Inflammatory bowel diseases cause long-term inflammation in your child’s gut. Both can cause belly pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. IBD is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome, which does not cause inflammation or damage.

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes IBD, but it may involve genetics, the immune system and triggers. IBD is chronic, which means symptoms may come and go over time. There’s no cure.
Many kids with IBD can manage their symptoms and stay healthy. They need the right care, including medicine, diet changes and support from a pediatric GI team.

The types of IBD are

• Crohn’s disease: Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the small intestine. It can also show up anywhere along your child’s digestive tract. It can lead to belly pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue.
• Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis is inflammation of the large intestine. It causes sores, intestinal pain, diarrhea (sometimes with blood) and urgent bathroom needs.
• Indeterminate colitis: Some kids show signs of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. When it’s not clear which one it is, doctors call it indeterminate colitis. Symptoms are often similar. We tailor care to your child’s needs.

Although there is no cure for IBD, there are several ways to control symptoms. We tailor a care plan to your child based on their diagnosis and disease severity. Our goal is to reduce inflammation, ease symptoms and help your child grow and thrive.

Treatment may include:

• Medicines: To reduce inflammation and control the immune system. These may include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressors, antibiotics or biologics. We give some of these medicines through an IV, called an infusion.
• Nutrition support: Our team may suggest diet changes to help manage symptoms and support growth. Some kids may need to eat through a feeding tube  or IV. This gives your child complete nutrition while giving the bowel time to heal.
• Surgery (sometimes): In some cases, surgery may be an option if medicines aren’t working.
• Psychosocial support: Social workers, psychologists and child life experts help you and your child cope.
• Ongoing monitoring: Regular checkups, bloodwork and imaging help us track your child’s condition.

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the gastrointestinal program at Children’s Wisconsin among the nation’s best. We focus on giving your child the best possible care for GI health issues. 

• A part of ImproveCareNow: This group works to improve care for kids with inflammatory bowel disease. As a member, we partner with other expert IBD centers across the country. It helps us give the best care possible, using up-to-date methods and care plans. Children’s Wisconsin is the largest ImproveCareNow care center in the state.
• IBD program: Children's Wisconsin is nationally recognized for pediatric IBD care. We are experts in kids with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program provides family-centered care, management and consultations.
• Research: Scientists at Children's Wisconsin are working to better understand IBD. They study topics from the genetics of IBD to the role of gut bacteria in disease and the safety and efficacy of newer medicines. Our commitment to research is just one of the ways that we strive to deliver the best care to kids.
• Education and emotional support: We support your family at every stage of care. We help you understand IBD and what to expect moving forward. Our care team works with you and your family to manage the physical and emotional impacts of GI disease.
• Expert clinical care: Our diverse team is widely known as one of the largest and most well-rounded pediatric GI teams in the country. Our experts diagnose and treat digestive health issues like belly pain, nutrition, weight and liver issues. Our care teams bring together the skills of experts across many areas.
• Focus on kids: We know that kids need different care than adults. Our team at Children’s Wisconsin has expertise in managing diverse GI issues in infants, kids and teens. We take a whole-child approach to care. We’re always thinking about your child’s growth, physical and emotional development and age-related social issues.

Our team gives you and your family the best and safest care possible. We provide a comfortable and welcoming environment during every step of your journey. We’re here for you, from initial diagnosis to long-term management.

Our team approach to IBD is especially helpful for kids who: 

• Don’t respond to treatment
• May benefit from new and novel therapies
• Have delayed growth or puberty
• Have mental health or nutritional needs from IBD
• May benefit from a second opinion
• Have an urgent need for surgery

In addition to world-class care, we have many resources for kids and families. We want your journey to be as smooth as possible.

Before Your First Visit

For your first visit to the IBD Program, make sure to bring: 

• Your child’s medical history
• Past test results
• List of medicines
• Reports from previous procedures

If you have any questions before our first meeting, please contact our team.

During Treatment

Your care team creates a welcoming, familiar and healing place for your family. We know that each child with IBD needs a unique care plan. We will work with you to figure out the best care options for your child.

Our approach to IBD care includes

• A pediatric gastroenterologist and expert in IBD. They’ve handled many difficult or unusual cases.
• A pediatric nursing staff with vast knowledge of the disease and treatments.
• A registered pediatric dietician manages your child’s diet and feeding.
• An expert psychologist focused on caring for kids with chronic diseases and their families.
• Pediatric surgeons who are experts in complex IBD surgery, including less invasive methods.
• Social workers who can assist with the financial challenges of care.

Depending on your care plan, you may work with other highly skilled experts across Children’s Wisconsin. We take great pride in providing the very best care for your child. 

As a caretaker for a child with IBD at Children’s Wisconsin, you can join The Parent Working Group. This national network focuses on improving care for kids with IBD. As a member, you play a key role in the national ImproveCareNow network and the IBD program here at Children’s Wisconsin. 

Parent Working Group members have the ability to:

• Guide decisions and help develop initiatives for the Children’s Wisconsin IBD program
• Review and provide input on research studies
• Help develop new tools and resources for parents and caregivers
• Attend and help plan bi-annual ImproveCareNow Community Conferences. These meetings bring together kids, caregivers and care teams. They discuss the latest research and share information about improving care for kids with IBD.

To sign up for the Parent Working Group or to learn more about the program, visit ImproveCareNow.

After Care

There may be remissions — periods when the symptoms go away — that last for months or even years. There is no way to predict when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return. 

Most kids do very well while their IBD is in remission. Their symptoms resolve as their intestines heal, and they can lead active, normal lives. But, IBD often requires long-term medical care. Kids may still need periodic blood work or infusions.

We’ll be here for continued monitoring, help during flare-ups, new medicines and treatments to try and long-term care. You can always contact our team if you have any questions.