About ¼ of all patients with chronic inflammatory
bowel disease (CVD) are diagnosed in children and
adolescence. 800-1400 new registered annually
cases of illness. Doctors often prescribe aggressive treatment,
which worsens the quality of life of children.
Contents
What are the symptoms of children in the initial stage?
Patients at an early age experience persistent diarrhea,
abdominal pain and medication. Children more often develop more
severe intestinal inflammation and digestive disorders than
adults.
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
significantly worsens the quality of life of children.
Especially teens suffer from low self-esteem and fear
social isolation due to unpleasant symptoms. Frequent diarrhea, pain
abdominal and indigestion are the most common symptoms
inflamed intestine.
Sick children are physically weaker than their peers and constantly
suffer from fatigue. Illness can have a negative impact
on mental abilities. Because of mental disorders, vital
prospects are constantly changing.
According to the Ministry of Health, the disease is often diagnosed in
late stage in children and adolescents. When out of time
detected pathology increases the risk of disorders of bone development,
psyche and muscle.
How should children be treated?
Professional society requires that children and adolescents
nursed a multidisciplinary team of specialists. It must be composed
from doctors, nurses, psychologists and nutritionists.
The short-term goal of drug therapy is
improvement of symptoms. It is important that children are able to return to
everyday rhythm of life.
Medium and long term goal is remission –
healing of the inflamed gastrointestinal mucosa
tract.
Why does treatment in adults and children differ?
Manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease significantly
differ between children and adults. 10 to 30% young
patients have growth disorders and mental retardation
development.
Treatment recommendations in different age groups vary.
Recent researchers have summarized the main tips in American
review article.
Especially in children and adolescents suffering from the disease
Crohn, along with intestinal symptoms appear slower growth
or puberty.
When diagnosing the gastrointestinal tract in young
patients are more likely to become inflamed. Also the disease progresses significantly
быстрее, чем у adults.
Another difference is related to family history. Children more often
just cause of the disease are genetic disorders. If this
Crohn’s disease of any severity, nutrition is prescribed through a tube in
for 6-8 weeks at a young age. Following the partial
clinical nutrition is prescribed medication
aminosalicylates.
Other drugs – infliximab – prescribed for medium and high
disease activity. Still treating with
TNF-alpha blockers are not an alternative for adults.
patients.
Drug therapy in children continues until the end of sexual
ripening. Adults with Crohn’s disease are advised not to smoke, but
medications are not shown in all cases. Use of thiopurines
for maintaining remission in inflammatory bowel disease
has a much higher priority in children and adolescents.
For the treatment of severe acute ulcerative colitis in children and
adolescents used methylprednisolone. TNF-α blockers
(infliximab) are a variant of supportive treatment for
patients with no response to thiopurine.
Children and teenagers with IBD are at increased risk.
psychosocial problems and mental illness.
This can adversely affect school attendance,
education, leisure and quality of life.
Case studies show that 25–40% of young
patients have signs of clinical depression. Children require
much longer and thorough care than adults.
Early medical attention and detection of the disease play a crucial role.
in the recovery of the child. Parents should not ignore the symptoms.
fatigue, indigestion or diarrhea as this is fraught
complications.
