Inflammatory bowel disease in the pediatric patient.

Inflammatory bowel disease is now recognized as a common diagnosis in the pediatric age group. Inflammatory bowel disease has been diagnosed as early as the first few months of life. In addition to the usual gastrointestinal symptoms, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding, children may exhibit prominent extraintestinal manifestations, such as growth failure, weight loss, anemia, and joint symptoms.