Crohn's Disease in Children: Care Instructions

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. Counseling may help teens who are having a hard time coping with the disease.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with any medicines.
• Do not give your child anti-inflammatory medicines. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). They may make symptoms worse.
• Talk to your doctor before you give your child any other medicines or herbal products.
• Avoid foods that make symptoms worse. These might include milk, high-fiber foods, or spicy foods. It may help to keep a diary of foods that make symptoms worse.
• Offer your support. Children tend to have a harder time managing the disease than adults. Encourage your child to stick with treatment so they can feel better, start growing again, and lead a more normal life.
• Talk to a dietitian to make sure your child is getting the nutrition, including vitamins and minerals, that they need.
• Be sure your child is up to date on all immunizations.
• Follow the doctor's recommendations for any cancer screening.