What the Teacher Should Know Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The majority of children with these conditions will be diagnosed between 10 and 18 years of age. Boys and girls are equally affected. Therefore, when the diagnosis is confirmed, it is often the family's first awareness that these conditions exist. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are not contagious and are not caused by stress.
Abdominal pain is the most frequent symptom described by children with inflammatory bowel disease.
At first, the discomfort may be infrequent and of short duration. As the inflammation progresses, the pain increases in intensity, frequency, and duration. Crohn's disease may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation is confined to the inner lining of the large bowel. Present medical treatment used for children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease needs to be considered as it impacts on the classroom participation of the student.