It is widely accepted that Crohn’s Disease children suffer from stunted growth and developmental problems. Because Crohn’s Disease, a debilitating disorder affecting the digestive tract, causes such a range of insidious symptoms, this is no surprise. Crohn’s Disease can affect the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food by reducing the effectiveness of the digestive system. It does this by causing troublesome inflammation, especially in the intestines.
With a reduction of nutrients from food, Crohn’s Disease children may not get sufficient nutrition to thrive and grow properly. This can cause delays in the development of children with Crohn’s Disease.
One of the most common and disturbing symptoms of Crohn’s Disease is constant severe pain, pain can be particularly hard for Crohn’s Disease children. The pain may prevent children from engaging in the same activities as their peers. Their participation in school may be limited. The social and intellectual development of Crohn’s Disease children can be delayed as a result of the pain.
Another difficult symptom of Crohn’s Disease is diarrhea. This can be detrimental to children with Crohn’s Disease by robbing them of the fluids necessary for their bodies to be robust and healthy. Children with Crohn’s Disease, as with any Crohn’s Disease patient, should be given ample fluids, the precise amount of which should be discussed with a doctor or dietician.
Furthermore, Crohn’s Disease associated diarrhea can be chronic and nearly constant, making social activities difficult, and causing embarrassment to children with Crohn’s Disease. This can lead to psychological problems and social withdrawal. Parents with children who suffer from this illness are advised to discuss the need for counseling with their child’s physician.
Crohn’s Disease can also cause anemia due to internal bleeding. Anemia can cause a further deficiency in nutrients, especially iron. If this condition grows serious, blood transfusions may be required. Continued anemia is a severe problem and may prompt doctors to prescribe surgery to remove inflamed portions of the digestive tract. If left untreated anemia can cause a number of functional problems including reduction in cognitive functioning.
