Keywords
pediatrics
ulcerative colitis
inflammatory bowel disease
How to Cite
Abstract
Aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune inflammation. In Costa Rica, the incidence of pediatric presentation was unknown. We aimed to characterize the incidence and clinical picture of pediatric IBD in Costa Rica.
Methods: Descriptive retrospective study based on clinical records. All patients diagnosed with IBD between 0 and 15 years of age treated at Hospital Nacional de Niños "Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera”.
Results: Among the 34 patients inclued, 30 had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 4 Crohns disease (CD). Our overall incidence rate was 2.96/100,000. 55.9% females. The general average age at diagnosis was 8.8 years. The initial clinical presentation was diarrhea (85.5%); mainly dysenteric (96.6%). Extra intestinal manifestations did not occur in 70.6%. Laboratories with the greatest alteration were erythrocytes and leukocytes in faeces (79.3%), anaemia (57.6%) and elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (50%). The most common finding on colonoscopy was friable mucosa (88.2%). Biopsies were mostly nonspecific, in less than half conclusive of UC or CD. All patients were treated with steroids. Three patients required surgery. 58.8% relapsed during the first year after diagnosis, with an average of 1.6 relapses/year.
Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the only paediatric study of its kind in Central America and The Caribbean. UC is more frequent than CD. Carrying out a protocol to improve diagnosis and care of patients with IBD is recommended.
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