Managing inflammatory bowel disease in adolescent patients

J Bishop,1 DA Lemberg,2 AS Day3 1Paediatric Gastroenterology, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Department of Gastroenterology, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; 3Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago (Christchurch), Christchurch, New Zealand Abstract: Increasing numbers of adolescents are being diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the two main subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease. These young people face many short- and long-term challenges; one or more medical therapies may be required indefinitely; their disease may have great impact, in terms of their schooling and social activities. However, the management of adolescents with one of these incurable conditions needs to encompass more than just medical therapies. Growth, pubertal development, schooling, transition, adherence, and psychological well-being are all important aspects. A multidisciplinary team setting, catering to these components of care, is required to ensure optimal outcomes in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Keywords: adolescents, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, therapy, multidisciplinary car