A disease which causes the intestines to become inflamed is known as an inflammatory bowel disease. There are generally two primary inflammatory bowel diseases. One is Crohn's disease, an inflammation of the digestive tract, in particular the intestines. The other is ulcerative colitis, which causes the formation of ulcers and inflammation primarily in the colon and the rectum. In most cases, the type of inflammatory bowel disease treatment a person needs will depend on his or her symptoms.
The disease will generally cause irritation in the intestines, leading them to swell and become red in appearance. This can cause numerous gastrointestinal upsets, including constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Many people with bowel diseases will find that eating certain things may exaggerate symptoms. For this reason, a person may change his or her diet as an inflammatory bowel disease treatment. The diet of a person with an inflammatory bowel disease may exclude any foods known to be problematic to the digestive tract, such as gas-inducing foods and foods containing diary products.
If switching to a different diet fails to offer significant relief of symptoms, other treatment options may be pursued. The person may need to schedule a doctor appointment for professional treatment. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics as an inflammatory bowel disease treatment to keep infections at bay. Often, fever is a symptom of certain bowel diseases. Antibiotics may be used to treat a fever and any intestinal infection that may be causing it.
Some doctors may prescribe corticosteroids as an inflammatory bowel disease treatment as well. Corticosteroids are generally used to diminish inflammation in the intestines. Lessening the inflammation will generally reduce the symptoms induced by the disease. Every person with an inflammatory bowel disease will not be suited to take corticosteroids. This is usually due to the adverse reactions this type of treatment may cause, which can include sweating, an increase in blood pressure, diabetes and unwanted facial hair.
Surgery may also be used as an inflammatory bowel disease treatment. This type of treatment is generally reserved for very severe cases. A person suffering severe symptoms due to ulcerative colitis may have his or her colon removed. For individuals with Crohn's disease, surgery may entail removing the sections of intestine most plagued by disease. In most cases, a doctor will perform a number of diagnostic tests on an individual with a bowel disease and will use the test results to decide the best treatment.