What are some of the symptoms of the disease?
The number one symptom is abdominal pain, and then these kids can also have diarrhea and bloody stool. Children with IBD can have poor growth, so they can be smaller than other children their age, and they can also have delayed puberty.
What does treatment usually involve?
Treatment usually involves medication to put the disease into remission, and then medications to keep it in remission once it's there. A common medication is prednisone, and that's associated with side effects like having a puffy face, gaining weight, increased acne and mood swings.
Surgery is sometimes needed. Surgery is not quite as common in children as in adults, but it is something they may run into later in life.
How does IBD affect children's dietary needs?
It affects the way they absorb nutrients. The research has also shown that, due to malabsorption and prednisone, these children can be at risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia, which is a weakening of the bones. It is very important they're getting enough calcium through diet or supplements. But beyond that, the research has been inconclusive about the extent to which diet and nutrition is adversely affected. However, children with IBD definitely need to have a good diet because that's going to help in every aspect of any disease.
