Winita Hardikar is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist based in Parkville, VIC 3052. She looks after babies, kids, and teenagers who have problems with their gut, liver, and pancreas. For some families this can be scary and confusing, so the focus is on clear answers, careful care, and a plan that makes sense day to day.
Paediatric gastro care can start very early, including newborn jaundice and other liver-related issues that show up in the first weeks of life. At times, children need help with cholestasis, where bile doesn’t flow the way it should. This can include long-term conditions like Alagille syndrome and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 1, as well as other bile duct problems such as biliary atresia and bile duct obstruction.
Winita also cares for children with hepatitis and other liver infections or injuries, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In more serious situations, there may be liver failure. When that happens, support isn’t just about day-to-day treatment. It can also involve planning for liver transplant care, including what it means for the child and their family.
Some kids see a specialist because they’ve had ongoing digestive symptoms, not just liver issues. This can include inflammation in the bowel, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, along with other types of colitis like collagenous colitis. There are also times when vomiting or diarrhoea is from viral gastroenteritis, and the job then is to help manage symptoms and keep hydration on track.
There are also conditions linked to the pancreas and digestion. Childhood pancreatitis can be part of her work, and some children need feeding support such as a gastrostomy. In other cases, short bowel syndrome means the body doesn’t absorb nutrients the way it should, and treatment is about getting growth and comfort back on track.
Depending on the case, Winita may also work with children who have inherited or metabolic conditions that affect digestion and the liver, including urea cycle disorders and ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, as well as conditions like citrullinemia. She also deals with some other health issues that can show up alongside gut symptoms, such as high blood pressure in infants and certain inherited immune or hormone-related problems.
Care like this takes time. Over time, she works with families and other healthcare teams to follow what’s happening, adjust treatment when needed, and keep the child’s health moving in the right direction.