Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis

Pediatric ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the large intestine. The inflammation causes portions of the intestine’s lining to wear down, leaving painful and bleeding ulcers that in turn may cause chronic diarrhea. While the specific cause of colitis in children is not known, there does appear to be a hereditary component – so a child whose parent suffers from colitis may have an elevated risk of developing it too. Kids with ulcerative colitis may experience abdominal cramping, anemia, blood in their stool, chronic diarrhea, fatigue, joint problems, weight loss, developmental delays, anemia and eye and skin issues. Initial treatment is usually effective via medications and nutritional supplements, with surgical interventions increasingly likely after a patient reaches adulthood.