Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by diffuse colonic mucosal inflammation that begins at the anal verge and extends proximally to a variable extent. The disease is limited to the colon, although distal ileal involvement (“backwash ileitis”) may occur. The most common symptoms are rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain, urgency to defecate, and tenesmus. The majority of children with UC present with mild to moderate disease and a lack of systemic symptoms of fever, weight loss, or growth failure, although these may occur. Some patients may present with severe hemorrhage, toxic megacolon, or perforation. In addition, some patients may present with extraintestinal manifestations, such as arthropathy, skin findings, or liver disease.

On physical examination, children with mild to moderate UC often have mild lower abdominal tenderness. Stools may have streaks of blood or be occult blood positive. About 10% to 15% of children with UC present with fulminant colitis, which may include severe cramping, abdominal pain, fever, frequent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal distension, orthostatic hypotension, and tachycardia. Toxic megacolon is a true emergency and may require surgical intervention.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is characterized by transmural inflammation that may involve any segment of the intestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Disease presentation is primarily determined by the location and extent of involvement. In children, the most common presenting distribution is ileocolonic disease (Figure 110-1) followed by small bowel disease alone and then colonic disease alone. Gastroduodenal disease is found in 30% of children with Crohn’s disease. Patients with ileocecal disease often present with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and diarrhea. In such patients, loops of bowel or fullness may be palpable in the right lower quadrant. Bloody stool is more common in colonic disease. Epigastric pain may occur with gastroduodenal disease. Dysphagia can be seen with esophageal involvement. Many children with Crohn’s disease have diarrhea, nocturnal defecation, low-grade intermittent fever, oral ulcers, weight loss, and decelerated growth velocity.

Figure 110-1 Ileocolonic Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease is categorized into three subtypes: inflammatory, stricturing, and fistulizing. Inflammatory disease is that described above. Stricturing disease involves luminal narrowing, which may be accompanied by prestenotic dilatation or signs of intestinal obstruction. This most commonly occurs in the small bowel but may involve the colon. Perianal or perirectal fistulae and abscesses or intraabdominal fistulae, phlegmon, or abscesses characterize fistulizing disease (Figure 110-2).

Figure 110-2 Types of fistulae in Crohn’s disease.

Extraintestinal Manifestations

About a third of patients with IBD also have extraintestinal manifestations involving rheumatologic, cutaneous, ocular, vascular, hepatobiliary, renal, and skeletal systems (Figure 110-3). Arthralgia and arthritis are the most common extraintestinal symptoms and may involve both axial and peripheral joints. Joint manifestations may precede GI tract disease, so IBD should be in the differential diagnosis of isolated arthralgia or arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are associated with IBD.

Figure 110-3 Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.