Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Leaders in Pediatric IBD Research & Clinical Care

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic and complex conditions. That's why it's important to work with physicians who understand inflammatory bowel disease. The University of Chicago Medicine has a long history of excellence in IBD research, and we continue to have access to the latest therapies. The pediatric IBD experts at Comer Children's recognize that every individual is different, so we take a personalized approach to finding the treatment that works best for you.

Understanding Your Child's IBD Diagnosis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term that includes Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) and indeterminate colitis (also known as IBD-unclassified or IBD-U). These painful diseases involve a dysregulation (abnormality or impairment) of the immune system that injures the lining of the digestive system. This may cause inflammation and ulceration, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, weight loss and/or failure to thrive in children.

Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis primarily affects the colon (large intestine) and rectum. Inflammatory bowel disease also can lead to issues outside of the intestine, including anemia, eye inflammation, skin ulcers, liver disease, kidney stones, impaired growth, joint pain and/or osteoporosis.