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Infantile inflammatory bowel disease in three Syrian infants: a case series
Afif Alshwaiki1,2, Ranim M H D Samir Nakhal1,2, Ali Alakbar Nahle1,2
1Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Insights
Infantile inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rare but requires early diagnosis in infants presenting with symptoms like diarrhea and hematochezia. Prompt identification and treatment are crucial for managing this chronic condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic relapsing inflammatory conditions.
- IBD is uncommon in infants, with very early-onset IBD before age 6 and infantile IBD before age 2 being rare, especially under 1 year.
Observation:
- A case series involving three Syrian infants (7, 11, and 12 months old) presented with significant gastrointestinal distress.
- Infants exhibited symptoms such as diarrhea, hematochezia (bloody stools), and a pale appearance.
Findings:
- The infants were diagnosed with infantile inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after thorough evaluation.
- The case series highlights the occurrence of IBD in infants under one year of age.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and exclusion of infantile IBD are critical, despite its rarity.
- Consideration of novel therapies like vedolizumab and golimumab, alongside less invasive treatments, may improve outcomes and quality of life for affected children.
Background:
Inflammatory bowel diseases, consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic bowel relapsing inflammatory disorders. Inflammatory bowel diseases begin rarely in infants. Approximately 25% of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases present before the age of 20 years. Very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease occurs before the age of 6 years; infantile inflammatory bowel diseases occurs before the age of 2 years, and is extremely rare in infants under 1 year of age.
Case Presentation:
Herein, we report a case series of 7-month-, 11-month-, and 12-month-old Syrian infants that presented with diarrhea, hematochezia, and pale appearance and were finally diagnosed with infantile inflammatory bowel disease and treated.
Conclusions:
Early diagnosis and ruling out infantile inflammatory bowel diseases despite its rarity are recommended. Over and above that, new drugs such as vedolizumab, golimumab, and less invasive treatment methods should also be taken into consideration for better response and adequate remission with improved quality of life.
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