Inflammatory bowel disease undiagnosed could affect children's mental health
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in children and can have a significant impact on their mental health and social wellbeing.
As World IBD Day is marked today, United European Gastroenterology (UEG), Europe’s largest digestive health body, highlights the need for quicker diagnoses to prevent debilitating psychological complications, including depression, anxiety and even psychiatric disorders.
IBD is a life-long condition that causes inflammation in the intestine. The two most common inflammatory bowel disease are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affecting around 70 in every 100,000 children.
The most typical symptoms of IBD in children are frequent diarrhoea and abdominal cramping, sometimes accompanied by fatigue, weight loss or growth delays.
IBS can be difficult to diagnoses as Dr Charles Murray, UEG spokesperson and practicing UK gastroenterology consultant explains: “Not every child with IB will have all the classic symptoms, leading many family doctors to pursue other diagnostic avenues. I would urge all parents and healthcare professionals, however, to consider IBD in any child who presents with severe abdominal pains and a failure to thrive and recommend prompt referral to a specialist centre for further investigation.”
A quarter of all Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cases are diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, when the psychological and social impact of IBD and its treatment can be especially hard to cope with.
Studies have reported that youngsters with IBD frequently experience depression, anxiety and a low self-esteem and many children express anger and embarrassment when asked about their illness.
“It is vital that not only do healthcare professionals offer effective treatments for the medical consequences of IBD, but we must also provide emotional and psychological support to minimise the impact of this illness to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of these children,” adds Dr Charles Murray.
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