COVID IBD Information

We have received a lot of questions about what our patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) should do to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to share with our IBD patients recent expert consensus:

1) Having IBD does NOT appear to increase the risk of infection with COVID-19.

2) Some patients with COVID-19 may present with diarrhea or other GI symptoms. If you have IBD and are experiencing worsening symptoms, please contact your RGA provider.

3) IBD patients should stay on their stable maintenance therapy to remain in remission.

4) 5-ASA medications such as Pentasa, Apriso, Lialda and Sulfasalazine are not considered strong immune-suppressing drugs and remain safe to take.

5) IBD patients on immune-suppressing medication (Remicade, Humira, Stelara, Entyvio, Cimzia, Xeljanz, Imuran/Azathioprine, 6-Mercaptopurine, Methotrexate and Prednisone) are encouraged to contact their RGA primary provider to discuss their specific risk. They should follow the shelter-in-place order as mandated by the state of Illinois. For those patients on immune-suppressing medications as listed above and who work in the essential sector, we recommend that you discuss this with your RGA provider.

6) Please refer to the CDC and Crohn's & Colitis Foundation websites for additional and emerging information.

Your safety and health are our primary concern.