Pediatric Crohn's Disease: What Issues Can Arise?

Crohn’s Disease is often been described as an illness that adults get, but some people forget that you can get Crohn’s at any stage in life. Pediatric Crohn's Disease is when Crohn's gets diagnosed in children.

Crohn’s Disease is usually found in people between 20-30 years old. Around 20-30% of cases of Crohn’s are in people that are under the age of 20 years old.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was 11, which made me one of those 20-30%. Crohn’s Disease when diagnosed in children it is quite often found between 12-16 years, but children that are much younger can also have Crohn’s as well.

Children and adults with Crohn’s can experience a varying range of symptoms that include things like weight loss, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, rectal bleeding, fever, feeling tired as well as low energy.

Different people may have symptoms that vary to that of another person, and you will not necessarily get or have all of the symptoms that are attributed with Crohn’s Disease.

As there is much development and growth in a child’s life going through adolescence, it is beneficial that they get good treatment/care of their Crohn’s Disease early on.

Problems for children that can occur when they have pediatric Crohn’s Disease are things like delayed puberty, thinning of the bones and stunned growth. Poor absorption of nutrients and goodness from the digestive process is one possible reason this is happening.

The physical aspect of Crohn’s Disease is but one aspect as there is also the mental, emotional, as well as social component.

Children can be more sensitive to stress than adults as this is something that I really had trouble with when I was younger. Early in my teenage years was one of the stages where my Crohn’s was at its worst.

Having the love and the support of my family was one of the best things that helped me through those tough times. If I didn’t have the full support of my family I don’t think I would have come through those dark times and made it out the other side.

Talking to people had Crohn’s Disease really helped me a lot as they knew what was happening for me and we were able to relate to each others situations.

Getting in touch with people that also have Crohn’s Disease can really help you to cope and make sense of things. Your local Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis/IBD support group is a great place to start.

The larger national support groups like The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) can help you to get going in the right direction.

If you are young and have pediatric Crohn's Disease you may also be able to connect with some other people your age that also have Crohn's.

There are also bound to be young people that live locally as well and you maybe able to find them through the CFFA or other Crohn's Disease organisation.

Contacting other people that can relate to you and know where you are at can help to put your mind at ease. They will also know what you are going through and may be able to offer some advice.