Practical Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Childhood

25 % of inflammatory bowel disease presents in childhood, often in adolescence, and usually as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Family history is common. The diseases run a chronic relapsing course, with a significant disease burden particularly during the adolescent growth spurt. Growth and nutrition are key issues with the aim of treatment being given to induce and then maintain disease remission with minimal side effects. Specific management strategies include exclusive enteral nutrition, antibiotics, 5 ASA derivatives, corticosteroids, thiopurine derivatives, second line immunosuppressive agents such as anti-tumor necrosis antibody therapy and surgery.