Do children get Crohn’s disease?
IBD is often diagnosed during young adulthood, but about 150,000 of the 1.4 million patients with IBD in the United States are among children under age 17. Pediatric Crohn’s disease presents unique challenges in that it can interfere with a child’s growth and development as well as school, social, and family life. Treatment for pediatric Crohn’s is similar to that of adult Crohn’s. However, a physician will determine the appropriate treatment for a child based on the child’s age, weight, and severity of illness and upon consultation with the child’s parents.
