Crohn's disease: Symptoms, Progress & Treatments
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can invade all parts of the GI tract. GI tract, as well as mouth, joints, skin, eye, etc. are also possible outbreak lesions. Three representative symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss, which can cause growth failure, especially in children. Therefore, the prognosis is worse when it develops in childhood than in adults.
Childhood, adolescence is at a stage of growth and development, so growth and nutritional management are essential if Crohn's disease is present at this time. Especially in puberty, many episodes require emotional and psychological support during this period. Unlike adults, Crohn's disease causes growth failure in children and complications such as fistula are more likely to occur.
Treatment of Crohn's disease is divided into medication and surgery. Medications include sulfasalazine, steroids, antibiotics, azathioprine, and anti-TNFa antibodies. Sulfasalazine is effective in mild to moderate patients and has limitations in preventing recurrence. Steroids are known to be effective in some remission in moderate to severe patients and have limited maintenance. Among antibiotics, metronidazole is used, which is effective for active inflammatory and anal fistula. Aathioprine is effective for maintenance therapy and can be used for peri-anal disease and fistula treatment. Anti-TNFa antibodies include Infliximab and adalimumab, which can also be used selectively for Crohn's disease. Other nutritional therapies include exclusive enteral nutrition, which increases the percentage of amino acids and reduces the fat ratio, and is effective even in children without steroids. The patients were using Flasinyl (Metronidazole) and Imuran (Azathioprine).
In Crohn's disease, surgery is performed. When medical treatment is not controlled, complications (obstruction, fistula, abscess, perforation, etc.) may occur and severe growth failure may occur. However, Crohn's disease is a disease involving the entire GI tract, so it is not possible to cure it surgically, and recurrence is common after surgery. Therefore, it is necessary for the above-mentioned patients to avoid surgery and control by medication.
Childhood, adolescence is at a stage of growth and development, so growth and nutritional management are essential if Crohn's disease is present at this time. Especially in puberty, many episodes require emotional and psychological support during this period. Unlike adults, Crohn's disease causes growth failure in children and complications such as fistula are more likely to occur.
Treatment of Crohn's disease is divided into medication and surgery. Medications include sulfasalazine, steroids, antibiotics, azathioprine, and anti-TNFa antibodies. Sulfasalazine is effective in mild to moderate patients and has limitations in preventing recurrence. Steroids are known to be effective in some remission in moderate to severe patients and have limited maintenance. Among antibiotics, metronidazole is used, which is effective for active inflammatory and anal fistula. Aathioprine is effective for maintenance therapy and can be used for peri-anal disease and fistula treatment. Anti-TNFa antibodies include Infliximab and adalimumab, which can also be used selectively for Crohn's disease. Other nutritional therapies include exclusive enteral nutrition, which increases the percentage of amino acids and reduces the fat ratio, and is effective even in children without steroids. The patients were using Flasinyl (Metronidazole) and Imuran (Azathioprine).
In Crohn's disease, surgery is performed. When medical treatment is not controlled, complications (obstruction, fistula, abscess, perforation, etc.) may occur and severe growth failure may occur. However, Crohn's disease is a disease involving the entire GI tract, so it is not possible to cure it surgically, and recurrence is common after surgery. Therefore, it is necessary for the above-mentioned patients to avoid surgery and control by medication.
