Did you know that about 25% of people with IBD get sick before they turn 20?
In children with IBD, 4% present before age 5 and 18% before age 10, with adolescence being the peak age of onset. About 10 children in every 100,000 in the globe have IBD, and that number is steadily rising.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), which include ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with a rising incidence in paediatric populations. These conditions are common enough in kids that most paediatricians and other doctors who work with kids will see kids with IBD in their daily work. IBD is caused by a malfunction of mucosal immunity to intestinal microflora in genetically predisposed individuals.
This article discusses all aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children.
What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Children are prone to experiencing stomach-aches from time to time. However, children with inflammatory bowel disease, also called IBD, always have stomach pain and diarrhea.
IBD results in gut (intestinal) inflammation (red and swollen). It is a long-term or recurring ailment, which means it is a chronic illness.
Types of IBD
IBD could be divided into two different categories-
- Crohn's disease produces discomfort and inflammation in all layers of the intestinal wall. The mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus can all be affected by this condition.
- Ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine. It causes ulcers to grow on the inner lining of the colon.
Who Is Susceptible To Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Individuals with a close family member suffering from IBD are more likely to have the ailment themselves. Any age is possible, although, in paediatrics, the illness is more common in children ages ten and older.
What Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease In Children?
The disorder's specific origin remains a mystery while genetic and environmental factors may cause of IBD. Even though stress and diet can make IBD symptoms worse, they do not cause the disease to start.
The body can mistake good bacteria for dangerous invaders, leading to IBD. Cells exit the circulation and enter the intestines, causing inflammation. This is the body's way of ridding itself of harmful microbes.
People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have symptoms like chronic inflammation, ulcers, or damage to the colon's lining.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Inflammatory Bowel Illness?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause various symptoms, including-
The symptoms of diarrhea, especially if it is bloody, include-
- Stools that look like tar or bloody
- Lower abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- deficiency
- weight loss
- decreased appetite
Anemia is carried on by severe bleeding, hemorrhage in the rectum, fluid and nutrition loss throughout the body, and idiopathic fevers.
Kids may also come across-
- Joint pain
- Eye inflammation
- Problems with the liver
- Disease of brittle bones, or osteoporosis,
- Itching
- Disease of urinary stones
- Oral Ulcerations
Remissions and flare-ups are common features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD. A recurrence of one or more of the symptoms that initially led your child to be diagnosed with IBD, such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and cramping). Usually, flare-ups affect most people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Diagnosis of IBD
If you have IBD symptoms, you need to consult a doctor immediately. During the examination, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, past health, the health of your family, and any drugs you are currently on.
The physician may prescribe X-rays, blood tests, stool tests, and other diagnostic procedures. In addition, your doctor will examine your stool for signs of blood.
Doctors can use an endoscope (a camera-equipped long, thin tube) to conduct an in-depth examination of the digestive tract-
- The doctor inserts the colonoscope tube into the anus to inspect the colon for inflammation, bleeding, or ulcers.
- It is done by inserting a long tube into the mouth of the patient to look at the stomach and the lower portion of the small intestine. During the procedure, the doctor may take a small sample of tissue.
- In a laboratory, these endoscope will be examined.
Treatment Options for Crohn's Disease
Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medications are used to treat inflammatory bowel disease.
Children with IBD may require surgery if medicine fails to relieve their symptoms. A few other reasons for undergoing surgery are-
- An obstructed or ruptured intestine; an unstoppable hemorrhage
Nutrition and fluid intake is critical for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A dietitian can help you design a healthy eating plan. In order to determine which foods worsen the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you should keep a food diary.
- If a person with IBD loses or cannot gain enough weight, a doctor may give them vitamin and mineral supplements or special drinks or shakes with the right amount of calories and minerals.
What Is Life Like For Children Who Have IBD?
Regarding children, IBD is a condition that does not go away. However, many people go symptom-free for long periods.
Children who suffer from IBD may be absent from school regularly. Painful cramps, frequent diarrhea, and exhaustion might make it difficult to sit during school or ride the school bus. Consult your doctor for ways to alleviate your symptoms while they last. If your child are depressed or nervous, consult with doctor, or another responsible adult. Help from a therapist or other mental health professional may also be beneficial.
All children should be treated equally by their peers, including those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Listening to a companion with IBD who wants to talk is good. Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal system is a characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Preventive Measures
The following steps to alleviative symptoms & preventing IBD -
- Diet
The best diet for people with IBD is a typical, well-balanced one. There are no rules about what you can and cannot eat. A single diet does not cause Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but some people find that certain meals exacerbate their symptoms.
A nutritionist can help if your child is ill and unable to eat enough, and they can provide individualized advice.
- Follow-up
For children with IBD, regular check-ups are necessary. In addition, if your doctor has suggested blood tests, you must follow through with them.
Do not be afraid to talk to your child's doctor if his or her symptoms get worse or do not get better, if the child is losing weight, or if the medicines your doctor gave your child are making your child sick.
Key Factors Concerning IBD
- It is impossible to spread IBD (no one else can catch it).
- The frequency and severity of IBD symptoms may vary (you may be in remission or have flare-ups).
- Effective treatment can keep your child symptom-free for long periods.
- For therapy, various medications and enteral nutrition may be employed.
- If your child is taking medication, make sure you know the medication's name, dosage, and any possible side effects or reasons for its use.