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Ulcerative Colitis - Kids & Teens
What else do I need to
know about Ulcerative Colitis?
Delayed growth
As a growing child,
your body needs important nutrients for healthy growth. You may find
that you eat less with IBD because of pain and cramping. On top of this,
your body may not be able to absorb food very well and may lose
nutrients that you are able to eat. Some medicines may also interfere
with normal growth. For all of these reasons, some children with IBD do
not grow and develop as they normally would. Children with this problem
also may look much younger than they actually are. In some young people,
puberty may also be delayed. However, usually they are able to catch up
with their friends eventually in height once their bodies get the
nutrients they need.
Stress
There is no evidence
that stress causes ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. However,
people with IBD sometimes feel increased stress in their lives from
having to live with a chronic illness. Some people also say they have a
flare when they are having a stressful event or situation. For people
who find there is a connection between their stress level and a
worsening of their symptoms, using relaxation techniques, such as slow
breathing, and taking special care to eat well and get enough sleep, may
help them feel better.
Travel tips
If you are planning
to travel, consider asking your doctor for a letter outlining your
medical condition, in case you need to get medical attention in another
city or country. You might also consider asking your doctor to write
down a brief plan for what to do if symptoms arise. Take a copy of the
prescriptions for any medicines you bring with you, for customs or
security inspections, or if they are lost. Also, be sure to bring your
doctor's contact information with you, and research ahead to find out
who to contact or where to go if you have any medical needs while you
are travelling. Helpful travel information for some countries is
available on the
EFCCA website.
Diet
There is no evidence
that ulcerative colitis is due to food allergies. As a growing child,
you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet to maintain your weight and
give your body nutrients. If certain foods seem to make your symptoms
worse, you may want to try to remove those foods from your diet when you
have a flare-up. Keeping a food diary could help you identify which
foods to avoid. Some people find that foods with high fibre content (eg,
fruits, vegetables, nuts and wholemeal grains) make their symptoms
worse, whereas other people find it helps to avoid spicy foods or fatty
foods.
If removing a food
from your diet doesn't seem to help, then bring it back into your usual
diet so you continue to get balanced nutrition from a variety of foods.
Some people with
ulcerative colitis may need to take iron supplements for anaemia (a low
red blood cell count) due to blood loss. Blood tests can help confirm
whether you need this.
It is best to discuss
any questions you may have about diet and your condition with your
doctor and he or she may suggest that you see a nutritionist for
additional guidance.
For more tips and
resources to help you manage your IBD, please see
Treatment Plan for Ulcerative Colitis.
For more advice on
managing stress, diet and travelling, please see
Achieving more with IBD.
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