Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinic
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is a nationally recognized center for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The IBD program provides family-centered care and consultation for children and adolescents with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The program is staffed and under the direction of Pediatric Gastroenterologist Subra Kugathasan, MD, who has a dedicated and focused interest in IBD.
Dr. Kugathasan is also an associate professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology) at the Medical College. In addition a pediatric nurse clinician and a pediatric dietitian work together to provide the most comprehensive services available. Individual and family counseling by a psychologist specializing in chronic diseases is also available and surgical consultation is provided by pediatric surgeons specializing in complex IBD surgery.
Our comprehensive approach is particularly helpful for:
- Children with IBD who fail to respond to conventional treatment approaches or who require long-term steroid therapy.
- Children who may benefit from new and novel treatment therapy.
- Children with delayed growth or sexual development.
- Families who want a second opinion.
- Children who require timely surgical intervention.
Referral criteria for new patients to the IBD program include:
- Older children and adolescents with rectal bleeding, significant weight loss and growth failure who are suspected to have IBD.
- Abnormal laboratory and radiology results, which may suggest IBD.
We also offer patients:
- The opportunity to enroll in national and regional open label and blinded clinical research trials for IBD. We also conduct research exploring the pathogenesis of IBD. Research endeavors partially are funded by Children's Hospital and Health System Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Federal Drug Administration, and the Medical College of Wisconsin Digestive Disease and General Clinical Research Centers.
- A professional patient education team to work with patients and families.
- Nutritional assessment and management to prevent long-
term complications, such as osteoporosis.
- Access to support groups.
Recent achievements of the program include:
- Determining the incidence of pediatric IBD in the United States by prospectively tracking all newly diagnosed IBD children within Wisconsin.
- Creating one of the largest pediatric genetic data banks to study the genetics of IBD in children.
For patient appointments, call Central Scheduling at (414) 607-5280 or toll free (877) 607-5280.
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