediatrics is in the running for a People’s Choice Podcast Award, and we need your help to get nominated! Starting July 1, you can head to www.podcastawards.com and nominate us for the “science and medicine” category, as well as the “people’s choice” category. Listeners like you are the reason we have become one of the top pediatric podcasts for providers around the world. Your nomination could make all the difference in us receiving this recognition! Nominate us by July 31 and help Children’s Hospital Colorado lead the way in pediatric podcasting. Thank you for your support!   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

The menstrual cycle is as regular as clockwork, or at least it should be. But for many adolescent patients, what should be a manageable monthly event turns into a full-blown disruptor of school, sports, sleep and sanity. As we explore the world of adolescent gynecology, we take a closer look at the intricate details: how cramps can hide endometriosis and ‘normal’ isn’t always what it seems. These symptoms are not just part of puberty. These are signals that deserve attention, validation, and thorough evaluation. This episode was recorded live on the exhibit floor at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joining us for this episode is Elizabeth Alderman, MD, Chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. She is also a professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include:  First-line treatments for painful periods in adolescents  Red flags in menstrual history that could lead to further concerns  Primary care diagnostic steps before referring to gynecology  How to create a comfortable environment for discussing these uncomfortable topics for adolescents Charting Pediatrics is in the running for a People’s Choice Podcast Award, and we need your help to get nominated! Starting July 1, you can head to www.podcastawards.com and nominate us for the “science and medicine” category, as well as the “people’s choice” category. Listeners like you are the reason we have become one of the top pediatric podcasts for providers around the world. Your nomination could make all the difference in us receiving this recognition! Nominate us by July 31st and help Children’s Hospital Colorado lead the way in pediatric podcasting. Thank you for your support!   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Screening for hip dysplasia in infants can make a big difference in their outcomes. Still, we know there are kids that fall through the cracks and later present with pain. Early detection of this condition is critical from a developmental standpoint, and proper therapy can guide those patients towards a pain free and active life. To help us uncover all we need to know about hip dysplasia, we are joined by Erika Valentine, MD. She is a pediatric orthopedist at Children’s Colorado and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include:  Signs to look out for in the first few years of life  Why and how long-term issues can occur  Understanding treatment options  How primary care providers can support and manage their patients with hip dysplasia  Charting Pediatrics is in the running for a People’s Choice Podcast Award, and we need your help to get nominated! Starting July 1, you can head to www.podcastawards.com and nominate us for the “science and medicine” category, as well as the “people’s choice” category. Listeners like you are the reason we have become one of the top pediatric podcasts for providers around the world. Your nomination could make all the difference in us receiving this recognition! Nominate us by July 31st and help Children’s Hospital Colorado lead the way in pediatric podcasting. Thank you for your support!  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Parents often turn to their child’s primary care physician for guidance on illnesses, developmental delays, or other health concerns. ADHD is no exception. In this episode, we’re diving into the crucial role pediatricians play in recognizing and managing ADHD. We’re giving you real-world tools to support real-world kids. This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joining us for this episode is Jennifer Walton, MD, the Section Chief of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, and an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miler School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include:  The most common signs of ADHD that get overlooked  Differentiating between ADHD and other behavioral or mental health concerns  How to use a standardized rating scale to assess ADHD symptoms  Talking to families about starting medication  Charting Pediatrics is in the running for a People’s Choice Podcast Award, and we need your help to get nominated! Starting July 1, you can head to www.podcastawards.com and nominate us for the "science and medicine” category as well as the "people's choice" category. Listeners like you are the reason we have become one of the top pediatric podcasts for providers around the world. Your nomination could make all the difference in us receiving this recognition! Nominate us by July 31st and help Children’s Hospital Colorado lead the way in pediatric podcasting. Thank you for your support!  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Picture this: A new parent is changing the diaper of their one-month-old infant when they notice streaks of blood. That’s when panic sets in, followed by frantic calls to the pediatrician’s office. But is this always a cause for alarm? In this episode, our gastroenterologists are on the case. We’re talking about allergic proctitis in infants. They will help you recognize and manage this common newborn issue so you can support families. Joining us for this episode is Mason Nistel, MD. He specializes in gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is an Assistant Professor of pediatric GI, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.   Some highlights from this episode include:  How a typical case of allergic proctitis presents  Key differences between problematic blood and ‘normal’ blood in the stool  The importance of tapping into empathy as this can be a scary experience for parents  Additional considerations for primary care providers when evaluating blood in stool   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Every kid is unique with their own distinct personality and behavior. But at what point should a child’s behavior become a cause for concern? From anxiety and tantrums to challenges at school and issues with sleep, pediatricians frequently encounter a wide range of behavioral concerns. This episode was recorded at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. In this episode of Charting Pediatrics, we are joined by Stephanie Weber, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital who specializes in working with children with behavioral concerns. Dr. Weber is the Associate Director of the Cincinnatti Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program and an Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnatti. Some highlights from this episode include:  Utilizing the right language to get a full picture of a patient’s behavioral concerns  Deciphering between “regular” and “irregular”  Opportunities for modeling  How pediatricians can work with families whose strategies they don’t agree with   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Pediatricians are superheroes in scrubs, baby whisperers, teen translators and guardians of growing minds and bodies. But even heroes need reinforcements. The pediatric workforce crisis has made a prominent impact on the healthcare community including staff shortages, jam-packed schedules, long wait times, frustrated patient families and fewer new doctors joining the ranks. In this episode, we examine what’s really going on. If we understand what's driving the shortage and discuss what we can do about it, we can begin to create change. This episode was recorded at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joseph St. Geme, MD, is the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and the Physician in Chief at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Some highlights from this episode include:  Breaking down the current crisis and why it’s different than any other point in pediatrics history  What doctors, practices and specialties are most impacted  How this crisis could negatively affect quality, continuity of care and outcomes for kids  Steps pediatricians can take to help shift this moment  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Charting Pediatrics has created a space where community care meets real-world challenges. Whether we realize it or not, trauma-informed care touches everything we do as pediatricians. What does it mean to really be trauma-informed? How do we create safer, more supportive environments for everyone, especially those carrying invisible wounds? In this episode, we explore how community providers can be a powerful part of healing, not harm. This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joining us for this episode is Audrey Brewer, MD, a pediatrician at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: How a trauma-informed approach can completely change outcomes for kids  The types of trauma pediatricians are most likely to encounter in their practice  The role of the pediatrician in the larger support network for a child dealing with trauma  Opportunities for systemic change within the medical field to improve care for traumatized children For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

Feeding a baby isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is formula. That’s why community providers need to be prepared to navigate options with families, bust common myths and offer practical support through the first year of feeding. In this episode, we’re breaking down the basics and digging deeper to understand formula. When it comes to feeding babies, family knowledge and support matters just as much as what’s in the bottle. This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joining us for this episode is Aamer Imdad, MD, from the Stead Family Children’s Hospital and University of Iowa. Dr. Imdad specializes in gastroenterology.   Some highlights from this episode include:  Formula feeding in the U.S. and what is commonly available  Guidance PCPs can offer families on choosing infant formulas with the most notable benefits for their baby  When to explore the hypoallergenic formula space  Whether or not certain formulas can increase the risk of childhood obesity  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.