Abstract

CASTANEDA GUILLOT, Carlos. History and new challenges of Pediatric Gastroenterology in Cuba. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2018, vol.90, n.2, pp. 330-345. ISSN 1561-3119.

The establishment of Pediatric Gastroenterology as a medical specialty in the international arena, the creation´s process in Cuba and its contribution in the area of digestive diseases during childhood and adolescence; and its contributions and results as a pediatric subspecialty in the country are reported. The objective of this work is to disseminate the history of Pediatric Gastroenterology in Cuba, it significance as a subspecialty from its beginnings in the decade of the 70s of the XXth century in the National Institute of Gastroenterology, and the generalization of it in pediatric hospitals of the country. The international backgrounds are exposed: the creation of Pediatric Gastroenterology, the network of medical attention in pediatric hospitals, the introduction of digestive endoscopy in children, and its role in clinical trials and researches showing scientific achievements. The training of specialists from the initial stage in 1972 is reviewed, as well as its consolidation as an emerging discipline in the context of Cuban medicine´s Pediatrics and its dissemination in the Caribbean and Latin American countries. The participation in the Latin American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, prominent moments, publications of books and in journals, awards and international acknowledgments are referred to as exponents of the work done and the difficulties faced. The significance of the creation and development of Pediatric Gastroenterology in Cuba as subspecialty of Pediatrics, the international antecedents, the results and contributions for the National Public Health, the new challenges; and the recognition in Caribbean and Latin American countries are described; as well as the limitations due to the hostile policy of the United States government due to the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba since 1960.

Keywords : Pediatric Gastroenterology; History of Pediatric Gastroenterology in Cuba.

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