Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood and adolescence represen
ts a major challenge to patients, their families, and their physicians
. The onset of IBD comes at an especially vulnerable time, occurring a
t ages characterized by dynamic states of growth and physical change,
as well as frequent alterations in psychologic status. A significant p
roportion of patients develop IBD just prior to or during puberty. Thi
s review examines recurring themes in the literature on pediatric IBD
with particular attention to recently published studies, Topics includ
e epidemiology, genetic and immunologic influences, clinical features
(emphasizing growth failure as a unique clinical presentation in pedia
tric IBD), diagnosis, complications, new therapeutic modalities, diffe
rential diagnosis, and social implications, To better define deviation
s of growth that occur during IBD, we have also evaluated recent work
highlighting long-term growth patterns in children with no known organ
ic basis for short stature.