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.

JPGN Reports
|July 25, 2026
PubMed

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.

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