The Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Cedars-Sinai focuses solely on providing a full array of IBD healthcare services for children and young adults suffering from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and other intestinal disorders.

Under the direction of Marla Dubinsky, MD, our medical team is made up of doctors with special training in both IBD and pediatrics. To offer further support, the staff includes medical doctors, pediatric nurses, nutritionists and psychologists. In approaching individual cases, our specialists consult together to develop a treatment plan tailor made for each patient.

For children, having IBD is not only painful and inconvenient but also causes embarrassment and emotional distress. Fully aware of this added burden, the Pediatric IBD Center's staff is committed to providing expert medical services in an environment that is caring and compassionate. Parents, siblings and other family members are also treated with sensitivity and respect. Doctors encourage patients and families to share their concerns and ask questions that will help them understand the disease and its treatment.

The risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases are the same as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in adults. However, in children the disease can cause additional complications - namely, slow growth and delayed puberty. These factors make it a struggle to participate in day-to-day childhood and teenage functions, such as going to school or work, taking part in physical activities and having a social life.

Research studies devoted to searching for the cause and finding a cure for IBD are being conducted at Cedars-Sinai's Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. Our scientists are continually examining factors that may provide clues to how the disorder works in the body. Children and families who wish to participate in these studies can play an important part in winning the battle against IBD.