Caring for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Learn how our Gastroenterology, Liver and Nutrition Program cares for children with inflammatory bowel disease.

• What is inflammatory bowel disease?
• IBD new diagnosis educational packet
• New team member - Dr. Brittany Gresl, pediatric psychologist

Related tests and treatments:

• Biopsy
• Endoscopy
• Stool test
• Infusion
• Enteral nutrition
• Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE)
• Surgery

Our approach to inflammatory bowel disease

Children's Wisconsin is a nationally recognized center for the treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program provides family-centered care, management and consultation for children. Our multidisciplinary, team approach to IBD is especially helpful for children who:

• Don’t respond to conventional treatments
• May benefit from new and novel therapies
• Have delayed growth or delayed puberty
• May benefit from a second opinion
• Have an urgent need for surgery

Researchers at Children's Wisconsin are also actively involved in helping us better understand IBD as they study topics ranging from the genetics of IBD to the role of gut bacteria in disease to the safety and efficacy of newer medications. Our commitment to research is just one of the ways that we strive to deliver the best care to kids.

Inflammatory bowel disease services we offer

We take great pride in using a variety of resources to provide the very best care for your child. Our comprehensive approach to IBD care includes:

• A pediatric gastroenterologist who specializes in IBD, including management of difficult or unusual diseases
• A pediatric nursing staff with extensive knowledge of the disease as well as the treatments available
• A registered pediatric dietician who will help you manage your child’s diet in a manner that is safe and compatible with his or her IBD
• A psychologist who specializes in chronic diseases is available for individual and family counseling
• Pediatric surgeons specializing in complex IBD surgery, including expertise in less invasive methods
• Social workers who can assist in any financial challenges that may be associated with certain treatments

ImproveCareNow

Children’s Wisconsin is proud to be a part of ImproveCareNow, a national quality improvement initiative to enhance care in pediatric IBD. By partnering with other expert IBD centers across the country, we can provide the best care possible using up-to-date methods and treatment plans. ImproveCareNow has developed a Parent Working Group, a national network of parents and guardians of children with IBD that collaborate to track and manage the child’s care.

To sign up for the Parent Working Group or learn more, contact our ImproveCareNow team.

Diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease

If your child’s doctor suspects IBD after a thorough medical examination and medical history, he or she will examine your child’s intestinal tissue using endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other potential conditions. Other diagnostic tests may include:

• Lower GI series
• Biopsy
• Bloodwork
• Endoscopy and colonoscopy
• Stool test
• Upper GI series
• Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE)

Although there is no cure for IBD, several methods are effective in controlling the symptoms. Treatment is personalized for your child and depends on the type and severity of your child’s condition. Your child’s treatment plan could involve:

• Oral medication
• Infusion
• Enteral nutrition
• Surgery