Crohn's Disease Treatment at the Hospital

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed. It can lead to severe pain, bloody stools, ulcers, reduced appetite, diarrhea and malnutrition. There is no cure for Crohn's disease, but treatments at home or in medical facilities can ease symptoms. Hospitalization is required when the disease does not respond to treatments or worsens despite interventions.

Persistence Despite Treatment

• If a patient does not respond to steroid or antibody (infliximab) treatment, patients may need to be hospitalized for monitoring or to receive regular doses of parenteral (injected) steroids.

Intestinal Obstruction

• If an abdominal mass or intestinal obstruction is suspected, Crohn's patients should be hospitalized to determine the severity of the obstruction. Abdominal masses require ultrasounds or CT scans in order to evaluate the patient's condition.

Peritonitis

• Peritonitis may require hospitalization in the treatment of Crohn's disease. This is a bacterial or fungal infection of the abdomen that may require intravenous antibiotics or surgery based on the severity of the symptoms. Surgery is used to remove infected tissue to prevent it from spreading to other locations in the body.

Evidence of Abcess

• After determining the location of a mass through radiographic techniques, surgical removal of a mass or fistula may be required.

Other Signs of Illness

• Patient hospitalization may also be required in the treatment of Crohn's disease if surgery is required for treating refractory disease, closing perforations, curbing hemorrhages and treating perianal diseases. Often, these conditions are indicated by fever, vomiting or other symptoms.