Crohn's disease

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Anorectal fistulas	Clubbing	Crohn's disease, X-ray	Crohn's disease - affected areas
Digestive system	Digestive system organs	Inflammatory bowel disease	Inflammatory bowel disease - series
Ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease - Crohn's disease; Regional enteritis; Ileitis; Granulomatous ileocolitis

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 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. Infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira) are approved for Crohn's disease. They belong to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which help block an immune system chemical that promotes inflammation. Infliximab is also approved for patients with fistulous disease.

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. According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, two-thirds to three-quarters of patients with Crohn's disease will need bowel surgery at some time. However, unlike ulcerative colitis, surgical removal of a diseased portion of the intestine does not cure the condition.

Some persons with Crohn's disease may need surgery to remove the entire large intestine (colon) with or without the rectum.

Removal of the entire large intestine is called a colectomy. The small intestine is connected to the rectum.

Removal of both the colon and rectum is called an ileostomy. Since the body still needs a way to move stool and waste through the body after an ileostomy, a new pathway must be created. The surgeon will attach the end of the small intestine to an opening in the abdominal wall. A pouch is attached to the opening and worn outside the body. Waste products empty into the pouch. You must empty the pouch several times a day. The pouch can be worn discreetly under clothing, so no one will know you have it.