Inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric and adolescent patients

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood is characterized by great heterogeneity with regard to presentation and extent and rate of progression. Ln addition to the usual gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia, joint symptoms, and rectal bleeding, children may exhibit prominent extraintestinal manifestations, such as growth failure and delayed puberty. Other problems unique to pediatrics include Me lack of controlled clinical trials, the lack of medical preparations available for and tested in children, and the psychologic issues that occur in children and adolescents with IBD. These unique problems encountered in the pediatric population necessitate a different medical approach than is used for adult onset IBD.