Study: Pediatric Crohn's Varies by Age of Onset

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Children who develop Crohn's disease before the age of 5 years have a different disease course than children with disease onset after age 6, a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology found.

"This study further confirms that one manner in which the different forms of Crohn's disease are manifested is by the age of onset," said Joel Rosh, MD, director of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Goryeb Children's Hospital, and chair of the The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's (CCFA's) Pediatric Education Committee.

"Until CCFA sponsored and other current research projects fully give us the tools to best define exact disease sub-types, every child with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) remains unique and it is important that they be monitored by a pediatric gastroenterologist," he said. 

For more information on this study, or to visit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s information resource center, click here.