Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Behind the so-called pediatric IBD – inflammatory bowel disease – conceals a chronic disease whose incidence, as have alerted specialists, far reduced has skyrocketed in recent years, also detected in younger patients. This has been proven figures. The diagnoses in children and adolescents have increased up to ten. Today, 10% of patients is less than 5 years.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease can have consequences not only physical but also emotional. We are facing a chronic disease whose incidence has increased, as experts warn, among the younger population.

Symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, diarrhea, accompany inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract. It occurs as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. In the first case it can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, while in the latter only affects the colon mucosa. Crohn’s disease is more common among younger patients, with a prevalence of 55% compared to 37% of patients with ulcerative colitis. The opposite happens in adult patients.

Another symptom that can accompany this disease is weight loss, a condition that, although it is still more common between 15 and 40 years old, in recent decades there has been an alarming increase in cases below that age. This has been pointed out from the working group of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, stressing that pediatric IBD has specific characteristics, because not only can affect more of the digestive tract, but can also have a more complicated. If the disease occurs during this stage it can affect the growth and development of the patient.

Although the causes of this disease still throwing questions, experts point to several factors that may influence its appearance, from diet to smoking, past infections or hygiene. Factors that can alter the immune system reaction more vulnerable in certain patients by their genetic characteristics.

In fact, family histories also play a role as data reveal. Thus, according to the specialists point, the risk of developing the disease is 10% higher among those whose parents suffer from it. If it is only one parent the risk of inheriting is reduced to 3%.

For the treatment of the disease, although not yet have a definitive cure therapy, if other important steps have been taken. Thus, among the therapeutic options besides surgery for complicated cases are also proving successful biological treatments and so-called immunomodulators.