Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Case Reports

Pediatric Crohn's Disease presenting as Severe Constipation and Abdominal Distension.: Myong Soon Sung, Seok Jeong Kang, Kwang Hae Choi; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2008;25(2):139-144. Published online December 31, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2008.25.2.139

Abstract PDF: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that mainly affects children and young adults. Its cause remains unknown. The incidence of pediatric Crohn's disease is increasing, so it is important for clinicians to be aware of the presentation of this disease in the pediatric population. The majority of patients complain of abdominal pain (72%), with only 25% presenting with the 'classical triad' of abdominal pain, weight loss, and diarrhea. Many children with Crohn's disease present in a 'non-classical' manner, with vague complaints such as lethargy or anorexia, which may be associated with only mild abdominal discomfort. Other symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, growth retardation, malnutrition, delayed puberty, psychiatric symptoms, arthropathy, and erythema nodosum. Severe constipation and abdominal distension are uncommon symptoms at diagnosis. We report a case of pediatric Crohn's disease, which was diagnosed after the patient presented with severe constipation and abdominal distension.

Transient Abdominal Distension in Neonate.: Jung Youn Choi, Eun Sil Yun, Kwang Hae Choi; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2006;23(1):138-142. Published online June 30, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2006.23.1.138

Abstract PDF: Abdominal distension is not an uncommon symptom in the neonate; it is indistinguishable from Hirschsprung disease by symptoms and X-ray findings. In three patients, severe abdominal distension was found at early infancy and improved with conservative treatment without relapse. The findings were different from those of Hirschsprung disease. Immaturity or poor coordination of peristaltic movement is postulated as the cause. With maturation such problems can normalize. However the pathogenesis remains unclear and further investigation is needed to improve our understanding.

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