Crohn's Symptoms in Children

While the majority of Crohn's Disease cases are seen in older teenagers and adults, approximately 20 percent of all cases of Crohn's occur in children. The majority of these children will suffer from symptoms in their lower intestine and colon, but up to 35 percent also will have problem associated with their bowel and small intestine. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Crohn's at this point, but treatments are available to help stop or manage the symptoms.

Types

• Crohn's is part of a set of illnesses commonly referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Because of this, it is often mistaken for ulcerative colitis. The difference between the two is that while Crohn's can affect the entire digestive system (esophagus, liver, stomach, pancreas, small and large intestines and rectum), ulcerative colitis only affects the colon. Unfortunately, some children who suffer from Crohn's will get only colon symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose.

Symptoms

• Symptoms vary from child to child depending on where the illness is causing the disruption, but common symptoms include repeated bouts of diarrhea, blood in the stool, abdominal pains, lack of appetite, fatigue, weight loss and fever. Not all symptoms will be present in all children who have Crohn's, and they may appear in slightly different ways or in varying degrees. For example, a fever may not be present, or a child may not suffer from blood in his stool if his colon is not affected.

Diagnosis

• Routine physicals are normally not enough to make a diagnosis of Crohn's. Other tests that your pediatrician may want to run include blood tests for anemia and stool cultures to check for parasites or bacteria. More invasive tests include upper endoscopies and colonoscopies, both of which may also include biopsies of tissues to check for other problems that may cause the same symptoms. It also is possible that the pediatrician will ask for a barium enema with an X-ray or an upper GI series, which includes drinking barium and taking an X-ray of the upper intestinal tract.

Treatment

• Treatment for Crohn's in children varies according to the symptoms being displayed. In many cases, the goal is simply remission. Anti-inflammatory drugs and some antibiotics generally are prescribed to help children who suffer from mild symptoms, but corticosteroids can be given to those with more severe problems. Because of side effects, however, corticosteroids are only used sparingly and for limited times. If your child goes into remission from the symptoms, immunomodulators may be given to help suppress the immune system. Changes in eating habits also can help. Avoiding spicy foods or food with high fiber content can help. Children who are suffering from growth issues may also benefit from supplements or high-calorie shakes. Surgery is a last option, although it is rare for children.

Warning

• There are many potential risks associated with the symptoms of Crohn's. Because of the symptoms they suffer, some children will not eat as much as they should or are unable to properly process and absorb food, and this can lead to undernourishment, which puts them at risk for growth and development issues, including delayed puberty. Anemia, urinary tract infections and mouth ulcers can also occur in children with Crohn's. In some cases, children will develop fistulas from Crohn's, the most common place being around the anus.