The Importance of Early Treatment

Childhood and adolescence are crucial times for physical and emotional growth. Therefore, it is important that pediatric Crohn’s patients receive effective treatment as early as possible.  It is also important that pediatric Crohn’s be properly treated and managed in order to prevent any physical, emotional, or social problems that your child may face.  

Crohn’s disease causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stools, reduced appetite, and weight loss.   Such symptoms may lead to longer-term effects, such as malnutrition and abnormal growth.

Certain Crohn’s treatments, such as steroids, can also interfere with the natural growth process.   That’s why you should talk to your child’s doctor about REMICADE. REMICADE is an advanced treatment that blocks a substance called TNF-alpha, which can cause inflammation in the intestines.  

The following are some other reasons your child may benefit from REMICADE:

• REMICADE is infused right into the bloodstream, so it gets to work fast.  
• REMICADE may eliminate steroid use. Stopping steroid use may allow your child to avoid the potential serious side effects of steroids. Remember, only your child’s doctor can decide if reducing or stopping steroids is appropriate. Like other medicines that affect your child’s immune system, REMICADE can also cause serious side effects. 
• In a recent, yearlong study of children with moderate to severe Crohn’s who began treatment with REMICADE, the majority of children experienced rapid symptom improvement, long-term periods of no or very few symptoms (remission), and reduction or elimination of steroid use. 

Early and effective treatment is important in order to control Crohn’s disease before it has a chance to significantly affect your child’s growth and development.