Chronic ulcerative colitis in children

Summary Manifestations of chronic ulcerative colitis in children are the same as those in adults, except for growth retardation. The incidence of the disease appears to have become more widely recognized. Intractability is a recognized problem and is often an indication for surgery. Total colectomy and abdominoperineal resection with ileostomy is the treatment of choice for the acute fulminating type. It is suggested that if the patients are operated upon earlier in the course of the disease, the rectum may be saved and continuity of the bowel may be restored. While the etiology remains an enigma, in a high percentage of cases there is a strong psychosomatic overlay. Read at the meeting of the American Proctologic Society, Miami Beach, Florida, April 30 to May 3, 1962.