Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Introduction
- What is inflammatory bowel disease and what causes it?
- What are the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease?
- How is it diagnosed?
- What is the prognosis?
- What is the risk for other family members or future babies?
- What treatments/therapies/medications are recommended or available?
- What should I tell the school nurse about the needs of my daughter with IBD?
- If stress can trigger IBD symptoms, should my daughter be taking final exams in high school?
- Resources
Introduction
What is inflammatory bowel disease and what causes it?
While a proportion of why people develop this disease is related to inherited genes, the bulk of a person’s risk for the illness comes from sources outside of a person (the environment). This may include things like too many antibiotic prescriptions in youth, whether a person was delivered via cesarean or vaginal method, chemicals and additives to foods, and the types of bacteria that live inside a person’s gut and the people around him or her. Overall, genetics accounts for perhaps 15% of IBD, and the environment accounts for 85% of IBD cases.
What are the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease?
How is it diagnosed?
- Symptoms such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, weight loss or growth disturbance, and/or fevers
- Appropriate time course (symptoms on 2 or more occasions separated by at least 8 weeks or ongoing symptoms for at least 6 weeks)
- Objective evidence of inflammation on endoscopy, radiology, and/or histology
What is the prognosis?
What is the risk for other family members or future babies?
What treatments/therapies/medications are recommended or available?
What should I tell the school nurse about the needs of my daughter with IBD?
If stress can trigger IBD symptoms, should my daughter be taking final exams in high school?
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Support
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)
Credible disease information with an extensive “kids and teens” section, information about summer camps, and lists of support
groups at the local level.
General
IBD & Me Activity Book (CCFA)
Contains cartoons, games, and activities that help children learn about inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
of America.
A Guide for Teachers to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (CCFA)
Information for school personnel about the diagnosis, sports participation, and planning for potential school absences; Crohn's
and Colitis Foundation of America.
Ulcerative Colitis (MedlinePlus)
Diagnosis and management information; sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Crohn's Disease (MedlinePlus)
Diagnosis and management information; sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (KidsHealth.com)
Family-focused information about IBD; from the Nemours Foundation.
Caring for your Child with IBD (Johns Hopkins Health Book)
A 304-page resource for the family living with IBD; by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology,
and Nutrition.
Help Your Child with IBD Adjust to School (Seattle Children's Hospital)
Six-minute video with specific tips for parents working with schools to help the child with IBD.
Just Like Me! Teens with IBD (CCFA)
Information for teens with IBD including an ask-the-expert section, a chat room, and "Hot Topics" related to dating, family,
friends, and school; Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.
Patient Education
Parents' Guide to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (CCFA)
Provides information about diagnosis and treatment, helpful tips for lifestyle changes, and resources for emotional support;
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Services for Patients & Families in Rhode Island (RI)
Service Categories | # of providers* in: | RI | NW | Other states (5) (show) | | ID | MT | NM | NV | UT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 8 | |||
General Pediatric Surgery | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 2 | ||||
Nutrition Assessment Services | 3 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 14 | 8 | ||||
Pediatric Gastroenterology | 19 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
For services not listed above, browse our Services categories or search our database.
* number of provider listings may vary by how states categorize services, whether providers are listed by organization or individual, how services are organized in the state, and other factors; Nationwide (NW) providers are generally limited to web-based services, provider locator services, and organizations that serve children from across the nation.
Studies
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (clincialtrials.gov)
A listing of registries and clinical trials for children with inflammatory bowel disease; National Institutes of Health.