Written specifically for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this book provides a clear explanation of current medical and surgical therapies. Its up-to-date coverage includes discussions on advances in nutritional care, new drugs such as 5-ASA, 6-MP, and metronidazole, new surgical alternatives to ileostomy for ulcerative colitis, and new surgical procedures for Crohn's disease. The section on medical therapy covers nonspecific medications, sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, metronidazole, immunosuppressive medications, and newer medications and discusses the management of complications and the treatment of IBD in pregnant women, children, and older people. The section on supportive treatments covers nutritional management, psychotherapy, patient support groups, and genetic counseling. The latter portion of the book describes surgical procedures for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, addresses concerns of patients facing surgery, and considers special problems of surgery during pregnancy and in older people.