Crohn's disease affects over half a million people a year; 100,000 of those diagnosed are kids.

Now a drug already proven to work on adults is being tested on children to prevent the painful symptoms of the disease.

Though there are several medications and techniques to help those suffering with the uncomfortable symptoms of Crohn's disease, the new drug Humira, allows for relief from the convenience of the patient's home.

"The thing that this medication does that’s different from its predecessor is that it allows for a form of the medication that is an injectable form that people can do at home -- almost like an insulin shot to themselves, but even easier than that," said Howard Baron, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Associates in Las Vegas, Nev.

This medication will stop the inflammatory flow from creating those signals that cause white blood cells to migrate to the lining of tissues, which starts the inflammation that leads to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and ulcers.

Humira is still in studies where children as young as five can enroll in the clinical trial. So far the youngest patient to enroll is 10 years old.

Additional Information:

Ashlee Seymour
Director of Media Relations
Sunrise Children's Hospital
Ashlee.Seymour@HCAHealthcare.com
(702) 731-8288