Crohn’s disease is a form of long-term, chronic illness, where the bowel or intestine grows swollen and often ulcerated, as well as marked with various sores. Alongside problems such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s is one of a collection of ailments called inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn’s commonly impacts the bottom of the small intestine, called the ileum. It can also happen in any part of the large intestine, esophagus, or stomach. For some people, it can even take place within the mouth.
Crohn’s disease may occur at any age. It’s most prevalent in individuals who are between fifteen and thirty years old. Teens and children with Crohn’s disease generally face a range of unique challenges in comparison to adults who suffer from the same condition. The reason for this is that the presence of Crohn’s disease can lead to stunted growth, delayed puberty, and weakened bones.
What Are Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in Kids?
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease in kids are likely to differ depending on where the disease takes place within the bowel. They can also depend on the severity of the disease itself. In general, symptoms can also include chronic diarrhea, weight loss, rectal bleeding, fever, abdominal tenderness, and feeling of fullness or mass within the lower portion of the right abdomen.
Teens and children suffering from Crohn’s disease have moments that include severe symptoms, then they may not have any signs. The time when you aren’t getting symptoms is known as remission, and this can happen for years or weeks. It is difficult to determine when a remission might take place or if symptoms will come back. Other symptoms may also appear based on problems with the disease. For example, people who suffer from a fistula, or an abnormal passageway associated with Crohn’s within the rectum might have discharge and pain around that area. Other complications associated with Crohn’s disease might include:
– Gallstones
– Arthritis
– Inflammation
– Liver disease
– Ulcers or skin rashes
– Anemia
How Does Crohn’s Affect the Bowel for Kids?
As with any person suffering from this specific disease, the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in kids often involve problems with the bowel. The bowel tissue might:
– Thicken, swell, or have scar tissue that results into a blockage within the bowel itself
– Develop ulcers deep within the layers of the colon walls
– No longer be able to absorb the nutrients from the digested foods, particularly in the ileum where bile acids and vitamin B12 are found
– produce unusual connections from one part of the bowel to another
Currently, the reason for Crohn’s disease in teens and young children is not yet known. In fact, it’s difficult to determine why this problem even takes place in adults. It is possible that Crohn’s disease is a type of inherited disease that prompts unusual responses within the gastrointestinal tract and immune system. People with relatives that have the disease might be more likely to get it too, and there are a range of other risk factors that can make it more likely for you to suffer from this condition.
