Intestinal Ultrasound: A Family-Friendly Guide for Children and Parents
An illustrated handout from the iUSCAN Pediatrics Committee to help families know what to expect.
Download iUSCAN’s illustrated intestinal ultrasound guide for children, parents, and caregivers. Learn what happens during an exam and share the guide at home or in clinic.
Helping your child understand an upcoming test can make the visit feel more familiar. The iUSCAN Pediatrics Committee has created Intestinal Ultrasound: A Family-Friendly Guide, an illustrated handout for children, parents, and caregivers.
The guide explains what intestinal ultrasound is, why your child’s care team may use it, and what happens during the exam. Read it together before a visit, keep a copy on your phone, or bring it along to start a conversation with your child’s care team.
Download the family guide
Open, download, or print the family guide (PDF)
The PDF is free to access without signing in. Open the link, then choose the Download or Print icon in the viewer. Save a copy for your clinic, print it as a handout or poster, or share the link with families.
What is intestinal ultrasound?
Intestinal ultrasound, often called IUS, uses sound waves to create pictures of the intestines. It does not use radiation. Your child’s care team can use these pictures to look for inflammation and other changes in the bowel.
What can my child expect?
Your child will lie on an exam table while a clinician places water-based gel on their belly and gently moves an ultrasound probe over the skin. The gel may feel cool or warm. Your child may be asked to stay still or briefly hold their breath while pictures are taken.
The guide describes a scan lasting about 15 minutes. Once the pictures are taken, your child can wipe off the gel.
Does my child need to prepare?
IUS usually does not require bowel preparation. Your child can generally eat and drink normally, but some examinations may require preparation. Always follow the instructions provided by your child’s care team.
A resource to share at home and in clinic
Families can use the guide to talk through the exam and write down questions for their next appointment. Pediatric gastroenterology teams can print it as a clinic poster or handout, or share it electronically with families. The QR code on the guide leads to iUSCAN’s For Patients page for more information and resources.
Questions to ask your care team include: Why are we using IUS? Do we need to prepare? What will the pictures help us understand?
Created by the iUSCAN Pediatrics Committee
This resource was developed by the iUSCAN Pediatrics Committee, with Mohamed Abu Hamad and Colin Winkie leading the project, and illustrations by @AriellaStudies. We thank the committee and illustrator for helping children and families feel informed and included in their care.