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Types
Eosinophilic esophagitis Eosinophilic esophagitis is caused by too many eosinophils in the esophagus. This happened when your body overrespond to an allergen. In children, this can make eating difficult. According to the Boston Children’s Hospital, 1 in 10,000 children has this form of esophagitis. Common triggers include: milk soy eggs wheat peanuts tree nuts shellfish Inhaled allergens,…
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Esophagitis
What is esophagitis? Esophagitis is any inflammation or irritation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that sends food from your mouth to your stomach. Common causes include acid reflux, side effects of certain medications, and bacterial or viral infections. Reflux is when the stomach contents and acids back up into the esophagus. This disorder can cause a…
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Management
There is, so far, no cure for Crohn’s disease. The following strategies may help with managing the symptoms: Education: Talk with the child about the disease. This can make it seem less scary and ease anxiety about bowel accidents. A parent or caregiver may also need to advocate for the child at school. Preparation: Have the right…
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Treatment
Treatment focuses on reducing the risk of complications, such as nutritional imbalances, and addressing the inflammation that causes Crohn’s symptoms. A doctor can prescribe medication to curb this inflammation, slow damage to the digestive system, and reduce symptoms, including secondary symptoms such as skin issues. One drug that doctors may recommend for children with mild…
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Diagnosis
No single test leads to a Crohn’s diagnosis — doctors use a variety of tests to check for Crohn’s-related inflammation and to rule out other issues. A doctor may: take a complete medical history test the blood for infections and inflammatory markers perform an endoscopic exam with a thin, flexible tool to look at the intestines Because…
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Causes
Experts have not identified a single cause of Crohn’s disease. It may involve a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Is it genetic? Researchers have identified more than 100 genes that may increase the risk of developing the disease. Children with Crohn’s are more likely to have mutations in the genes NOD2 and CARD15. Preliminary research suggests that these genes…
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Symptoms by age
Crohn’s disease causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract and sometimes other areas, such as the skin or genitals. The most common symptoms in children include: painful stomach cramping frequent diarrhea, which may be watery bloody diarrhea anal or rectal pain a loss of appetite Other health issues that can occur with Crohn’s disease include: Growth delays Crohn’s may affect…
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Is it common?
Crohn’s is less common in children than adults. Like ulcerative colitis, it is a type of IBD. Research from 2022 reports that 10 in 100,000 children in the United States and Canada have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. It also notes that this number is rising. This suggests that eventually, most pediatric practices will treat at least one…
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Introduction
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. In kids, it tends to cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, and a low appetite. Crohn’s disease is rare in children, but it can be severe and affect many aspects of health. It is important for a child with any symptoms…
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When should I call my Doctor ?
Call your child’s healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s bowel habits or patterns. Talk with your child’s provider if your child: Is constipated for more than 2 weeks Can’t do normal activities because of constipation Can’t get a stool out with normal pushing Has liquid or soft stool leaking…
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