Inflammatory Bowel & Coeliac Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term mainly used to describe disorders involving long-standing or chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are long-term conditions that involve inflammation of the gut.
Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon (large intestine) and involves inflammation and ulcers along the lining of the colon and rectum
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from where food enters your body in the mouth, to the anus.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder. where the body is unable to digest gluten, a protein in many grains like wheat, rye, and barley. When eaten they make the immune system attack the small intestine.
What are the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel & Coeliac Disease?
Coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease occur when the immune system doesn’t work normally. In both cases, that leads to inflammation in your intestines and sometimes other body parts, too.
The symptoms include:
- pain, cramps or swelling in the tummy
- recurring diarrhoea
- blood in your stool
- indigestion
- weight loss
- anemia
- extreme tiredness
What treatments do we offer to investigate this condition?
Endoscopy (camera tests) for children:
Upper GI endoscopy (OGD)
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (or OGD) is a way for your child’s surgeon to assess the food-pipe, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. It is useful for diagnosing conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux, inflammation (such as in allergic conditions like eosinophilic oesophagitis), Crohn’s disease, and Coeliac disease.
Lower GI endoscopy (colonoscopy)
Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (or colonoscopy) is used to assess the large bowel when your child has had some bleeding from the back passage, especially if there is a family history of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
What are the benefits of Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is used to confirm the diagnosis of conditions such as eosinophilic oesophagitis, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This can then help get your child on the correct treatment for their condition.
What happens during Endoscopy?
If your child is having endoscopy to confirm Coeliac disease they should have at least 4-6 weeks of a gluten-rich diet (ideally to the point where their symptoms are becoming difficult to tolerate) prior to the procedure, as this will massively increase our chance of making the diagnosis on biopsy. A low-residue diet and medicine to clear the bowel is usually prescribed prior to your child’s colonoscopy as this also improves the safety and efficiency of the procedure.
Endoscopy in children is performed under a full general anaesthetic. A flexible telescope is passed via your child’s mouth (for OGD) or via the anus (for colonoscopy). OGD usually takes about 10 minutes to complete, while colonoscopy can take around 45 minutes. During these procedures your child’s surgeon will be able to take tiny samples (or biopsies) of the lining to the gastrointestinal tract and can also take pictures or video to help discuss your child’s condition with you afterwards.
How long does it take to recover?
Endoscopy in children is performed as a day case so your child will be able to go home a few hours after their procedure.
Risks & complications of Endoscopy
Small risk of bleeding. A perforation is a serious complication where a small hole in the bowel occurs as a result of the endoscopy procedure – if this happens children tend to become unwell with abdominal pain, temperatures or vomiting. Thankfully this is extremely rare and occurs in less than 1 in every 1,000 procedures.
Is a referral required?
Self-referrals or GP referrals are both welcome
Average wait time for consultation & treatment
Average wait time for consultation less than 1 week Average wait time for procedure less than 1 month
If you would like to book an appointment or require further information to set up your consultation or for further information about Paediatric Medicine, please do not hesitate to contact our private patient booking team via our online enquiry form.
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