Eating disorder or disordered eating: undiagnosed inflammatory bowel disease mimicking eating disorder

We describe the case of a patient with ongoing weight loss, low mood and previously undisclosed gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms initially diagnosed with an eating disorder and subsequently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis over a year following initial presentation. This patient exhibited disordered...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 2019-10, Vol.104 (10), p.1004-1006
Main Authors: Harris, Rachel Elizabeth, Tayler, Rachel, Russell, Richard K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Abdominal Pain - etiology
Anorexia
Blood platelets
Blood tests
Body Composition
Child
Children & youth
Colitis, Ulcerative - diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - etiology
Differential diagnosis
Eating behavior
eating disorder
Eating disorders
Endoscopy
Endoscopy, Digestive System
Feeding and Eating Disorders - diagnosis
Female
Gastroenterology
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology
general paediatrics
Health services
Hemoglobin
Humans
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases
Inflammatory diseases
Intestine
Laboratories
Leukocytosis - etiology
Mental health
Mental Health Programs
Mimicry
Mood
paediatric gastroenterology
Pain
Patients
Pediatrics
Proteins
Rectum
Scientific Concepts
Self Concept
Short report
Twins
Ulcerative colitis
Weight Loss
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Description
Summary:We describe the case of a patient with ongoing weight loss, low mood and previously undisclosed gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms initially diagnosed with an eating disorder and subsequently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis over a year following initial presentation. This patient exhibited disordered eating secondary to the worsening symptoms of undiagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and had altered her eating habits to reduce the diarrhoea and rectal bleeding she was experiencing, contributing to significant weight loss.The implications of a delayed diagnosis of IBD or incorrect diagnosis of eating disorder are severe both physically and psychologically. We discuss factors in the assessment of patients which may raise suspicion of organic GI disease such as IBD—an important differential diagnosis in those with non-specific GI symptoms and suspected eating disorder—and highlight baseline investigations which should be performed to ensure a diagnosis of IBD is not missed in these patients.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2018-316324