Inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.
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.
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
D013006:Growth Hormone