DIET AND NUTRITION

No specific diet has been shown to improve or worsen the bowel inflammation in Crohn's disease. However, eating a healthy amount of calories, vitamins, and protein is important to avoid malnutrition and weight loss. Specific food problems may vary from person to person.

Certain types of foods may worsen diarrhea and gas symptoms, especially during times of active disease. Suggestions for diet during periods when symptoms are present include:

• Eat small amounts of food throughout the day.
• Drink lots of water (frequent consumption of small amounts throughout the day).
• Avoid high-fiber foods (bran, beans, nuts, seeds, and popcorn).
• Avoid fatty greasy or fried foods and sauces (butter, margarine, and heavy cream).
• If your body does not digest dairy foods well, limit dairy products.
• Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.

People who have a blockage of the intestines may need to avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Those who have difficulty digesting milk sugar (lactose) may need to avoid milk products.

Ask your doctor about extra vitamins and minerals you may need:

• Iron supplements (if you are anemic)
• Calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep your bones strong
• Vitamin B-12 to prevent anemia

MEDICATIONS

Antidiarrheal drugs can help when you have very bad diarrhea. Loperamide (Imodium) can be bought without a prescription. Always talk to your doctor or nurse before using these drugs.

Medicines that may be prescribed include:

• Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are medicines that help control mild to moderate inflammation. Some forms of the drug are taken by mouth; others must be given rectally.
• Corticosteroids (prednisone and methylprednisolone) are used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease. They may be taken by mouth or inserted into the rectum.
• Immunomodulators such as azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine quiet the immune system's reaction. They help reduce the need for corticosteroids and can help heal some fistulas.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed for abscesses or fistulas.
• Biologic therapy is used to treat patients with severe Crohn's disease that does not respond to any other types of medication. Medicines in this group include Infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), and natalizumab (Tysabri). They belong to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which help block an immune system chemical that promotes inflammation.

SURGERY

If medicines do not work, a type of surgery called bowel resection may be needed to remove a damaged or diseased part of the intestine or to drain an abscess. A procedure called anastomosis is done to connect the remaining two ends of the bowel.

Most patients with Crohn's disease will need bowel surgery at some time. However, unlike ulcerative colitis, surgically removing the diseased portion of the intestine does not cure the condition.

Patients who have Crohn's disease that does not respond to medications may need surgery, especially when there are complications such as:

• Bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Fistulas (abnormal connections between the intestines and another area of the body)
• Infections (abscesses)
• Narrowing (strictures)

Some patients may need surgery to remove the entire large intestine (colon), with or without the rectum.

See also:

• Total abdominal colectomy
• Total proctolectomy with ileostomy

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America offers support groups throughout the United States. See http://www.ccfa.org/chapters/

There is no cure for Crohn's disease. The condition is marked by periods of improvement followed by flare-ups of symptoms.

It is very important to stay on medications long-term to try to keep the disease symptoms from returning. If you stop or change your medications for any reason, let your doctor know right away.

You have a higher risk for small bowel and colon cancer if you have Crohn's disease.

• Abscess
• Bowel obstructions
• Complications of corticosteroid therapy, such as thinning of the bones
• Erythema nodosum
• Fistulas in the following areas:
  • Bladder
  • Skin
  • Vagina
• Impaired growth and sexual development in children
• Inflammation of the joints
• Lesions in the eye
• Nutritional deficiency (particularly vitamin B12 deficiency)
• Pyoderma gangrenosum

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

• You have symptoms of Crohn's disease
• You are already diagnosed with Crohn's disease and your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment
• You are already diagnosed with Crohn's disease and you develop new symptoms