Crohns Disease Treatment

Crohn’s disease can be difficult to control and manage initially, but the colorectal experts at Florida Hospital Celebration Health have the experience and treatments necessary to address this painful condition.

The overriding goals of your treatment for Crohn’s involves controlling the inflammation, relieving symptoms and correcting any nutritional deficiencies that could set it off. While there is no cure, proper treatment can reduce the severity of recurrences.

Some patients enjoy long periods between remission, even years. But the chance of the disease returning is high over the course of a lifetime.

Treatment may involve several different strategies, including drug therapies and surgery.

If drug therapies are employed, doctors may recommend the use of anti-inflammation drugs or a combination of cortisone and steroids known as corticosteroids. Prednisone is one example. Immune system suppressors may also be recommended, though they can have side effects such as vomiting, nausea and reduced resistance to disease. Depending on the severity and nature of the disease, antibiotics, anti-diarrheals and fluid replacement drugs may also be tried. Infliximab was approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe cases of Crohn’s disease that don’t respond to other drug therapies. It is the first drug approved specifically for Crohn’s.

Unfortunately, medication alone doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. In 65% to 75% of all cases, surgery will be required at some point. When the symptoms can’t be relieved or there are complications such as bleeding, a blockage, abscess or perforation in the intestine, doctors may recommend removing a portion of the intestine. This will not cure the disease, but only reduce the severity and hopefully frequency of Crohn’s.

In some cases the entire colon needs to be removed using a procedure known as a colectomy. The opening of the small intestine is then routed to the surface of the skin near the right lower part of the abdomen. Waste is collected in a pouch instead of working its way through the body as it.

If you're interested in more information about Crohn's disease treatment options, please make an appointment today.