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Boston, MA 02115
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My Child Has:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Programs that treat this condition
Bone Health Program   Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease  
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) consists of two diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Both are caused by the immune system attacking the bowel, and are chronic (on-going) diseases consisting of active flare ups and periods when the symptoms subside.

With ulcerative colitis, only the large intestine becomes irritated, sore and swollen, and the child or adult experiences cramping and bloody diarrhea. Because ulcerative colitis can come on suddenly, symptoms are often first believed to be caused by an infection. Cultures (stool studies) for bacteria done by a doctor will easily reveal if there is an infection or if it may be ulcerative colitis.

With Crohn's, inflammation of any part of the gastrointestinal tract may occur and a child or adult may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and anal infections. Crohn's disease can also come on suddenly, but often the onset and symptoms come on more gradually and are less specific than those of ulcerative colitis.

What are the long-term outcomes?
Along with the painful physical symptoms, the emotional impact of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis can be difficult as it impacts everyday life with inconvenience and frustration. There can also be negative long-term health effects including low bone density and iron deficiency. The direct cause is not fully understood, but is a combination of malabsorption, steroids, and the body's own immune system.
What are the symptoms?
You should suspect inflammatory bowel disease if a child or teen has any of the following symptoms:
  • Abdominal pain combined with a positive family history of IBD
  • Persistent rectal bleeding not associated with hard stool.
  • Recurrent perianal fissures, infection, or abscess.
  • Significant weight loss.
  • Fall-off in height percentiles of more than one channel.
  • Pronounced pubertal delay, or absent or delayed menstrual periods.
  • Unexplained joint swelling or skin rash or erythema nodosum.
  • Unexplained fever, anemia, low albumin, or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
What are the causes?
The cause(s) of Inflammatory Bowel Disease remain unknown and likely include a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Similarly, the ways in which IBD can affect a patient's health can vary considerably from person to person.
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