Crohn's Disease Treatment

Crohn's Disease Treatment
The most common symptoms related to crohn's disease are indigestion. Indigestion leads to possible malnutrition and the subsequent problems could be numerous. In order to adequately treat the disease, several factors are important to consider.

Factors to consider when treating crohn's disease

Each patient usually exhibits his/her own extremes when it comes to this problem it is therefore important to look at each and every individual's case separately in order to come up with a remedy. The bowels are major problem related to this disease; it is therefore an important part to look into when looking for a cure for the disease. Most patients exhibit diarrhea and weight loss resulting from the lack of appetite. It is vital to focus on the balanced diet principle when dealing with a crohn's disease patient. The most common and well known treatment of diarrhea is the intake of excess fluids to counter the loss occasioned by the diarrhea.

The unfortunate thing about this disease is the fact that there is still no known cure for the disease. As such the best that one can do in the circumstance is to try and effectively manage the symptoms and the resultant infections. The patient may most likely experience inflammation in the rectum or other places such as the colon that the inflammation may be experienced. As much as the treatment may involve drugs, it is important to note that any drugs used are usually only target at the pain and the infections that come as a result of the condition.

Some consideration should be made to ensure that the patient steers clear of substances that may course inflammations or even the infection of the intestines both small and large. Many patients may register intolerance to some products due to the inflammation and bowel problems. As such it is important to try and avoid such identified products. The most common products that prove intolerable to such victims are dairy products with lactose. In case you have to take such, it would be advisable to ensure that they have been subjected to treatment to reduce the lactose content in them

Several drugs have been introduced towards the treatment of the crohn's disease by focusing on the reduction of any pain or inflammations that result from the condition. Sulfasalazine is one of the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of this disease. It is however important to note that the drug may occasionally exhibit side effects such as diarrhea and vomiting as well as headaches and nausea. Some other drugs may include corticosteroids. It is however advisable to try the former drug first before going for these drugs since they are known to result in lots of side effects. In the worst case scenario, the doctors may recommend surgery.

Crohn's Disease Symptoms

Crohn's Disease Symptoms
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines and bowels, it can have both short- and long-term effects apart from affecting the digestive system it can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease range from mild to severe, long term and short term. Symptoms may come on gradually or suddenly, without warning to the sufferer. There may be also a time when you think that you don't have the disease any longer only to have the symptoms return.

There are several symptoms of Crohn's disease.

Diarrhoea - This could be persistent and contain blood, pus and mucus. Patients may experience frequent loose or watery bowel movements with thick dark blood. Diarrhoea is the most common problem for people with Crohn's.

Abdominal pain with a swelling - Patients may suffer pain and cramping with slight or moderate intestinal discomfort. The pain occurs due to inflammation and ulcers which cause the bowel to swell and affect the normal movement of contents through the digestive system. Very often, patients with Crohn's disease feel pain on the lower right side of the abdomen and below the bellybutton.

Have redness and inflammation of the eyes, joint pains. All joints can be affected. Areas such as the large joints of the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and shoulders are prone to this.

Skin lesions- including tender red nodules on the shins or calves.

Sores or ulcers in the mouth- Crohn's disease cause small sores on the surface of the intestine. They become large ulcers and penetrate and spread deep into intestinal walls. This causes ulcers in the mouth.

Blood in the stools- Food moving through the digestive system causes inflamed tissue to bleed. There would be bright red blood in the toilet with darker blood mixed with the stools.

Poor appetite and weight loss- Abdominal pain, cramping mouth ulcers and the inflamed wall of the bowel will no doubt affect the appetite and ability to digest and absorb food. The digestive process would be usually slower than of a healthy person.

Anaemia - bowel bleeding can lead to an anaemic condition.

Other symptoms include, fever, fatigue, arthritis, skin disorders, inflammation of the liver, delayed growth or ulcers on the skin, fertility problems in sexual development with an increased risk of miscarriages, tears, ulcers and/or abscesses around the anus.

If Crohn's disease is neglected is could lead to abscesses in the abdomen and increases the risk of bowel cancer.

Treatment for Crohn's disease includes, changing the quality of life by eating a healthy diet, medication and surgery. Medication and surgery is recommended if the case is severe.