Overview
Crohn's disease is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease. Parts of the digestive tract get swollen and irritated. The tract may have deep sores called ulcers. Crohn's disease usually occurs in the last part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine. But it can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus.
The main symptoms of Crohn's disease are belly pain, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss. Some people may have constipation. Crohn's disease also sometimes causes problems with the joints, eyes, or skin. Symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe. The disease can also go into remission. This means it is not active and there are no symptoms.
Bad attacks often have to be treated in the hospital. There your child can get medicines and liquids through a tube in a vein (I.V.). This gives the digestive system time to rest and recover.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatments. Treatments include:
- Medicines that help prevent or treat flare-ups of the disease.
- Surgery to remove part of the bowel. Surgery is done if there is an abnormal opening (fistula) in the bowel, an abscess, or a bowel obstruction. In some cases, surgery is needed if medicines don't work. But symptoms can return to other areas of the intestines after surgery.
Learning good self-care can help your child reduce symptoms and manage Crohn's disease.
Teens can be especially frustrated by this disease. Flare-ups may leave them feeling more dependent on their parents than they want to be. They may feel different from their friends. Counselling may help teens who are having a hard time coping with the disease.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter Z997 in the search box to learn more about "Crohn's Disease in Children: Care Instructions".