Inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric and adolescent patients

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood is characterized by g reat heterogeneity with regard to presentation and extent and rate of progr ession. Ln addition to the usual gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, abd ominal pain, weight loss, anemia, joint symptoms, and rectal bleeding, chil dren may exhibit prominent extraintestinal manifestations, such as growth f ailure and delayed puberty. Other problems unique to pediatrics include Me lack of controlled clinical trials, the lack of medical preparations availa ble for and tested in children, and the psychologic issues that occur in ch ildren and adolescents with IBD. These unique problems encountered in the p ediatric population necessitate a different medical approach than is used f or adult onset IBD.