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Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

The Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center in the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Hopkins Children's cares for children with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis. We care for hundreds of children a year with IBD who come from the surrounding area and from across the United States. Our pediatric IBD team,  including physicians, nurses, pediatric surgeons, nutritionists, social workers, psychologists and researchers, will give your child expert care from the time of diagnosis through the long-term management of these diseases.

 

IBD BOOK NOW AVAILABLE: Your Child with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Family Guide for Caregiving - In this book, an expert team of pediatric gastroenterologists, including division chief Maria Oliva-Hemker, M.D., explains the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments associated with Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis to help parents and children cope with the challenges of IBD. You may purchase from Amazon.com.
  


Although at this time there is no medical cure for IBD, there are innovative medical therapies that can control symptoms and improve your child’s quality of life. Families who become part of our center will have access to ongoing meetings and events sponsored by the Pediatric IBD Center which enable them to experience interactions with others experiencing the same challenges. Our researchers are actively involved in clinical and basic research studies which give your child the opportunity to participate in these studies and to benefit from any research advances that are applied to patient care. 

Goals

  • To enable the child with IBD to lead a healthy and active life by providing the highest quality medical care.
  • To educate parents, caregivers and health professionals about IBD in children.
  • To offer the most current treatment options and enrollment in clinical research trials where appropriate.

Clinical Services

Diagnosis

The IBD Center provides evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the child with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis as well as those with symptoms that may indicate possible intestinal inflammation such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in the stools, weight loss or growth failure. Clinics are held weekly at the Pediatric Specialty Clinic in the David M. Rubenstein Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore.

The most current diagnostic tests are available at the Johns Hopkins Hospital including endoscopy and colonoscopy which are performed by skilled pediatric gastroenterologists under general anesthesia give by pediatric anesthesiologists. X-ray studies such as magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans are available in our pediatric radiology department. Laboratory technicians experienced in drawing blood from pediatric patients are available in our outpatient clinic Monday through Friday.

Education

You and your child will receive up-to-date information regarding diagnosis, treatment options and current research. You will be given educational materials as well as recommendations for web sites where you can learn about IBD.

Watch this Webcast for Families Affected by IBD.

The Johns Hopkins Pediatric IBD Center hosts educational days that are both fun for the family and informative. Prior events have been held at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. View this slideshow of highlights from previous IBD days.

 

 

Treatment

Your IBD physician will discuss the treatment plan with you and your child. If your child requires infusion therapy such as with Infliximab (Remicade®), this can be given in our pediatric infusion room where the nurses are specially trained to give infusions to children.

Access to Staff

The IBD Center physicians, nurses and dietician can be contacted for questions during business hours. A pediatric gastroenterology physician is available 24 hours a day for emergencies.

Request an Appointment


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