There is NO CURE for crohn’s disease. Treatment usually involves a combination of drugs, surgery and lifestyle changes.

Surgery

Surgery is required when medication is no longer helping to suppress the symptoms. It can never cure the disease but can provide long periods of remission. The surgery normally involves removing large sections of the inflamed digestive tract. It is often necessary when there is a large obstruction, abscess or bleeding in the tract. Although surgery can lead to there being no symptoms for a few years, the disease will often return to the same are requiring more surgery.

Most surgery procedures are carried out using keyhole surgery. This type of surgery only results in the patient having a few small scars. The image to the right shows a laproscopic surgery robot that would be used for keyhole surgery.

 Lifestyle

Crohn’s disease will often cause the sufferer to lose their appetite, leading to the body lacking in necessary nutrients in order heal. Patients also suffer from a poor ability to absorb nutrients. So a general ruling is that they have a nutritional diet and avoid any foods that worsen the symptoms. Eating small meals frequently as opposed to large meals is also advised. As is with all diseases – smoking tends to increase symptoms and is therefore not recommended. Regular exercise combined with enough sleep will help food move through the digestive system more easily.

Medication

The majority of drugs recommended are geared towards treating infection and reducing inflammation. When symptoms are in remission the drugs taken will try to prolong the reoccurrence of symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory drugs- these are often the first drug of choice as they immediately target the affected site, reducing inflammation, relieving pain and increasing bowel movement.

Cortisone or Steroids- these drugs are the most effective at relieving symptoms. Steroids are a group of powerful hormones that have many effects on the body, one of which being to greatly reduce inflammation. However they have terrible side effects including insomnia, acne and mood swings.

Immune system suppressors- these would be used in periods of relapse of symptoms. They act to suppress the areas of the immune system that contribute to inflammation. These drugs also have terrible side effects; diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. They may also decrease the patient’s resistance to the disease.

Antibiotics- these will generally be prescribed to decrease the growth of bacteria in the affected area.

Anti-diarrheal and Fluid replacements- diarrhoea often subsides in conjunction with a decrease in inflammation. However if needed, alternate drugs can be provided. Diarrhoea is often accompanied with dehydration, in which case a patient would be treated with fluids and electrolytes.

Robot image courtesy of Wikipedia under creative commons license

 Prednisone is a common  immunosuppressant used in the treatment of Crohn's disease. It's side effects include high blood glucose levels, fluid retention and insomnia.

Prednisone image courtesy of Flickr under creative commons license

Did you know?

Steroids can cause depression and patients can also be subject to delusional and suicidal thoughts.