Ulcerative Colitis in Children

Abstract

Binder, Vibeke, Bonnevie, O., Gertz, T. Cl., Krasilnikoff, P. A., Vestermark, S. & Riis, P. 1973. Ulcerative Colitis in Children. Treatment, Course, and Prognosis. Scand. J. Gastroent. 8, 161-167.In a total of 446 patients suffering from ulcerative colitis, the disease started before the age of 16 years in 62, corresponding to about 14 % (95 % confidence limits 11-17 %). During their childhood 44 of the 62 patients were treated by the authors. The activity of the disease judged clinically was significantly higher than for adult patients. In contrast to the high cumulative rates for colectomy (32.7 % after 5 years and 46.2 % after 8 years of observation), we found low rates for death (3.1 % after 5 years and 3.1 % after 8 years of observation) and a rate for cancer of 0. Estimations of the intelligence and overall psychiatric examinations showed intelligent children and presence of psychopathologic signs and conflicts in the families in a minority only.