Infant being referred to GI

[Txarmywife]

My 14 month old is being referred to a GI due to "suspected IBD"." He's always thrown up. Was originally diagnosed with acid reflux and milk intolerance. Then in the past few months he went from being in the 90th percentile for weight, to the 23rd and now 20th (in just a few months). During this time he also started having significant diarrhea sometimes 10+ times a day. He developed a perianal abscess which was remedied with an I&D and IV antibiotics. The diarrhea continued so his doctor checked him for C Diff which came back negative. So now we are being referred to GI because of his problems and my history of IBD. I'm just wondering if anyone has had a child so young be diagnosed or what I can expect them to do to rule out certain things.

 

[Johnnysmom]

Txarmywife

Welcome to the forum. I am so sorry your little one has been through so much. There are a few parents around who have kids that have been diagnosed at around 2 or just under. Many parents will tell you that their child has shown signs of IBD since infancy. I know a diagnosis can be more complicated in little ones. The disease seems to present itself differently at such a young age and is developing still.

Has your little one been testing for any allergies specifically? There could be several issues happening at the same time. I don't believe a perianal abscess can happen because of a food intolerance or allergy but I am not an expert on that. I can only tell you that having our son under a GI's care made a huge difference in our situation.

Please let us know how the appointment goes. I am sure there will be loads of support and other parents along shortly. (((((Hugs))))))

 

[my little penguin]

Welcome
Gi docs are great
Given his age things to think about
Test for CF - painless sweat test
Blood work
Probably scope and more stool tests.
They may switch your child to an elemental diet ( elecare or neocate)
To rule out food .

The only way to diagnosis Ibd is through a scope though.
The kiddo doesn't remember its just hard on the parents .

 

[kimmidwife]

Welcome,
There are a few people on here with very young kids hopefully they will be on to say hello. I see you are in Texas. I know one of the children's hospitals there in Houston is #four in the country for GI. Supposed to be amazing I hope you guys can get seen there. Good luck and I hope you get some answers quickly.

Kim

 

[polly13]

Hi there and welcome my daughter Lucy was diagnosed at two and stated showing severe symptoms at around 13 / 14 months. Like your little boy she threw up constantly from the time she was born and was diagnosed as reflux and then started to have the perianal symptoms at around 13 months. As Lucy was misdiagnosed for a about a year by the time we got to see a GI it was pretty obvious to him that she had crohns. He then ordered blood tests, scope, barium and MRI all of which confirmed the diagnosis. Hope I the tests go ok.

 

[CarolinAlaska]

Yikes. It sounds like your son is a lot like my daughter was at that age (minus the abscess). Did he ever have a viral illness like rotavirus? My daughter's problems started after a bad case of rotavirus. Her weight continued to drop to the 5% from the 80th within her first year. The GI didn't do scopes, blew it off as being a petite child, and reassured me she was fine. Fast forward 13 years and we get scopes and another workup to find she has Crohn's. I always wonder now, how things would have been different if the GI had insisted on the scopes or had recommended follow-up to see that she was doing badly. I didn't see the point of putting her through tests if they were going to say she was fine, but now, I wish they had. I hope your workup gives clear answers and that they fine a quick solution to his GI problems so he can grow up healthy and not pick up all the garbage that goes with a childhood of undiagnosed IBD...

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

Welcome to the forum! So sorry to hear of your little guy's illness. My son was dx'd in Mar., at age 8, but when I look back now I know he had signs of Crohn's from age 2-3. It sounds like you're getting the care your son needs. Going through the tests will be a little tough, but once you get a dx and treatment begins, you'll both feel a lot better. Take care!