Annals of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology ISPGHAN

Register      Login

VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 2 ( April-June, 2024 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

Infantile Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Challenging Diagnosis

Ram S Manikandan, Lavenya R Padmanaban

Keywords : Allergic colitis, Case report, Infantile-onset inflammatory bowel disease, Monogenic disorders, Very early onset inflammatory bowel disease

Citation Information : Manikandan RS, Padmanaban LR. Infantile Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Challenging Diagnosis. Ann Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 6 (2):17-19.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11009-0154

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 15-07-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Infantile-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IOIBD) is an IBD that presents in children <2 years of age. It is very rare, and sometimes, the condition is challenging to diagnose as the characteristic diagnostic features may not be present at the time of the initial assessment. Often, they present with an aggressive phenotype requiring escalating treatment regimens and intense nutritional rehabilitation. Here, we discuss a case where the infant presented with symptoms, signs, and endoscopic features suggestive of IBD; however, the histology was not supportive. In this case, allergic colitis was the closest differentials considered. The child required steroids for induction therapy and was also started on mesalazine. The child had a flare of symptoms after the initial course of steroids was stopped and required reinduction with steroids and immunomodulator azathioprine as maintenance therapy. The genetic evaluation has been inconclusive so far. We discuss the possible differential diagnosis considered and the relevant literature.


PDF Share
  1. Conrad MA, Carreon CK, Dawany N, et al. Distinct histopathological features at diagnosis of very early onset inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohns Colitis 2019;13(5):615–625. DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy212
  2. Levine A, Koletzko S, Turner D, et al. ESPGHAN revised Porto criteria for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents. J Paediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014;58(6):795–806. DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000000239
  3. Kelsen JR, Sullivan KE, Rabizadeh S, et al. North American Society for pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition position paper on the evaluation and management for patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease. J Paediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2020;70(3):389–403. DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002567
  4. Uhlig HH, Schwerd T, Koletzko S, et al. The diagnostic approach to monogenic very early onset inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology 2014;147(5):990–1007. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2014.07.023
  5. Magro F, Langner C, Driessen A, et al. European consensus on the histopathology of inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohn Colitis 2013;7(10):827–851. DOI: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.06.001
  6. Parente P, Mastracci L, Vanoli A, et al. Pattern-based histologic approach in very early onset IBD: main features and differential diagnosis. Adv Anat Pathol 2022;29(2):71–80. DOI: 10.1097/PAP.0000000000000323
  7. Irving PM, Gibson PR. Infections and IBD. Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008;5(1):18–27. DOI: 10.1038/ncpgasthep1004
  8. Bass JA, Friesen CA, Deacy AD, et al. Investigation of potential early histologic markers of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease. BMC Gastroenterol 2015;15:129. DOI: 10.1186/s12876-015-0359-2
  9. Cervantes-Bustamante R, Pedrero-Olivares I, Toro-Monjaraz EM, et al. Histopathologic findings in children diagnosed with cow's milk protein allergy. Rev Gastroenterol Mex 2015;80(2):130–134. DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmx.2015.01.006
  10. Matthai J, Sathiasekharan M, Poddar U, et al. Guidelines on diagnosis and management of cow's milk protein allergy. Indian Pediatr 2020;57(8):723–729. DOI: 10.1007/s13312-020-1916-5
  11. Katsanos KH, Zinovieva E, Lambri E, et al. Eosinophilic–Crohn overlap colitis and review of the literature. European Crohns Colitis 2011;5(3):256–261. DOI: 10.1016/j.crohns.2011.02.009
  12. Uhlig HH, Charbit-Henrion F, Kotlarz D, et al. Clinical genomics for the diagnosis of monogenic forms of inflammatory bowel disease: a position paper from the Paediatric IBD Porto Group of European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2021;72(3):456–473. DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003017
  13. Kammermeier J, Dziubak R, Pescarin M, et al. Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of inflammatory bowel disease presenting before the age of 2 years. J Crohns Colitis 2017;11(1):60–69. DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw118
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.