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©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2025; 31(35): 111934
Published online Sep 21, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i35.111934
Published online Sep 21, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i35.111934
Inflammatory bowel disease in paediatrics: Navigating the old challenges and emerging frontiers
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Governmental Hospitals, Ministry of Health, Manama 26671, Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Prabu Kumar Chokkalingam Mani, Department of Biochemistry, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, Tamil Nadu, India
Prabu Kumar Chokkalingam Mani, Section of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, Sal
Adel S Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Alghrabia, Egypt
Adel S Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Bahrain
Reem Elbeltagi, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Co-first authors: Mohammed Al-Beltagi and Nermin K Saeed.
Author contributions: Al-Beltagi M conceived and designed the review, led the literature search and manuscript drafting, supervised the overall project, and served as the corresponding author; Saeed NK contributed to writing and critically revising sections related to microbiology, immunopathogenesis, and regional epidemiology; Mani PKC contributed to the sections on nutritional therapy, biochemical markers, and therapeutic drug monitoring, and reviewed the scientific accuracy of the laboratory and clinical content; Bediwy AS participated in drafting and editing the sections discussing clinical phenotype variations and multidisciplinary care needs, particularly regarding extraintestinal manifestations; Elbeltagi R supported the literature review, contributed to the section on psychosocial and developmental impact, and assisted with data visualization and figure design; All authors reviewed the final manuscript, approved its content, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: July 14, 2025
Revised: July 27, 2025
Accepted: August 19, 2025
Published online: September 21, 2025
Processing time: 67 Days and 1.4 Hours
Revised: July 27, 2025
Accepted: August 19, 2025
Published online: September 21, 2025
Processing time: 67 Days and 1.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing globally, with rising incidence in previously low-prevalence regions such as the Arabian Gulf. This review highlights the unique challenges in pediatric IBD diagnosis, including atypical presentations and very early-onset IBD, and emphasizes the need for age-specific treatment approaches. It also explores emerging frontiers such as personalized medicine, biologic therapies, and multidisciplinary care. By integrating recent data on epidemiology, pathogenesis, and psychosocial impact, this article presents a comprehensive framework for optimizing outcomes in children with IBD, guiding future research and policy priorities in this evolving field.