Treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in childhood

Background: The last decades, the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in childhood has increased significantly. The long-term complications of IBD pose the need for an immediate and valid treatment as soon as possible.

Objective: The study of the therapeutic approach of IBD in childhood aiming at achieving and maintaining the remission and the prevention of long-term complications caused by each disease.

Material and Method: The PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched using the keywords: inflammatory bowel disease, crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, childhood, treatment.

Results: The aim of the treatment is the achievement of the best possible clinical and laboratory control of each disease with the least possible side effects, while allowing the best possible quality of life for patients. Treatment includes a range of medications and surgical techniques to achieve and maintain remission. Over time, treatment has changed to reflect the development of new biological agents that target specific pathogenetic mechanisms of each disease.

Conclusions: A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of IBD has led to more effective and targeted therapies, which, however, have not led to a cure, but have significantly improved the quality of life of young patients. Although the treatment of IBD is demanding and complex, it can turn a seriously ill child to a well-thriving child.

Keywords: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, childhood, crohns disease, ulcerative colitis,  treatment