http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1468855&nav=0qq5ILXs WTOC, Savannah, Georgia
Marc Straus
Writer/Producer
CWK Network
"Like with any chronic, medical condition, there are significant psychological effects on both the family and the child." -Dr. Conrad Cole Pediatric Gastroenterologist-
Up to five percent of Americans suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. It’s often isn’t easy to talk about, and even more difficult if the victim is a young child.
Take the case of Jessica Gwinette. Jessica has inflammatory bowel disease even though she’s just 5 years old. IBD remains a misunderstood disease. Dr. Conrad Cole, a pediatric gastroenterologist, says it occurs, when, ”the body’s immune system produces cells that attack the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract, and causes chronic inflammation.” It often happens in people who have a family history of gastro-intestinal problems.
Jessica experienced diarrhea and abdominal pain at age four, and it eventually became chronic. When drug therapy failed, surgeons removed Jessica’s colon. She now wears a colostomy bag, which she says can tug at her body. But does it tug at her self-esteem?
New research from Ohio State University shows children with IBD are three times more likely than healthy kids to be teased, and become depressed and withdrawn. Combating those potential problems requires straight talk and honest information, even to a young child.
“We’ve never held anything back from her,” says Jessica’s mom, Cindy Gwinette. “And when her friends ask her questions about the bag…she could explain fully, and that’s I think important to a child because they feel like they’ve got some power, if they know what’s going on.”
Because Jessica is able to explain her condition to other kids, her mom says she’s been treated with respect and understanding. Jessica is slowly being weaned off steroids, and soon, she’ll undergo more surgery to remove the colostomy bag.
If you have a child with inflammatory bowel disease, try to find an IBD support group. Doctors say meeting other kids with the same problem can help your child better understand IBD, and cope with its symptoms.