Management

There is, so far, no cure for Crohn’s disease. The following strategies may help with managing the symptoms: Education: Talk with the child about the disease. This can make it seem less scary and ease anxiety about bowel accidents. A parent or caregiver may also need to advocate for the child at school. Preparation: Have the right… Continue reading Management

Treatment

Treatment focuses on reducing the risk of complications, such as nutritional imbalances, and addressing the inflammation that causes Crohn’s symptoms. A doctor can prescribe medication to curb this inflammation, slow damage to the digestive system, and reduce symptoms, including secondary symptoms such as skin issues. One drug that doctors may recommend for children with mild… Continue reading Treatment

Diagnosis

No single test leads to a Crohn’s diagnosis — doctors use a variety of tests to check for Crohn’s-related inflammation and to rule out other issues. A doctor may: take a complete medical history test the blood for infections and inflammatory markers perform an endoscopic exam with a thin, flexible tool to look at the intestines Because… Continue reading Diagnosis

Causes

Experts have not identified a single cause of Crohn’s disease. It may involve a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Is it genetic? Researchers have identified more than 100 genes that may increase the risk of developing the disease. Children with Crohn’s are more likely to have mutations in the genes NOD2 and CARD15. Preliminary research suggests that these genes… Continue reading Causes

Symptoms by age

Crohn’s disease causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract and sometimes other areas, such as the skin or genitals. The most common symptoms in children include: painful stomach cramping frequent diarrhea, which may be watery bloody diarrhea anal or rectal pain a loss of appetite Other health issues that can occur with Crohn’s disease include: Growth delays Crohn’s may affect… Continue reading Symptoms by age

Is it common? 

Crohn’s is less common in children than adults. Like ulcerative colitis, it is a type of IBD. Research from 2022 reports that 10 in 100,000 children in the United States and Canada have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. It also notes that this number is rising. This suggests that eventually, most pediatric practices will treat at least one… Continue reading Is it common? 

Introduction

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. In kids, it tends to cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, and a low appetite. Crohn’s disease is rare in children, but it can be severe and affect many aspects of health. It is important for a child with any symptoms… Continue reading Introduction