Ulcerative Colitis in Children: Care Instructions
Overview
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease. The large intestine (colon) gets inflamed, and ulcers form in the colon. These ulcers can bleed.
People have "attacks" of ulcerative colitis. Attacks can come and go. They can cause painful belly cramps and bloody diarrhea.
Bad attacks are often treated in a hospital. There your child can get medicines, fluid, and nutrition through a tube in a vein, called an I.V. This lets the digestive system rest and recover.
If the medicines don't work well, your child may need surgery to remove the colon.
Learning good self-care can help your child reduce symptoms and manage ulcerative colitis.
Teens can be especially frustrated by this disease. Attacks may leave them feeling more dependent on their parents than they want to be. They may feel different from their friends. Counselling may help teens who are having a hard time coping with the disease.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
How can you care for your child at home?
- Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think your child is having a problem with his or her medicine.
- Do not give your child anti-inflammatory medicines. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). They may make symptoms worse.
- Talk to your doctor before you give your child any other medicines or herbal products.
- Avoid foods that make symptoms worse. These might include milk, high-fibre foods, or spicy foods. It may help to keep a diary of foods that make symptoms worse.
- Talk to a dietitian to make sure your child is getting the nutrition, including vitamins and minerals, that he or she needs.
When should you call for help?
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- Your child passes out (loses consciousness).
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has symptoms of dehydration, such as:
- Dry eyes and a dry mouth.
- Passing only a little urine.
- Feeling thirstier than usual.
- Your child has new belly pain, or the pain gets worse.
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child has nausea or is vomiting.
- Your child has new or more blood in his or her stools.
- Your child's stools are black and look like tar, or they have streaks of blood.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:
- Your child loses weight, or doesn't gain weight.
- Your child's diarrhea is getting worse.
- You or your child is struggling to deal with ulcerative colitis.
- Your child is not getting better as expected.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter P525 in the search box to learn more about "Ulcerative Colitis in Children: Care Instructions".
Current as of: March 22, 2023
