title: Inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.
abstract: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are significant childhood illnesses. With their many extraintestinal manifestations, they may masquerade as fever of unknown etiology, arthritis, anorexia nervosa, growth hormone deficiency, collagen-vascular disease, idiopathic growth retardation and even irritable bowel syndrome of childhood. In any child who presents with growth failure and/or chronic abdominal pain with fever or weight loss, the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease must be considered. As in any other chronic disease of childhood, long-term management will often challenge the physician emotionally and intellectually. As the etiology is yet unknown and a definitive cure is lacking, proper treatment depends on optimal medical and surgical management and supportive care.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone