Overview
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center cares for children with inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis.
Visits are longer than typical clinic visits in order to provide a comprehensive assessment and treatment. Children with IBD are regularly monitored in many areas, including nutrition, gastrointestinal symptoms, growth, anxiety/stress management, and quality of life. We work closely with both dieticians and psychologists at all of our visits. We offer personalized treatment plans which are tailored to each patient and incorporate scientifically proven therapies.
All children with IBD who are 12 years and older are enrolled in our transition program, which helps our young adolescents and adults learn the necessary knowledge and skills to become their own health advocates.
The IBD Center works closely with medical professionals from Nutrition, Psychology, Pharmacy, and Pediatric Surgery to provide all necessary services. We also actively engage community partners, including the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and national partners, including the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, to provide the best standard of quality care.
The IBD Center holds an annual IBD Family Day to provide the community with more information/resources.
About Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used for several conditions (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis) that involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. In children, symptoms can vary from chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea (with/without blood) to feeling well with poor growth or short stature. There appears to be a genetic predisposition to developing IBD but not all patients have affected family members (in fact, many do not). Patients with IBD carry the diagnosis for life and must be regularly monitored by an experienced physician, preferably with additional training in gastroenterology.
Research
We actively enroll patients in the ImproveCareNow initiative. ImproveCareNow is a collaborative community of over 100 care centers globally where patients, parents, clinicians and researchers work together to improve the health and care of children and youth.
We also enroll patients in multi-institutional studies including CAMEO funded by the National Institutes of Health, CAPTURE-IBD funded by the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation, and clinical trials as well as other investigations to improve their health and well-being. Participation is on a purely voluntary basis and has no bearing on treatment received at our center.
IBD Action Plan
Download your free IBD action plan from Rady Children’s Hospital to help you manage your symptoms and stay healthy. This easy-to-follow guide provides clear instructions on what to do when you’re not feeling well, including when to call the nurse line or seek emergency care.
IBD Family Day
Our IBD Family Day on 3/16/24 was a great success! Click this link below to see pictures of the event and to view resource material shared throughout the day.
Virtual IBD Program Videos
Thank you to those who were able to join us at the most recent IBD Family Day. For those of you who could not join us, we have now posted videos of the given IBD talks for your viewing.
Learn More.
Contact Us
Call Robin Kruth, R.N., at 858-966-4003.