Promoting early testing and appropriate referral to reduce diagnostic delay for children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease, a narrative review

Background and Objective: When a child with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms presents to primary care physician or general paediatrician, the clinician is challenged differentiating between functional organic disease. there high suspicion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rapid referral paediatric gastroenterologist for assessment treatment will help protect against sequelae delayed diagnosis child. However, this must be balanced need ensuring appropriate referrals avoiding invasive diagnostic testing those non-organic aetiology. The objective narrative review was present evidence on specific presenting symptoms, testing, risk factors IBD that may aid identification children requiring timely specialist care, thereby reducing chance diagnosis.