Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The goals of therapy in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in pediatrics include decreasing mucosa! inflammation, the restoration of optimal growth and pubertal development, and the return to a normal, age-appropriate lifestyle. The latter is best served by minimizing restrictions; for example, sch...

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Main Authors: P Sherman, A Griffiths, M Marcon, C Smith, R Geist
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1990-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1990/491805
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author P Sherman
A Griffiths
M Marcon
C Smith
R Geist
author_facet P Sherman
A Griffiths
M Marcon
C Smith
R Geist
author_sort P Sherman
collection DOAJ
description The goals of therapy in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in pediatrics include decreasing mucosa! inflammation, the restoration of optimal growth and pubertal development, and the return to a normal, age-appropriate lifestyle. The latter is best served by minimizing restrictions; for example, school attendance, extracurricular activities, travel and the child's interactions with both siblings and peers. In most instances dietary restrictions are also inappropriate and may prove detrimental. Children and adolescents are not simply 'little adults'. Teenagers dread being perceived as different from their peers. They are especially bothered therefore by cosmetic side effects associated with corticosteroid therapy and by impaired growth and pubertal development. Although not discussed openly, many adolescents are also concerned about their subsequent ability to have children and the potential for future development of neoplasms. The great majority of affected children adapt and function very well. Psychosocial factors, although clearly not the cause of inflammatory bowel diseases, are operative in many subsets of children with less than optimal function in daily activities. Children at particular risk are those with premorbid low self-esteem, dysfunction in family dynamics, or severe growth failure. Intervention and support provided through psychiatric and medical social work consultations and by the involvement of self-help groups are often key determinants for restoration of a normal lifestyle. Information about the underlying chronic disease, when provided at a level that is appropriate for age and cognitive function, can decrease anxiety and fears by reducing uncertainty and promoting a feeling of control.
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spelling doaj-art-5d4cb60a0da342fd8f175c65e5d8aa1e2025-02-03T06:42:19ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79001990-01-014736436810.1155/1990/491805Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesP ShermanA GriffithsM MarconC SmithR GeistThe goals of therapy in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in pediatrics include decreasing mucosa! inflammation, the restoration of optimal growth and pubertal development, and the return to a normal, age-appropriate lifestyle. The latter is best served by minimizing restrictions; for example, school attendance, extracurricular activities, travel and the child's interactions with both siblings and peers. In most instances dietary restrictions are also inappropriate and may prove detrimental. Children and adolescents are not simply 'little adults'. Teenagers dread being perceived as different from their peers. They are especially bothered therefore by cosmetic side effects associated with corticosteroid therapy and by impaired growth and pubertal development. Although not discussed openly, many adolescents are also concerned about their subsequent ability to have children and the potential for future development of neoplasms. The great majority of affected children adapt and function very well. Psychosocial factors, although clearly not the cause of inflammatory bowel diseases, are operative in many subsets of children with less than optimal function in daily activities. Children at particular risk are those with premorbid low self-esteem, dysfunction in family dynamics, or severe growth failure. Intervention and support provided through psychiatric and medical social work consultations and by the involvement of self-help groups are often key determinants for restoration of a normal lifestyle. Information about the underlying chronic disease, when provided at a level that is appropriate for age and cognitive function, can decrease anxiety and fears by reducing uncertainty and promoting a feeling of control.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1990/491805
spellingShingle P Sherman
A Griffiths
M Marcon
C Smith
R Geist
Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
title Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
title_full Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
title_fullStr Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
title_full_unstemmed Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
title_short Lifestyle Issues in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
title_sort lifestyle issues in children and adolescents with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1990/491805
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AT csmith lifestyleissuesinchildrenandadolescentswithchronicinflammatoryboweldiseases
AT rgeist lifestyleissuesinchildrenandadolescentswithchronicinflammatoryboweldiseases