Digestive Diseases - Treatment for Crohn's Disease

Regrettably, there is no cure for Crohn's disease. However, with the right treatment, the symptoms of the condition can be managed effectively. More importantly, the affected part of the gastrointestinal tract can be protected from damage that can lead to further complications. Your doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment for you depending on the severity of your symptoms and on any complications which may be present.

Medication Treatment

Your doctor may prescribe medications to provide relief from diarrhea and abdominal cramping. These may be the only medications prescribed to individuals with mild symptoms who have not suffered any damage their gastrointestinal tract. These may also be recommended along with other medications for the relief of these specific symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are most often prescribed to patients with Crohn's disease. They reduce the inflammation and stimulate the healing of the affected part of the gastrointestinal tract. As the inflammation is reduced, the sufferer will get relief from the symptoms of the condition as well.

Cortisone medications and steroid medications may also be used for the treatment of Crohn's disease. These have anti-inflammatory effect. Your doctor may prescribe such drugs instead of the traditional anti-inflammatory ones.

Immune system suppressors can be used to treat Crohn's disease as well. These work by blocking the immune system's reaction that contributes to the inflammation. Often these medications are prescribed together with cortisone and steroid drugs for more effective treatment. Some biological therapies for the suppression of the immune system response have been approved for the treatment of this digestive disease as well.

Antibiotics are used for the treatment of Crohn's disease when bacteria overgrowth occurs in the small intestine or another affected part of the gastrointestinal tract. These medications work to eliminate the bacterial infection timely.

Surgery

If medications do not work and the inflammation becomes chronic, this may lead to more serious problems and affect the normal functioning of the digestive tract. In such cases, surgery may be necessary for the treatment of Crohn's disease. One study has shown that around two-thirds of patients diagnosed with this digestive disease will require surgical treatment at one point in their life.

There are different types of surgeries that can be performed depending on the part of the gastrointestinal tract that has been affected by the condition and on the damage the inflammation has caused. In general, all procedures involve removal of part of the small or large intestine. It should be pointed out that surgery is not a cure for Crohn's disease. Often, the condition recurs after the previously affected part of the gastrointestinal tract has been removed.