AN: This is just a little bit of information on Crohn's Disease. Please read it and learn something about a disease that is very rare in children, but can be deadly if not treated right.

What most people don't know is, Crohn's is really rare in children, and is mostly found in adults.

While Crohn's disease is often diagnosed in early adulthood, it can also appear earlier and affect children. About 150,000 of the approximately 1.4 million patients with IBD in the United States are among children under age 17.

Children ussaly have it harder then adults with this disease, because when they are growing up, they are forming relationships that could last a lifetime, and being sick, and in the hospital most of the time, doesn't help them form these.

All Crohn's patients must deal with symptoms side effects and emotional stress, yet children face other obstacles — the kinds of obstacles that make the already hard task of simply growing up just a little more difficult.

At a time when children are forming relationships, deciding on what sports to play, or what activities to pursue and when there is the added pressure from school, family and peer groups, the burden of Crohn's disease symptoms may have a significant effect on a child's self-esteem and motivation to do things.

Adults with Crohn's often don't appear to be sick, but children will appear to be sick, and even face growth problems.

Many adults with Crohn's disease may not always appear sick, fatigued or underweight, particularly if their symptoms are mild to moderate. However, children with Crohn's disease can face growth problems as a result of poor of nutrients during the digestive process. They may tend to be underweight or small-boned. They may also feel tired and unable to stay as active as their peers and friends.

Symptoms can change the way kids act towards friends, teachers, family, and others.

These differences in appearance and energy, as well as an overall anxiety over symptoms, can affect the way children relate to their parents, teachers, friends, and family. They may feel insecure, misunderstood, or inadequate in some way. They may feel left out of the social setting since they may not be able to participate in sports or other activities because of their disease. The normal pressures of school, social, and family life become more burdensome for a child with Crohn's disease.

Treatments for adult and children for Crohn's are the pretty much the same, although you have to be careful what treatments you give children.

Treatment options for pediatric Crohn's disease are similar to those for adult Crohn's disease since the therapeutic goals remain the same. Physicians may opt for drug therapies such as corticosteroids, although these drugs may actually interfere with bone growth, cause problems such as acne, and result in excess body fat.

Physicians may also attempt to manage pediatric Crohn's symptoms with manipulation of diet or, as in adult Crohn's, with surgery.

There has also been success in the use of biologic therapy in pediatric Crohn's patients. By quickly relieving inflammation and helping to control symptoms, biologic therapy may allow for more healthy development in children with Crohn's, and may reduce or eliminate the need for steroids.

A physician will determine the appropriate treatment for a child based on the child's age, overall health, and medical history. He or she will also assess the extent of the disease, as well as the child's tolerance for specific medications or procedures. Parents should thoroughly discuss with their child's physician the most beneficial and appropriate course of treatment.

AN: There's the real facts on Crohn's. A lot of people don't think it's that much to go through. But they can't say they've been through it, like I can.