Hospital admissions & emergency care

🏥 When might a child with IBD need hospital care?

Most children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) manage their condition through regular specialist appointments, medication and monitoring. However, sometimes symptoms become severe enough that hospital treatment is needed.

A hospital admission may be necessary if your child has:

• Severe abdominal pain or significant abdominal swelling.

• Frequent diarrhoea or substantial bleeding from the bowel.

• Dehydration caused by diarrhoea, vomiting or difficulty drinking.

• Persistent vomiting or an inability to keep fluids down.

• A severe flare that is not responding to treatment at home.

• Significant weight loss or difficulty maintaining adequate nutrition.

• Complications of IBD or side effects from medication that require hospital assessment.

Some children may also need admission for investigations, procedures or treatments that cannot be safely provided at home.

Needing hospital care does not mean you have done anything wrong. IBD can be unpredictable, and sometimes children need extra medical support to get their symptoms under control.

🚨 Where should you go in an emergency?

Knowing where to go when your child becomes unwell can make a stressful situation a little easier to manage.

Call 000 for an ambulance if your child has a life-threatening emergency, such as collapsing, becoming unresponsive, experiencing severe difficulty breathing or showing signs of severe shock.

Go to your nearest emergency department if your child has severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, significant rectal bleeding, persistent vomiting, signs of serious dehydration or is becoming very unwell.

If your child has an existing paediatric IBD team, contact them promptly when symptoms worsen. They may be able to advise you about the next steps or arrange an urgent assessment. However, do not delay emergency care while waiting for a response.

If symptoms are concerning but do not appear immediately life-threatening, your GP or your child's specialist team can help determine the appropriate level of care.

Important: Children taking medicines that suppress the immune system may be at increased risk of infections. Seek prompt medical advice if your child develops a fever or appears unwell, and follow any specific instructions provided by their IBD team.

🩺 What happens when your child arrives at hospital?

Arriving at an emergency department can feel overwhelming, especially when your child is in pain or frightened.

The hospital team will first assess how unwell your child is and determine how urgently they need treatment.

The process may include:

1. Triage and initial assessment

A nurse will assess your child's symptoms, vital signs and general condition. Children who are more seriously unwell are prioritised, so waiting times can vary.

2. Medical examination

A doctor will ask about your child's symptoms, IBD history, medications and recent changes in their health. They may examine your child's abdomen and assess hydration.

3. Investigations

Depending on the situation, your child may need blood tests, stool tests, urine tests or imaging such as an ultrasound or X-ray. These investigations can help assess inflammation, dehydration, infection and possible complications.

4. Treatment

Treatment depends on what is causing the symptoms and how severe they are. Your child may need fluids, pain relief, anti-nausea medication, nutritional support or changes to their IBD treatment.

The team may also consult your child's paediatric gastroenterologist or the hospital's specialist IBD service.

Not every child will need every test or treatment. The medical team will decide what is appropriate for your child's condition.

🛏️ What happens if your child Is admitted?

If your child needs ongoing treatment, monitoring or investigations, the emergency department team may arrange admission to a paediatric ward.

Depending on the hospital and your child's condition, they may be cared for by a paediatric team, with input from a gastroenterologist or specialist IBD team.

During the admission, your child may receive:

• Intravenous fluids: To treat dehydration or support fluid balance.

• Medication: To manage symptoms and treat inflammation, depending on the cause and severity of the flare.

• Regular monitoring: Nurses and doctors will monitor symptoms, vital signs, fluid intake and output, and other relevant measures.

• Blood and stool tests: To assess inflammation, blood counts, electrolytes and other aspects of your child's health.

• Nutritional support: A dietitian may help if your child is struggling to eat, losing weight or needs a specific nutritional approach.

• Further investigations: Additional tests may be needed if the team suspects complications or needs to reassess the diagnosis.

Some children improve within a short admission, while others need several days or longer. The length of stay depends on their response to treatment, the investigations required and whether it is safe to continue care at home.

💊 Will my child's IBD medication change?

During a hospital admission, the medical team will review your child's current medications and decide whether any changes are needed.

Depending on the reason for admission, treatment may involve adjusting existing medication, introducing a different treatment or using medication that needs to be administered in hospital.

If your child takes immunosuppressants, biologic medicines or other regular treatments, make sure the team knows exactly what they take and when they last took each dose.

Do not stop, restart or change your child's IBD medication without medical advice. Some medications may need to be adjusted during an acute illness, particularly if an infection is suspected.

Ask the treating team to explain any changes, why they are needed and what the plan will be after discharge.

👨‍👩‍👧 Can parents stay with their child?

Many Australian children's hospitals allow a parent or carer to stay with their child, although arrangements vary between hospitals and wards.

Depending on the hospital, you may be able to stay overnight beside your child. Ask the ward staff about accommodation, visitor arrangements, meals and facilities for parents. If your child is anxious, frightened or struggling with being away from home, let the nurses know. They may be able to offer reassurance, explain procedures in an age-appropriate way and help your child feel more comfortable.

You can also ask how you can be involved in everyday care, such as helping your child eat, providing comfort and supporting their usual routines where possible.

🧸 Helping your child feel more comfortable

Hospital stays can be particularly difficult for children with IBD because they may already be dealing with pain, fatigue, frequent toilet trips and anxiety about their symptoms.

A few familiar items can help make the hospital environment feel less intimidating.

Consider bringing:

• Comfortable pyjamas and spare underwear.

• Favourite toys, books or comfort items.

• Headphones, a tablet or other quiet entertainment.

• A familiar blanket or pillow, if permitted.

• Toiletries and other everyday essentials.

Explain what is happening in simple, honest language. Let your child ask questions, and avoid promising that a procedure or treatment will not hurt if you cannot be certain.

If your child is worried about needles, procedures or being away from home, tell the nursing team. They may be able to offer additional support.

🎒 What should you bring to hospital?

If your child needs to be admitted, having a few essentials ready can make the experience easier.

If the admission is unexpected, do not delay seeking care to pack a bag. You can arrange for someone to bring additional items later.

Useful things to bring include:

• Your child's Medicare card, if available.

• A list of current medications, doses and allergies.

• Details of your child's gastroenterologist and IBD team.

• Recent test results or relevant medical information, if readily available.

• Comfortable clothing, underwear and toiletries.

• A phone charger and items to help your child pass the time.

If your child has an established IBD care plan, bring a copy if you have one. The hospital may also be able to access relevant information through its medical records or contact your child's usual healthcare team.

🏠 When can your child go home?

Before discharge, the medical team will assess whether your child is well enough to continue recovering at home.

Depending on the reason for admission, they may want to see improvements in symptoms, adequate fluid intake, better pain control and a treatment plan that can be managed safely outside hospital.

Before leaving, make sure you understand:

• Which medications your child should take and whether any doses have changed.

• What symptoms to monitor at home.

• When and where follow-up appointments will occur.

• Whether repeat blood or stool tests are required.

• Who to contact if symptoms return or worsen.

• When you should return to hospital or seek urgent medical attention.

Ask for written discharge instructions and clarification of anything you are unsure about.

If you are concerned that your child is not ready to go home, explain your concerns to the treating team before discharge.

🔄 What if your child needs to go back to hospital?

Sometimes symptoms return after discharge, or a child does not improve as expected.

If your child develops worsening abdominal pain, increasing diarrhoea, renewed bleeding, difficulty drinking or other concerning symptoms, contact their IBD team or GP promptly.

Seek urgent medical assessment if symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening. Do not wait for a scheduled follow-up appointment if your child is becoming significantly unwell.

If your child has repeated hospital admissions, ask the IBD team whether a written flare management plan would help your family recognise warning signs and understand whom to contact.

💳 Will hospital treatment cost anything?

For eligible Medicare patients treated as public patients in a public hospital, medically necessary hospital treatment is generally provided without charge.

However, other expenses may arise, including travel, parking, meals and accommodation for parents. Private hospital treatment may involve additional fees, excesses and out-of-pocket expenses.

If costs are a concern, ask the hospital whether social work services, patient travel assistance or other support programs are available to your family.

You can also read our guide to Medicare & Healthcare Costs for more information about specialist rebates, medication costs and healthcare expenses in Australia.

💙 Supporting your family during a hospital admission

A hospital admission can be frightening and exhausting for both children and parents. You may be worried about your child's health, missing work, arranging care for siblings or trying to understand unfamiliar medical information.

It is okay to ask questions, request explanations and ask the team to repeat information if you feel overwhelmed.

If possible, arrange practical help from family or friends with meals, transport, school pickups or other responsibilities.

Remember that you do not need to manage everything alone. Your child's healthcare team can help you understand the treatment plan and connect you with support where available.

🔗 Where can you find more information?

• Your child's IBD team: For advice about flares, worsening symptoms and when to seek medical assessment.

• Your local children's hospital: For information about emergency departments, paediatric wards and hospital admission procedures.

• Healthdirect Australia: For general health information and guidance about accessing care at healthdirect.gov.au.

• Your GP: For ongoing care, referrals and follow-up after discharge.

This article provides general information for families in Australia and is not a substitute for medical advice. Hospital procedures, treatment plans and admission arrangements vary. Always follow your child's healthcare team's advice about their individual circumstances.