Inflammatory Bowel Disease may be Disguised as Other Problems

Inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic illness of the gastrointestinal tract, may be disguised as many other problems in children.

"Growth failure is the most common problem associated with inflammatory bowel disease in children," says Dr. Kathleen Motil of the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. "Malnutrition is a major factor that contributes to growth retardation in children."

Victims of inflammatory bowel disease suffer from frequent bouts with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. The disease may also disguise itself as rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, gall bladder disease or eye disease.

Many sufferers may refuse to eat because of a loss of appetite, nausea, or diarrhea associated with food ingestion. Others may lose nutrients because of chronic diarrhea; still others may have intestinal malabsorption.

"Nutritional therapy is a good way to improve growth in children with inflammatory bowel disease," says Dr. Motil, a Baylor assistant professor of pediatrics. "Our studies have shown feeding children a formula high in energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals through a button gastrostomy, a device placed directly into the stomach, reduced the inflammatory process and made them feel better."

Steroids also can promote growth in children with inflammatory bowel disease, but may cause a child to gain a disproportionate amount of fat.

- From the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center
at Baylor College of Medicine

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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