When was the last time you had a stomachache? It's normal
for all kids to get bellyaches once in a while. But some kids get
bad stomach pain all the time. They are tired and even feel like
they might
throw up
. Some of these kids may have what's called
inflammatory bowel disease
(or
IBD
).
About 1 million Americans have IBD, and 30,000 new cases are
diagnosed each year. IBD, which can be diagnosed at any age, most
often affects people between 15 and 35 years old but has even been
found in babies as young as 18 months old! In the United States,
it's thought that as many as 100,000 kids younger than 18 years
old have IBD.
So, just what is IBD? How do you know if you have it? And what
help is available if you do?
What Is IBD?
Inflammatory
(say: in-
flam
-uh-tor-ee) bowel disease is not a single ailment. It actually
refers to a number of disorders that cause
inflammation
(say: in-fluh-
may
-shun) and, often,
ulcers
(say:
ul
-surs) in the intestinal (say: in-
tes
-tuh-nul) tract. Ulcers are tears or breaks in the lining of the
intestines that can cause pain or bleeding.
Your entire
digestive
(say: dye-
jes
-tiv) system is a long, hollow, muscular tube about 30 feet long.
After you chew and swallow, food moves down your
esophagus
(say: ih-
sof
-eh-gess) and into your
stomach
. It's the stomach's job to break food down into a liquidy
mixture. Muscles then push the mixture into your small intestine
where your body completes digestion and absorbs needed
nutrients
(say:
noo
-tree-entz) from food.
After many of the nutrients are removed, the watery mix moves
into your large intestine. In the
colon
(say:
ko
-lun), your body absorbs the remaining liquid and turns what's
left into more solid waste. The colon then pushes the waste into
the
rectum
(say:
rek
-tum), where it stays until you're ready to
poop
, or have a bowel movement.
What Are the Different Types of IBD?
The two most common types of IBD are called
Crohn's disease
and
ulcerative colitis
(say:
ul
-sur-uh-tiv keh-
lye
-tis).
Crohn's disease most often develops where the small and
large intestines meet and usually causes all layers of the
intestinal wall to become sore, inflamed, and swollen. Crohn's
disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, including the
mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and
anus.
Unlike Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis inflames only the
inner lining of all or part of the colon and rectum. Sometimes,
only the rectum is affected. In both Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis, inflammation may stick around for many years,
flaring up over and over again.
Why Do Kids Get IBD?
No one knows exactly what causes IBD. Doctors don't think
that IBD is caused by
emotional stress
or specific foods. You can't catch it from someone, like a
cold, but the disease may be
genetic
or hereditary, meaning it is passed down in families. About 20% of
people with the disease also have a relative who has it, too. Some
researchers think that IBD may be caused by a defect in the
body's
immune
(say: ih-
myoon
) system.
What Are the Symptoms of IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause symptoms that range from
mild to severe. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- diarrhea that occurs again and again, with or without blood
in the bowel movements
- rectal bleeding (blood coming out of your rear end)
- large weight loss over a short period of time
- fatigue
-
abdominal pain
and crampiness that occurs again and again
- delayed growth and development
The most common symptom of ulcerative colitis is loose (and
bloody, if a person has ulcers) stools. Sometimes, going to the
bathroom can be crampy and painful.
What Will the Doctor Do?
Because IBD may be mistaken for an infection or even depression,
the disease is difficult to diagnose. Based on a person's
symptoms, medical history, and physical exam, a doctor may do a
blood test. Bowel movements are often checked to see if the
intestines are bleeding or infected.
In some cases, doctors will do a test called a
barium
(say:
bair
-ee-um)
swallow
or an
upper gastrointestinal X-ray series
. First, you drink a thick liquid containing a substance called
barium. (It can be chalky, but sometimes it's flavored.) Then
the doctor uses a special
X-ray
to track how the barium has gone down the esophagus and into the
stomach. The barium is visible on the X-ray to give a clear picture
of the stomach and intestines. A doctor also might use a special
camera to take a look at what is going on inside the person's
large intestine.
If someone has IBD, the doctor may recommend a diet that is low
in fiber, fat, and dairy products. He or she may also prescribe
medications
to reduce inflammation and help prevent infection.
Sometimes,
surgery
is necessary. Kids with ulcerative colitis can be cured by having
their colon and rectum removed. There is no cure for Crohn's
disease, but surgery often helps by removing parts of the bowel
that are affected.
What Is Life Like for a Kid With IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease is not a disease that kids will
outgrow. However, many kids have long periods, sometimes years,
when they are free of symptoms.
Some kids with IBD miss a lot of school. Those who get painful
cramps, frequent diarrhea, or feel like vomiting have a hard time
sitting through classes or riding a bus to and from school. Some
who aren't getting the nourishment they need may go to the
hospital where nutrients are fed to them through an IV.
In some cases, kids with IBD who
grow
or mature slowly may be treated with growth hormones. Some
anti-inflammatory medications may also slow growth and cause other
side effects, such as weight gain and a puffy face.
It's important for friends and classmates to understand that
making fun of kids with IBD only makes matters worse. Friends and
classmates should be sensitive and willing to listen when someone
with IBD wants to talk. Simply talking about their illness can
sometimes help kids with IBD feel a lot better about things.
The best thing that kids with IBD can do is take good care of
themselves,
exercise
, take their medications, and
eat foods
that will make them grow strong but won't make their IBD act
up. By managing their IBD, kids with this condition can lead
regular lives.
Reviewed by:
J. Fernando del Rosario, MD
Date reviewed: May 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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