Pediatric Crohn's Disease; Remicade as a New Treatment Option

Crohn’s Disease is a debilitating condition which affect nearly one half of a million Americans annually. With advances in technology and recent pediatric drug approval by the FDA, children suffering from this debilitating condition may soon find relief in a medication which has been commonly administered to adults.

In May 2006, the FDA approved the use of Remicade in the pediatric treatment of Crohn’s Disease. Previously approved in 1998 in the treatment of Crohn’s Disease in adults, Remicade’s success attributed to advances in research and development.   Specifically, in the research and development of the treatment and symptoms of Crohn's Disease in children.  Although there is still no cure for Crohn’s Disease, Remicade does offer the pediatric patient a more improved life by reducing inflammation, correcting nutritional deficiencies, relieving symptoms and co-morbid disorders such as rectal bleeding, pain and diarrhea while working to force and maintain the disease into remission for as long as possible.

Discovered in 1932, Crohn’s Disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn.  As a progressive, chronic and inflammatory condition of the digestive tract, Chron's Disease may affect any area of the GI tract but most commonly affects the small intestine. Since 1932, advances in the study of Crohn’s Disease have been complicated by the fact that the condition is somewhat difficult to diagnose in a patient, especially in pediatric patients.  This complicated diagnosing stems from the fac that the condition does not always present with symptoms and may actually lie stagnant for a period of remission over weeks and even years.