The Treatment Options?
The main aim of the treatment is to control the watery diarrhoea and reduce inflammation. Depending on the nature of Colitis or IBD, treatment involves Change of Diet with nutrition supplements, Medication and Surgery.
Changes in the diet:
Your Consult may prescribe an individualised diet for you mainly avoiding foods containing caffeine and lactose.
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications as a first step of treatment to reduce inflammation.
- Immune system suppressors: Since the intestinal lining becomes damaged due to the immune response, these drugs may be prescribed to target your immune system and reduce the inflammatory response.
Your doctor may also prescribe one or more medications to relieve your symptoms. These include:
Medication:
Anti-inflammatory medications, Immune system suppressors, Antibiotics, Pain relievers and Iron supplements may be prescribed to you. Damaged tissues can be healed by medication and may postpone the need for surgery. If the symptoms are very severe, you will be medicated intravenously. Corticosteroids will be administered.
Nutrition Supplement
Once the disease is under control, it has to be kept in control and not allow any flare-ups. For this, the patient can be put on special nutritional supplements. The patient will consist of a liquid diet with essential proteins and other nutrients. Your doctor may recommend intake of high calorie liquid formula, particularly for children with growth retardation.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is considered as an option if the symptoms do not resolve with medical therapy and if complications such as intestinal blockage, perforation, abscess or bleeding occur. Surgery involves removal of the affected part of the intestine. In conditions where the large intestine is affected, surgical removal of the entire colon is performed by a procedure called colectomy. Because of the tendency to recur even after surgical treatment, the risks and benefits of surgery will be compared with other treatment options before making up the decision for surgery.
In most of the cases, the treatment includes combinatorial approach and for longer periods with regular follow-up visits.
Prevention may be possible by leading a healthy lifestyle with regular exercising to remain fit.