Crohn’s Disease Treatments

Treatment for Crohn’s disease focuses on dealing with the symptoms and complications caused by the disease. Surgery is used to treat complications such as blockage, intestinal bleeding, perforation, and abscesses. The affected portion of the intestines is removed. This can help deal with Crohn’s disease symptoms and complications, but does not cure the disease.

There are also a number of drug treatments that target the underlying inflammation seen in Crohn’s disease:

• Anti-inflammatory medications such as sulfasalazine

• Steroid medications such as prednisone

• Infliximab (also known as Remicade): a drug that interfere’s with the body’s inflammation response

• Immune System Suppressors such as 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine. These drugs block the body’s immune response.

Other treatments focus on dealing with fluid loss and malnutrition:

• Anti-diarrheal medications help to relieve diarrhea and the associated abdominal pain
  

• Replacement fluids and electrolytes are given to patients suffering dehydration, which can be caused by diarrhea
  

• Nutritional supplements help patients who cannot absorb enough nutrition from food and patients whose intestines need time to heal

Crohn’s Disease: Diet and Nutrition

Because Crohn’s disease can decrease appetite as well as interfere with the intestines’ ability to absorb nutrients, Crohn’s disease patients need to take special care to follow a nutritious diet. No particular diet has proven effective in treating Crohn’s disease. However, many people with the disease find that particular foods such as milk and spicy foods seem to worsen their symptoms.

Patients should take nutritional and vitamin supplements only with their doctor’s direction.

Crohn’s Disease: Additional Information

The following organizations can provide additional information on Crohn’s disease:

• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
  
• Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, www.ccfa.org