Medical Author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Medically Reviewed on 10/29/2021
Doctor's Notes on Crohn's Disease in Children and Teens
Crohn’s disease (also termed Crohn’s disease) is a chronic inflammation of any part of the digestive tract, although it usually involves the terminal small bowel, cecum, and anus. It is diagnosed mainly in people aged 13-30 years but may occur at any age. The most common signs and symptoms in children and teens include
- diarrhea with mucus or pus,
- cramp or steady pain in the right lower abdomen (sometimes relieved for a short time by a bowel movement),
- pain or bleeding with a bowel movement and, in some individuals,
- bloating after eating,
- constipation, and/or
- infections of the anus, urinary tract, or vagina (caused by fistula formation).
- Some may develop skin problems (erythema nodosum - raised red bumps especially on lower legs), mouth ulcers, and eye inflammation.
The following general symptoms may occur in some patients; fatigue, anemia, weight loss, low-grade fevers, and delayed growth.
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease in children and teens is unknown. Theories suggest it occurs due to a combination of genetic (familial), environment, diet, blood vessel, and/or psychosocial factors that cause the disease. Some researchers theorize the immune system is the cause of overreacting to a virus or bacterium infection.
What are the treatments for Crohn’s disease in children and teens?
Treatments of Crohn’s disease may involve medications, surgery, and/or dietary changes, often involving combinations of treatments. The following are the general treatment components used:
- Medications (mainly by IV)
- Steroids – slow disease progression
- Immunosuppressive drugs – weakens immune response that can contribute to disease symptoms
- Biologic drugs – may block or reduce inflammation
- Surgery - bowel resection to remove a diseased segment of the GI tract and reconnect healthy segments (used if perforation of the GI tract happens or if medications fail)
- Diet changes - General symptom reduction by consulting with a pediatric nutritional expert to get a “best fit” diet for a growing child
Your child’s doctors can design a treatment that specifically meets your child’s needs.
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How Do You Get Crohn's Disease?
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How Do You Get Crohn’s Disease?
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Stomach Pain (Abdominal Pain) in Children
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What Are the Best Foods to Eat with Crohn's Disease?
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What Are the Warning Signs of Crohn’s Disease?
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What Does Crohn's Pain Feel Like?
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What Triggers Crohn's Disease?
Triggers for Crohn’s disease flares include not taking medications as prescribed, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), using antibiotics, physical and emotional stress, eating foods that irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, smoking, and infections.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.