A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to diagnose Crohn's disease bloating-pms-bloating Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery bloating-pms-bloating For this common problem, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following antibiotics: antibiotics: ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole bloating-pms-bloating Antibiotics bloating-pms-bloating Antibiotics are now used to treat the bacterial infections that often accompany Crohn's disease, but some research suggests that they might also be useful as a primary treatment for active Crohn's disease bloating-pms-bloating Anti-TNF bloating-pms-bloating Research has shown that cells affected affected by Crohn's disease contain a cytokine, a protein produced by the immune system, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) bloating-pms-bloating TNF may be responsible for the inflammation of Crohn's disease bloating-pms-bloating Anti-TNF is a substance that finds TNF in the bloodstream, binds to it, and removes it before it can can reach the intestines and cause inflammation bloating-pms-bloating In studies, anti-TNF seems particularly helpful in closing fistulas bloating-pms-bloating Because Crohn's disease often recurs after surgery, people considering it should carefully weigh its benefits and risks compared with other treatments bloating-pms-bloating Surgery may not be appropriate for everyone bloating-pms-bloating People faced with with this decision should get as much information as possible from doctors, nurses who work with colon surgery patients (enterostomal therapists) , and other patients bloating-pms-bloating Patient advocacy organizations can suggest support groups and other information resources bloating-pms-bloating (See For More Information for the names of such organizations.) Blood tests may may be done to check for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the intestines bloating-pms-bloating Blood tests may also uncover a high white blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body bloating-pms-bloating By testing a stool sample, the doctor can tell if there is bleeding or or infection in the intestines bloating-pms-bloating Budesonide bloating-pms-bloating Researchers recently identified a new corticosteroid called budesonide that appears to be as effective as other corticosteroids but causes fewer side effects bloating-pms-bloating Can diet control Crohn's disease? Crohn's Disease Crohn's disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some |