The Influence of Environmental Stress on the Onset of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease

Authors

George A. Karambellas, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Advisor

Thomas Colletti

Abstract

An increase in the incidence of Crohn’s disease within the pediatric population begs the obvious question, why? This paper focuses on research seeking a correlation between social and economic changes that team to negatively stress the environment of this very vulnerable population and expose them to the early diagnosis and presentation of Crohn’s disease. This group’s relative inability to externalize negative stress is hypothesized to contribute to the early presentation of a condition that the sufferer may already be predisposed to. An understanding of the effects that negative stress has on general health, the disease process as described within the target population, and its relationship and comparison to the presentation of the disease in older subjects are discussed and relative correlations are supposed. A change in the approach to the treatment of these patients, to include a psycho-therapeutic component, is also considered. Combined, these findings suggest a link between negative emotional stress and the early presentation of Crohn’s disease within the pediatric population

Recommended Citation

Karambellas GA. The Influence of Environmental Stress on the Onset of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2022; 4(2).