Guidance on the interpretation of faecal calprotectin levels in children.

Background: Faecal calprotectin (FCP) is a powerful tool to predict inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. In the paediatric patient population, the reference value of < 50 μg/g and the influence of age on FCP levels result in a high number of redundant investigations and specialist referrals. We assessed paediatric FCP levels, their diagnostic value and corresponding referral pathways from primary and secondary care.

Headache and inflammatory bowel disease: think cerebral vein!

Cerebral vein thrombosis is a severe complication of inflammatory bowel disease, can cause non-specific symptoms and hence lead to delay in diagnosis. We report the case of an adolescent with inflammatory bowel disease who developed extensive cerebral vein thrombosis requiring a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Diagnosis was markedly delayed due to repeated misinterpretation of clinical signs and laboratory findings and the lack of reconsidering the working diagnosis despite the involvement of several medical subspecialties.