A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to diagnose Crohn's disease irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome For this common problem, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following antibiotics: antibiotics: ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Antibiotics irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome 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 irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Anti-TNF irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome 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) irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome TNF may be responsible for the inflammation of Crohn's disease irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome 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 irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome In studies, anti-TNF seems particularly helpful in closing fistulas irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Because Crohn's disease often recurs after surgery, people considering it should carefully weigh its benefits and risks compared with other treatments irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Surgery may not be appropriate for everyone irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome 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 irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Patient advocacy organizations can suggest support groups and other information resources irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome (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 irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Blood tests may also uncover a high white blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome By testing a stool sample, the doctor can tell if there is bleeding or or infection in the intestines irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Budesonide irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Researchers recently identified a new corticosteroid called budesonide that appears to be as effective as other corticosteroids but causes fewer side effects irritable-bowel-syndrome-symptoms-irritable-bowel-syndrome Can diet control Crohn's disease? Crohn's Disease Crohn's disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some | 