Search Inflammatory Bowel Disease may be Disguised as Other Problems Inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic illness of the gastrointestinal tract, may be disguised as many other problems in children.
Malnutrition is a major factor that contributes to growth retardation in children.
Victims of inflammatory bowel disease suffer from frequent bouts with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. The disease may also disguise itself as rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, gall bladder disease or eye disease. Many sufferers may refuse to eat because of a loss of appetite, nausea, or diarrhea associated with food ingestion. Our studies have shown feeding children a formula high in energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals through a button gastrostomy, a device placed directly into the stomach, reduced the inflammatory process and made them feel better.