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Published on: October 14, 2025
Guidelines for the treatment of Crohn's disease in children
1, Mutsuko Konno, Akio Kobayashi
1Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. mutsukon@jahokkaidoukouseiren.or.jp
Insights
Pediatric Crohn's disease management emphasizes nutritional therapy. Elemental formula is primary for active disease, while total parenteral nutrition is for severe cases, with specific corticosteroid and surgical timing guidelines for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Clinical Guidelines
Background:
- Crohn's disease affects children, requiring specialized treatment approaches.
- Existing guidelines for adult Crohn's disease may not be optimal for pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish evidence-based guidelines for managing pediatric Crohn's disease.
- To highlight key differences in treatment strategies compared to adult Crohn's disease.
Main Methods:
- Development of guidelines by expert working groups from pediatric gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease societies.
- Review and synthesis of current evidence for pediatric Crohn's disease treatment.
Main Results:
- Total enteral nutrition with elemental formula is recommended as first-line therapy for active pediatric Crohn's disease.
- Total parenteral nutrition is indicated for severe cases, with specific protocols for corticosteroid initiation and duration.
- Surgical intervention for complications like strictures or fistulas should be considered before epiphyseal plate closure in children with growth failure.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric Crohn's disease management requires tailored nutritional and therapeutic strategies.
- Guidelines emphasize early nutritional intervention and careful consideration of corticosteroid and surgical timing.
Abstract:
This paper shows guidelines for the treatment of Crohn's disease in children by the Working Group of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (Chair: Yuichiro Yamashiro) and the Japanese Society for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Chair: Akio Kobayashi). The points in which these guidelines differ from those for adult patients are as follows. (i) Total enteral nutrition in the form of an elemental formula is indicated as primary therapy for children with Crohn's disease at onset as well as the active stage. Oral mesalazine is used together. (ii) Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with oral mesalazine is required for children with serious illness. The use of a corticosteroid should be withheld for at least 1 week after TPN has been started. (iii) When TPN is not considered to be effective, additional corticosteroid is used. Full doses of corticosteroid should be used for at least 2 weeks after clinical improvement has been achieved, and then the dose of the corticosteroid should be tapered carefully. (iv) When surgery is indicated in pediatric patients with stricture or fistula formation and complicated by persistent growth failure despite medical therapy, the optimum time for surgery is thought to be before epiphyseal plates have been closed.
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