COMPARISON OF DISABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH PEDIATRIC AND ADULT ONSET INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: A REVIEW STUDY

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract most often diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood, with a rising incidence in pediatric folks. These diseases are more frequent in children that most pediatricians and other pediatric clinicians will encounter children with IBD in their routine practice. Inflammatory bowel disease is caused by a dysregulated mucosal immune response to the intestinal microflora in genetically predisposed hosts. Although children can present with the classic symptoms of weight loss, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea, many present with non-classic symptoms of isolated poor growth, anemia, or other extra intestinal manifestations. When IBD is diagnosed, the goals of treatment protocol consist of eliminating symptoms, maintain normal quality of life, restoring growth, and prevent complications while minimizing the adverse effects of medications. Important considerations are required when treating children and adolescents with IBD include attention to the effects of the disease on growth and development, bone health, and psychosocial functioning.