Quality of life in patients postcolectomy for pediatric-onset ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis in children can have a negative effect on quality of life (QOL). METHODS: We included 16 of 31 patients who underwent colectomy for ulcerative colitis before 20 years of age between 1980 and 2005 at University of California in San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital. A disease-specific QOL questionnaire (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-32), validated for adults, was used to determine QOL and an additional questionnaire addressing bowel function and reproductive health in long-term follow-up of these patients. RESULTS: Median age at the time of survey was 20.3 years (17.9-25.3), and time postcolectomy was 6.9 years (4.8-9.0). Mean total score was 159.7 ± 43.3 (58-210). Two patients (12.5%) had scores of ≥ 200, 12 (75.0%) had 101 to 199, and 2 (12.5%) had ≤ 100. Patients ages 18 years or younger at the time of survey showed higher QOL, particularly in emotional health (P=0.020), social function (P=0.014), and overall QOL (P=0.009). Social function scored highest of all of the systems (median 7; interquartile range 4-7). Patients with scores ≤ 100 had repeated episodes of pouchitis (16-30) compared with the other 14 patients (0-3). Children who were diagnosed ages 12 years or younger tended to have higher QOL (p=0.072). Years postcolectomy did not correlate to QOL. Eleven patients were sexually active. Two males had feelings of impotence and decreased libido, and 6 females experienced dyspareunia. Three women tried unsuccessfully to conceive after colectomy. One woman became pregnant 4 times, each leading to miscarriage. CONCLUSIONS: Younger age at time of colectomy, diagnosis, and survey show higher QOL. Highest satisfaction was found in ability to attend school, work, and social engagements. Pouchitis continued to be an issue for a small number of the patients, with 2 patients having recurring episodes that severely affected QOL. Patients reported decreased sexual activity and fertility at the time of survey due to colectomy, especially for females.

Gastroesophageal reflux is not associated with dental erosion in children.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dental erosion is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in adults; in children, it is not clear if GER has a role in dental pathologic conditions. Dietary intake, oral hygiene, high bacterial load, and decreased salivary flow might contribute independently to GER development or dental erosion, but their potential involvement in dental erosion from GER is not understood. We investigated the prevalence of dental erosion among children with and without GER symptoms, and whether salivary flow rate or bacterial load contribute to location-specific dental erosion. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 59 children (ages, 9-17 y) with symptoms of GER and 20 asymptomatic children (controls); all completed a questionnaire on dietary exposure. Permanent teeth were examined for erosion into dentin, erosion locations, and affected surfaces. The dentist was not aware of GER status, and the gastroenterologist was not aware of dental status. Stimulated salivary flow was measured and salivary bacterial load was calculated for total bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacilli. RESULTS: Controlling for age, dietary intake, and oral hygiene, there was no association between GER symptoms and dental erosion by tooth location or affected surface. Salivary flow did not correlate with GER symptoms or erosion. Erosion location and surface were independent of total bacteria and levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli. CONCLUSIONS: Location-specific dental erosion is not associated with GER, salivary flow, or bacterial load. Prospective studies are required to determine the pathogenesis of GER-associated dental erosion and the relationship between dental caries to GER and dental erosion.

Impact of gluten-free camp on quality of life of children and adolescents with celiac disease.

OBJECTIVE: A gluten-free camp allows children with celiac disease (CD) to enjoy a camp experience without concern and preoccupation with foods they eat or the stigma of their underlying disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of gluten-free camp on quality-of-life indicators for children and adolescents with CD. METHODS: Children aged 7 to 17 years with CD were administered a 14-question survey at the beginning and the end of a 7-day gluten-free camp. Surveys used a Likert scale to examine general well-being, emotional outlook, and self-perception for the week before each survey. Differences between the time points were compared. Data were analyzed by paired t test. RESULTS: Of the 104 campers who attended camp, 77 (21 male) completed the survey at both time points. Most (70%) had been on a gluten-free diet (GFD) for <4 years. All seemed to benefit from camp, no longer feeling different from other kids or feeling frustrated with a restricted diet. A more beneficial impact was found for campers who were on a GFD for <4 years. Overall, campers reported an improvement in 11 of 14 questions, statistically significant (P < .05) for 8 of those 11 questions. Improvement was observed in each of the 3 categories of questions: well-being, self-perception, and emotional outlook. CONCLUSIONS: Children who had CD and attended a week-long gluten-free camp demonstrated improvement in well-being, self-perception, and emotional outlook. The positive effects of camp were more apparent among campers who had been on a GFD for <4 years compared with those who had been on a GFD for > or =4 years, suggesting an adaptation to CD with time. A gluten-free camp that provides an environment of unrestricted foods can at least temporarily alleviate stress and anxiety around food and social interactions. Durability of these observations on return to daily life requires additional study.

Use of complementary medicine in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease: results from a multicenter survey.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at 3 US pediatric medical centers, comparing a group of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with children presenting with chronic constipation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surveys were administered by postal mail and at pediatric IBD centers in San Francisco, Houston, and Atlanta from 2001 to 2003. A comparison group consisting of pediatric patients with chronic constipation also was surveyed. Data were analyzed by t tests and by exact tests of contingency tables. RESULTS: In all, 236 surveys were collected from the IBD group; 126 surveys were collected from the chronic constipation comparison group. CAM therapies were used by 50% in the IBD group and 23% in the chronic constipation group. The overall regional breakdown of CAM use in IBD revealed no differences, although the types of CAM therapy used varied by site. The most commonly used CAM therapies in the IBD group were spiritual interventions (25%) and nutritional supplements (25%). Positive predictors for CAM use in IBD include the patient's self-reported overall health, an increase in the number of side effects associated with allopathic medications, white ethnicity, and parental education beyond high school. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first US study to characterize CAM use in pediatric patients with IBD with another chronic gastrointestinal disorder. CAM use was twice as common with the IBD group compared with the chronic constipation group. Regional variations exist with the types of CAM therapy used. Practitioners should know that half of their pediatric patients with IBD may be using CAM in conjunction with or as an alternative to other treatments and that certain predictors can help identify those using CAM therapies.