Inflammatory bowel disease in children

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease remains a serious chronic illness in children. Recent developments in the care of these patients involves both basic science research into the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and the development of refinements in the surgical techniques and medical therapies available as treatment options. In Crohn's disease, a new steroid analogue (budesonide) shows some promise as a possible medical treatment that would limit the devastating side effects of steroids in children. In addition, the bowel-sparing technique of strictureplasty has now been reported in children with good results. In ulcerative colitis, the surgical technique of endorectal pull-through continues to evolve with reports of the efficacy of specific pouch designs and surgical techniques. An understanding of pouchitis, the most common complication of endorectal pull-through, has focused on documenting specific alterations in the microbiology and physiology of the pouch, as well as investigating a possible link between autoantibodies and susceptibility to this complication.