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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)

Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affect the immune system and start in childhood in about 10% of cases. Milder cases are checked with history and blood or stool tests, while bleeding and more severe symptoms require an endoscopy for diagnosis.

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What Are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are long-term conditions caused by the immune system. They include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. About 10% of cases start in childhood.

If symptoms like rectal bleeding or problems around the anus appear, an endoscopy should be performed right away. If there are no serious warning signs, doctors will use a mix of patient history and blood and stool tests to tell IBD apart from other causes of stomach pain or diarrhea.

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How Do You Diagnose Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

Testing to diagnose IBDs includes:

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How Do You Treat Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

Nutrition

Nutrition intervention may include dietary changes and both IV and tube feeding.

Surgery

IBD surgery, including minimally invasive techniques, is for severe cases or complications when medications fail.

The focus of surgery for children with Crohn’s disease is to:

  • Remove diseased bowel and preserve intestinal length through resection.

The focus of surgery for children with ulcerative colitis is to:

  • Improve growth and quality of life and achieve a cure through total colectomy with J-pouch creation or reconstruction (IPAA).

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Why Choose UPMC for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Care? 

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By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2026-01-09.