Nursing Writing Services - Blog

-Nurse Student Companion-

What  is  inflammatory  bowel  disease  and  how  can  it  be  best  treated?

crohn's disease treatments

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders that cause information on the intestines. Many think of IBD as an autoimmune disease, but research on it shows that the chronic inflammation might not be a result of the immune system’s attack on the body. It instead points toan invasion of the immune system by a bacteria, virus or food in the gut to the extent of causing an inflammation that leads to a bowel injury.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a term referring to disorders that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, but it is in these two types.

Crohn’s disease: Atype of IBD that occurs after inflammation of the lining in the digestive tract which gets deep into the tissues it affects.

Ulcerative colitis: A condition that causes long-lasting inflammation andulcers (sores) in the inners most lining of the rectum and lager intestine (colon).Both types of IBD usually cause severe diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight loss. The symptoms can be debilitating and sometimes cause life-threatening complications.

The Best Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

There is no complete cure for the inflammation, but a choice of appropriate medical treatment keeps the disease in remission.Surgical removal of the colon (colectomy) is said to be a potential cure, but this should be a last resort, and still, it might cause surgical complications in some patients. Treatment by medication or another way will differ slightly depending on the extent of infection and goals a physician intends to achieve.

Induction therapy

Drug treatment intends to reduce the inflammation in the gut to relieve the symptoms, treat active flare of an IBD and induce remission to comfort the patient. The approach is what some call induction therapy.

Keep you well therapy

A doctor willdetermine when the condition is under control and continue to prescribe medicine to maintain remission and prevent recurrence of active disease. This is the maintenance therapy phase. These are long-term treatments to take even when there are no symptoms, and everything is well. Maintenance medications might differ from the induction therapies although some of them can be long-term for the patient to take them as maintenance treatment. The intention of the therapies keeps someone weld hence their name.

Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Medicine

A doctor prescribes medicine that will reduce inflammation that triggers the signs and symptoms. The drugs in the best cases lead to symptom relief, long-term remission and reduce the risk of complications.

Anti-inflammatory drugs

The first Step to treat IBD is to by administering anti-inflammatory drugs depending on the affected area of the colon. These drugs include aminosalicylates and corticosteroids.

Immune system suppressor

These are drugs that function in various ways to suppress an immune response causing the release of chemicals that induce inflammation in the intestinal lining. Some people need a combination of drugs because one is not enough to suppress the release of inflammation-causing chemicals. Azathioprine, methotrexate, and cyclosporine are some of the immunosuppressant drugs.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors are a class of drugs that achieve a similar purpose by neutralizing a protein that the immune system produces.

Antibiotics

Doctors can prescribe antibiotics in addition to other medications or due to a concern of infection usually when a patient has perianal Crohn's disease. Metronidazole(Flagyl) and ciprofloxacin(Cipro) are the antibiotics that physicians prescribe frequently.

Other medication and supplement

Some medication help to relieve the symptom in addition to the inflammation but it is vital to consult a doctor before buying them over the counter. A doctor might recommend the following depending on the severity.

  • Pain relievers
  • Anti-diarrheal supplements
  • Iron supplements
  • Calcium and vitamin D supplements

Surgical Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A doctor may recommend surgery if l drug therapy, other treatment, dirt and lifestyle changes so not relieve IBD signs and symptoms.

Surgery of Crohn’s IBD disease: a surgeon removes the damaged part of the digestive tract and reconnects the healthy sections. The benefit is temporary, and it is the reason for follow up with medication to minimize the risk of recurrence.

Surgery of ulcerative colitis

Surgery to remove ulcerative colitis (proctocolectomy involves removing all the colon and rectum. A surgeon constructs a pouch during the operation at the end of the small intestine and directly attaches it to the anus to allow expelling of waste to avoid the need to wear a stool collection bag. If it is not possible to create a pouch, a surgeon creates apermanent opening in the abdomen to let through stroll into an attached collection bag.

The best treatment of inflammatory bowel disease generates desirable results by combining it with diet and lifestyle changes.