Crohn’s Disease

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can cause inflammation anywhere in the intestinal tract, but most commonly affects the small intestine. Crohn's disease is a chronic condition, and symptoms may come and go. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Although there is no cure for Crohn's, it can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication. Crohn's disease is most often diagnosed in young adults, but it is becoming more common in children. The inflammation of Crohn's may make it hard for the intestine to absorb nutrients in food, which can lead to weight loss and growth problems.

What are the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease?

The symptoms of Crohn's can vary from child to child. While the most common symptoms are diarrhea and stomach pain, children may have many other symptoms, including:

• Weakness
• Unexplained fevers
• Fatigue
• Bloody stools
• Rectal bleeding
• Rashes
• Joint pain
• Weight loss
• Not growing as expected

What causes Crohn’s disease?

Experts are not sure what causes Crohn's disease. They believe it is caused by a mix of genetic factors, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors, including the microbiome.

How is Crohn’s disease treated?

Your child's treatment will depend on their symptoms, age, and overall health. Your care team at Arkansas Children's is experienced in treating Crohn's disease and will work with you to develop the best treatment plan for your child's specific symptoms.

Medicines: Most children with Crohn’s disease will take medicines to reduce inflammation and control symptoms. These may include:

• biologic medications given as an injection or through an IV (such as infliximab and adalimumab)
• immunomodulators such as methotrexate can sometimes help treat the inflammation in the intestinal tract or joints
• short courses of steroids to help decrease inflammationn

A dietitian will work with your child to assess their nutrition status, counsel on dietary recommendations, and provide information and support for nutrition-based treatments such as exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) and the Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED).

Surgery: In some cases, your child may need surgery to remove part of the intestine. This may be an option if your child has very severe symptoms that do not respond to medicine or that stop responding to medicine.