Understanding your child’s Crohn’s disease
Inflammation in your child’s body
Crohn's disease belongs to a larger group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is associated with inflammation of the digestive tract, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which runs from the mouth to the anus, and includes the stomach and intestines. It more commonly affects the end of the small intestine and the large intestine.
Crohn’s disease is chronic, but there are medications that may help.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease, meaning it can’t be cured and stays with someone his or her whole life. But while there is no cure for Crohn’s, there are medications that may help patients, like your child, experience symptom reduction and achieve remission.
HUMIRA is a prescription medicine used to reduce signs and symptoms, and to achieve and maintain clinical remission in children 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease when certain other treatments have not worked well enough.
How HUMIRA Works
How do you get Crohn’s disease?
If your child has Crohn’s disease, you’ve probably asked yourself a variety of questions. How did my child get this disease?
Will Crohn’s delay the growth of my child? Why is my child continuing to experience symptoms? There are a few possible reasons why Crohn’s disease can occur in children or adults; however, the exact cause is unknown.
Even though the cause of Crohn’s disease is not fully understood, it is thought to be a result of a combination of factors.
Genetics
- About 5% to 20% of patients have a close relative with either Crohn's or ulcerative colitis
- A person's risk of having Crohn's is about 10X greater if they have a relative with it
- If the relative with Crohn's is a brother or sister, a person’s risk of having it is 30X greater
- While several genes were found to be associated with Crohn's, many people who carry these genes do not develop Crohn's
Immune System
- Researchers believe substances in the intestines are mistaken for invading substances (antigens)
- To combat these antigens, your immune system causes temporary inflammation, which is reduced as you regain health
- With Crohn's, inflammation can persist long after your immune system should have finished its job
Environment
- Immune responses in the GI tract can be due to exposure to foreign substances in the environment
- Inflammation can also be triggered by microorganisms and intestinal bacteria
- Crohn’s is more common in urban than in rural areas
- It‘s more common in northern than in southern climates
- Certain foods can aggravate symptoms in some people, but there have been no studies to suggest that diet can either cause or treat Crohn's
- There's no specific diet that patients with the disease should follow (although it's always advisable to eat a balanced diet)
- There's no convincing evidence that Crohn's results from food allergies
Treatment goals: Remission
The goals of pediatric Crohn's disease management include achieving remission (few or no symptoms) and maintaining remission. Whether or not your child is currently taking medication for Crohn's, if he or she is experiencing signs and symptoms, you should talk to his or her doctor.
Bring your child into the treatment discussion.
You know your child. When you feel that he or she is ready, include your child in discussions with the doctor about his or her condition and treatment. Remember to ask if he or she understands what the doctor has said.
Talking about and sharing this decision may help your child realize the importance of following treatment as directed by the doctor, and may give your child a better understanding of his or her condition.
Next Page: Pediatric Crohn's Disease Symptoms
Your child's safety is important to us.
Learn about our Important Safety Information.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
ABOUT HUMIRA® (adalimumab)1
You should discuss the potential benefits and risks of HUMIRA with your doctor. HUMIRA is a TNF blocker medicine that can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. You should not start taking HUMIRA if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor says it is okay.
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Serious infections have happened in people taking HUMIRA. These serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before starting HUMIRA, and check you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA, even if your TB test was negative. If your doctor feels you are at risk, you may be treated with medicine for TB.
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Cancer. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults using TNF blockers. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers including HUMIRA, your chance of getting two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated; tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesn’t heal.
Tell your doctor about all of your health conditions, including if you:
- Have an infection, are being treated for infection, or have symptoms of an infection
- Get a lot of infections or infections that keep coming back
- Have diabetes
- Have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB, or were born in, lived in, or traveled where there is more risk for getting TB
- Live or have lived in an area (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys) where there is an increased risk for getting certain kinds of fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis. These infections may happen or become more severe if you use HUMIRA. Ask your doctor if you are unsure if you have lived in these areas.
- Have or have had hepatitis B
- Are scheduled for major surgery
- Have or have had cancer
- Have numbness or tingling or a nervous system disease such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Have or had heart failure
- Have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine. HUMIRA patients may receive vaccines, except for live vaccines. Children should be brought up to date on all vaccines before starting HUMIRA.
- Are allergic to rubber, latex, or any HUMIRA ingredients
- Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed
- Have a baby and you were using HUMIRA during your pregnancy. Tell your baby’s doctor before your baby receives any vaccines
Also tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. You should not take HUMIRA with ORENCIA® (abatacept), KINERET® (anakinra), REMICADE® (infliximab), ENBREL® (etanercept), CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol), or SIMPONI® (golimumab). Tell your doctor if you have ever used RITUXAN® (rituximab), IMURAN® (azathioprine), or PURINETHOL® (mercaptopurine, 6-MP).
HUMIRA can cause serious side effects, including:
- Serious infections. These include TB and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Symptoms related to TB include a cough, low-grade fever, weight loss, or loss of body fat and muscle.
- Hepatitis B infection in carriers of the virus. Symptoms include muscle aches, feeling very tired, dark urine, skin or eyes that look yellow, little or no appetite, vomiting, clay-colored bowel movements, fever, chills, stomach discomfort, and skin rash.
- Allergic reactions. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include hives, trouble breathing, and swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or mouth.
- Nervous system problems. Signs and symptoms include numbness or tingling, problems with your vision, weakness in your arms or legs, and dizziness.
- Blood problems (decreased blood cells that help fight infections or stop bleeding). Symptoms include a fever that does not go away, bruising or bleeding very easily, or looking very pale.
- Heart failure (new or worsening). Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, and sudden weight gain.
- Immune reactions including a lupus-like syndrome. Symptoms include chest discomfort or pain that does not go away, shortness of breath, joint pain, or rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun.
- Liver problems. Symptoms include feeling very tired, skin or eyes that look yellow, poor appetite or vomiting, and pain on the right side of your stomach (abdomen). These problems can lead to liver failure and death.
- Psoriasis (new or worsening). Symptoms include red scaly patches or raised bumps that are filled with pus.
Call your doctor or get medical care right away if you develop any of the above symptoms.
Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions (pain, redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising), upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), headaches, rash, and nausea. These are not all of the possible side effects with HUMIRA. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
- Fever, sweats, or chills
- Muscle aches
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Blood in phlegm
- Weight loss
- Warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
- Diarrhea or stomach pain
- Burning when you urinate
- Urinating more often than normal
- Feeling very tired
HUMIRA is given by injection under the skin.
HUMIRA is a prescription medicine used:
- To reduce the signs and symptoms of:
- Moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone, with methotrexate, or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
- Moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children 2 years of age and older. HUMIRA can be used alone, with methotrexate, or with certain other medicines.
- Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
- Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults.
- Moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and to achieve and maintain clinical remission in adults who have not responded well to certain other medications. HUMIRA is also used to reduce signs and symptoms and to achieve clinical remission in these adults who have lost response to or are unable to tolerate infliximab.
- Moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and to achieve and maintain clinical remission in children 6 years of age and older when certain other treatments have not worked well enough.
- Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in adults.
- In adults, to help get moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) under control (induce remission) and keep it under control (sustain remission) when certain other medicines have not worked well enough. It is not known if HUMIRA is effective in people who stopped responding to or could not tolerate anti-TNF medicines.
- To treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis (Ps) in adults who are ready for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and are under the care of a doctor who will decide if other systemic therapies are less appropriate.
- To treat non-infectious intermediate (middle part of the eye), posterior (back of the eye) and panuveitis (all parts of the eye) (UV) in adults.
64H-1920421
Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease
Moderate to Severe Pediatric Crohn's Disease
Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Moderate to Severe Polyarticular
Non-Infectious Intermediate, Posterior,
