Compassionate, state-of-the-art care for children and adolescents navigating Crohn's disease. From early diagnosis to advanced biologic therapies, we partner with families to achieve long-term remission and protect healthy growth.
Early diagnosis and tailored treatment give young patients the power to overcome inflammation and thrive.
Crohn’s disease in children is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation that can involve any portion of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Unlike in adults, Crohn’s in growing children frequently impacts linear height, weight velocity, pubertal maturation, and bone mineral density before prominent digestive symptoms are recognized.
At PEDGI, our board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists understand that children are not simply miniature adults. Their immune responses, nutritional demands, and emotional needs require dedicated pediatric expertise. We utilize steroid-sparing regimens, targeted biologic medicines, and advanced nutritional therapy to extinguish inflammation, heal the intestinal mucosa, and restore energy.
Crohn’s inflammation penetrates deep through all layers of the intestinal wall, often appearing in "skip lesions" surrounded by healthy mucosal tissue.
Malabsorption of calories, micronutrients, and zinc can trigger early growth deceleration and delayed puberty before obvious gastrointestinal pain occurs.
An overactive immune response targets harmless gut flora in genetically predisposed children, requiring precise and safe immune-modulating therapies.
Symptoms vary widely depending on the anatomical location and severity of intestinal inflammation. Our pediatric GI team investigates each child's individual pattern.
Persistent or recurrent belly cramps, frequently localized to the lower right abdomen near the ileocecal junction, often worsening after meals.
Frequent, loose stools lasting more than 2 to 4 weeks, occasionally containing mucus or streaks of blood, or waking the child during sleep.
Difficulty gaining weight, clothes fitting looser, or slipping across growth curve percentiles due to poor nutrient absorption and elevated metabolic demand.
Profound daily tiredness, pale skin, and low energy levels caused by microscopic blood loss and systemic inflammatory cytokines suppressing red blood cells.
Swollen skin tags, painful cracks, or draining tracts around the anal opening that are characteristic hallmarks of pediatric Crohn's disease.
Extra-intestinal manifestations including recurring low-grade fevers, swollen knee or ankle joints, aphthous mouth sores, or tender red skin nodules.
Because untreated intestinal inflammation can lead to strictures, bowel obstruction, or severe malnutrition, certain red flag symptoms warrant urgent pediatric GI evaluation:
PEDGI accommodates priority referrals for suspected pediatric Crohn's disease within 2–5 business days.
Securing an accurate, definitive diagnosis is the essential first step. We utilize state-of-the-art pediatric testing protocols to map the precise location and depth of intestinal involvement.
Detailed review of symptoms, family medical history of autoimmune conditions, dietary intake, and long-term CDC height/weight growth curve trajectories.
Non-invasive stool assays for fecal calprotectin measure intestinal neutrophil migration. Blood tests evaluate systemic inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), anemia, and albumin.
Radiation-free MRI imaging specialized for the small bowel to identify bowel wall thickening, strictures, or fistulas without exposing growing bodies to ionizing radiation.
Under safe, gentle pediatric sedation managed by board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists, our doctors visualize the mucosa and collect micro-biopsies to confirm granulomas and tissue architecture.
Our modern treatment paradigm focuses on achieving deep mucosal healing, minimizing steroid reliance, and enabling children to lead vigorous, unrestricted lives.
FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies (such as anti-TNF agents) that neutralize specific inflammatory proteins to promote rapid and durable mucosal healing.
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition uses specialized pediatric formulas to induce clinical remission without steroids, delivering concentrated calories to support bone and muscle growth.
Oral medications (such as thiopurines or methotrexate) utilized to maintain disease remission and prevent the immune system from forming antibodies against biologic therapies.
Routine tracking of growth percentiles, routine lab work, therapeutic drug level monitoring, and follow-ups with our doctors and Physician Extenders.
One of the greatest responsibilities in pediatric IBD care is preserving your child's window of growth opportunity.
Corticosteroids can quickly calm an acute Crohn's flare, but prolonged or repetitive steroid use suppresses growth hormone, weakens bone mineralization, and causes difficult cosmetic side effects. That is why the PEDGI team champions steroid-sparing therapy—transitioning children promptly to maintenance treatments that promote mucosal healing, catch-up linear height growth, and robust pubertal timing.
A diagnosis of Crohn's disease is life-changing, but with early intervention and tailored therapies, children can stay in school, excel in sports, and look forward to a vibrant future.
Meet Our Specialist DoctorsProviding West Central Florida families with comprehensive pediatric IBD care since 1984.
Our clinical focus has exclusively centered on pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition in Tampa Bay since 1984.
We care for patients from birth through age 21, ensuring smooth management through puberty, high school, and college transitions.
Our physicians and nurses communicate fluently in English and Spanish, making sure every family feels heard and confident in their treatment plan.
We work in close communication with your primary care pediatrician, pediatric radiologists, and pediatric pathologists across Tampa Bay.
Have questions about symptoms, medications, or living with Crohn's? Here are answers from our pediatric gastroenterology team.
View All General FAQsYes, absolutely. With modern pediatric therapeutic advances—including targeted biologics and proactive nutritional strategies—the vast majority of children with Crohn's disease achieve sustained clinical remission, attend school regularly, participate in competitive athletics, and experience normal growth and development.
While both are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease can cause patchy, transmural (full thickness) inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract from mouth to anus, frequently affecting the small intestine (terminal ileum). In contrast, Ulcerative Colitis affects only the superficial mucosal lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum in a continuous pattern.
In children and teens, chronic intestinal inflammation and impaired nutrient absorption can cause growth deceleration or delayed puberty even before noticeable gastrointestinal symptoms appear. Our pediatric gastroenterologists closely track linear height and weight percentiles to ensure therapies protect normal adolescent development.
Biologic medications (such as anti-TNF agents) have been thoroughly studied and FDA-approved for pediatric Crohn's disease. They provide targeted immune modulation that promotes deep mucosal healing while sparing children from the significant side effects of long-term corticosteroid use.
While there is no cure for Crohn's disease, structured dietary strategies such as Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN) or specialized Crohn's exclusion diets are clinically proven to induce remission and reduce gut inflammation. Diet is an essential partner to medical therapy, not a standalone substitute. Explore our Nutritional Disorders Care for more details.
We prioritize children exhibiting red flag symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, including unexplained weight loss, persistent diarrhea, and GI bleeding. Urgent consultations are typically scheduled within 2 to 5 business days across our four Tampa Bay locations. Check our Insurance Page for participating plans.
Get clear answers and expert IBD management for your child from Tampa Bay's trusted pediatric gastroenterologists.