Inflammatory bowel disease in children, part 1 - epidemiology, etiology, manifestations and diagnostics
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of inflammatory illnesses affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence and prevalence of paediatric IBD is on the rise.
IBD is classified into Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC). Special subunits consist of IBD affecting children younger than 6 years of age (VEO-IBD) and undifferentiated affection of the colon (IBD-U).
IBD aetiology is multifactorial and still not fully understood. Genetic predisposition, alterations of gut microbiota, diet and environmental factors play a role in its development.
Clinical manifestations of CD depend on disease location, and they usually consist of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea with/out blood and weight loss. UC presents with abdominal pain and imperative defecations of bloody diarrheal stools.
Establishing IBD diagnosis is based on careful history, thorough physical examination, laboratory work and imaging methods, mainly endoscopies.