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Not all weight loss is psychiatric: Diagnostic bias in pediatric Crohn's disease
Karolina Aleksandra Jamrozik1, Martina Begucci2, Vanessa Nadia Dargenio2
1Faculty of Medicine University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Olsztyn Poland.
Insights
Crohn
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often misdiagnosed, especially in women.
- Initial CD symptoms like weight loss and restricted diet can mimic eating disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight diagnostic challenges in Crohn's disease.
- To emphasize the impact of misdiagnosis and diagnostic delay.
Main Methods:
- Case report presentation.
- Review of diagnostic pathways and clinical presentation.
Main Results:
- A case of Crohn's disease was initially misdiagnosed as anorexia nervosa (AN).
- This resulted in an 8-month diagnostic delay (DD) and delayed treatment initiation.
Conclusions:
- Increased clinician awareness is crucial for early Crohn's disease diagnosis.
- Non-invasive markers like fecal calprotectin can aid in timely diagnosis and treatment.
Abstract:
Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can often be misdiagnosed, particularly in the female population. This is especially true in the initial stages, which are frequently characterized by weight loss and, at times, dietary intake restriction. We present the case of a patient who experienced a misdiagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN), leading to significant diagnostic delay (DD) of approximately 8 months and failure to initiate timely treatment. Greater awareness among clinicians and the early utilization of non-invasive markers, such as fecal calprotectin, could significantly aid in achieving an accurate diagnosis right from the disease's onset.
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