- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Messages
- 7
:sign0085:
Hi, we stay in Kolkata, India. Crohn's is still rare in India but Tuberculosis is an endemic here. My Daughter 'Ishi' is 12 yrs. 8 mths old. In August 2011, she had some abdominal issues and slow-fever which got cured within w0 days on it's own. But then her weight had come down from 31 kgs. to 28.5 kgs. Between then and February this year, she seemed fine and didn't have much fever. She was active and led a normal life though she was below-average in weight in built.
In February this year, she again started having slow-fever, etc. Her weight had come down to 25 kgs. She went through a huge number of tests of Stool, Urine, Blood, USG, X-rays, etc. Her ESR and CRP were high which indicated hig inflammation, but did not specify any disease. Even TB was found to be negative. The doctor prescribed a wide-spectrum antibiotic for 1 week. This got rid of her fever and other issues. So, we thought it was some infection which got cured by the antibiotic.
Again in May this year we checked her weight. It showed 23 kgs.! She had fever, diet-loss, etc. We again consulted the doctors and this time they suggested CT Scans and Colonoscopy. Though the scans were clear, they found ulcers in the small intestines. By this time, she also developed Erethyma Nodosums. It could have been TB or IBD, as the symptoms are very similar and TB is more common in India. The Biopsies of her colonoscopy eliminated TB and therefore the conclusion was Crohn's.
The doctor has prescribed small doses of Steroids (Budez) and Pentasa for 10 days. His opinion is that we should start with smaller doses due to the side-affects and then, depending on the response, the dosage would be reviewed. The 10 days will be over tomorrow and we will be meeting the doctor again.
In the 10 days of medication, her fever came down a bit and the frequency of abdominal pain also reduced. But her weight has come down to 22.5 kgs. and a new erethyma nodosum has cropped up, though the old ones have subsided. There is minor improvement in her diet.
In the last two days the fever has risen and even touched 103 deg F. The doctor has prescribed an antibiotic for 5 days. Until now, she was not being given any antibiotic.
We have a few questions for all of you.
1. Should we have started with a small dose and gradually increased it or started with a full dose and reduces it once the inflammation subsided?
2. Is 10 days of medication sufficient to show substantial improvements?
3. How soon should the erethyma nodosum and weight-loss stop?
Since we are new to this and the disease is not very common in India, we are a bit dependent on the research and forums available on the net. Thanks for reading through this and we'll appreciate any help from all of you.
:confused2:
Best Wishes,
Ash
Hi, we stay in Kolkata, India. Crohn's is still rare in India but Tuberculosis is an endemic here. My Daughter 'Ishi' is 12 yrs. 8 mths old. In August 2011, she had some abdominal issues and slow-fever which got cured within w0 days on it's own. But then her weight had come down from 31 kgs. to 28.5 kgs. Between then and February this year, she seemed fine and didn't have much fever. She was active and led a normal life though she was below-average in weight in built.
In February this year, she again started having slow-fever, etc. Her weight had come down to 25 kgs. She went through a huge number of tests of Stool, Urine, Blood, USG, X-rays, etc. Her ESR and CRP were high which indicated hig inflammation, but did not specify any disease. Even TB was found to be negative. The doctor prescribed a wide-spectrum antibiotic for 1 week. This got rid of her fever and other issues. So, we thought it was some infection which got cured by the antibiotic.
Again in May this year we checked her weight. It showed 23 kgs.! She had fever, diet-loss, etc. We again consulted the doctors and this time they suggested CT Scans and Colonoscopy. Though the scans were clear, they found ulcers in the small intestines. By this time, she also developed Erethyma Nodosums. It could have been TB or IBD, as the symptoms are very similar and TB is more common in India. The Biopsies of her colonoscopy eliminated TB and therefore the conclusion was Crohn's.
The doctor has prescribed small doses of Steroids (Budez) and Pentasa for 10 days. His opinion is that we should start with smaller doses due to the side-affects and then, depending on the response, the dosage would be reviewed. The 10 days will be over tomorrow and we will be meeting the doctor again.
In the 10 days of medication, her fever came down a bit and the frequency of abdominal pain also reduced. But her weight has come down to 22.5 kgs. and a new erethyma nodosum has cropped up, though the old ones have subsided. There is minor improvement in her diet.
In the last two days the fever has risen and even touched 103 deg F. The doctor has prescribed an antibiotic for 5 days. Until now, she was not being given any antibiotic.
We have a few questions for all of you.
1. Should we have started with a small dose and gradually increased it or started with a full dose and reduces it once the inflammation subsided?
2. Is 10 days of medication sufficient to show substantial improvements?
3. How soon should the erethyma nodosum and weight-loss stop?
Since we are new to this and the disease is not very common in India, we are a bit dependent on the research and forums available on the net. Thanks for reading through this and we'll appreciate any help from all of you.
:confused2:
Best Wishes,
Ash
