Enhancing the quality of life
Juan Gonzalez


Juan Gonzalez, 17 years old, high school, Rio de Janeiro

"I like soccer. What Brazilian doesn’t? Even got into the senior team. Then I stopped about six months ago. I started getting stomach pains, diarrhea, fever. Then it was OK for a while. But it came back again. A lot more pain, blood in the stools, high temperatures. I lost weight. The doc said I have Crohn’s disease. Didn’t mean much to me or my parents. Never heard of any World Cup players who have it. They can treat it, but I have it for life."

Care giver: Juan’s mother, Frida

"Our doctor said Juan’s immune system was "abnormally overactive", causing  intestinal inflammation and ulcers. It can be treated with medications and nutrition which will decrease the inflammation, minimize pain and diarrhea and help Juan to regain the weight he has lost.  The doctor also explained that by supporting Juan nutritionally we will help his body fight infection and reach his full growth potential."


Crohn’s disease at a glance

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Crohn’s disease is a serious chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Common symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, weight loss, fever and bleeding. Globally, over 2 million people have Crohn’s disease, mostly in developed nations.  

The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Research shows that people with Crohn's disease may have an overactive immune system, which fails to shut off properly after being “turned on”. Thus, the intestinal wall is damaged by its own immune system, which normally protects it against foreign substances.

There is no cure for Crohn's disease. Treatment includes immunosuppressive drugs, antibiotics, steroids and nutrition.  Nutrition has been shown to have a beneficial role in the treatment of Crohn's disease.  

arrow  Nestlé Nutrition offers MODULEN IBD to meet the specific needs of people living with Crohn's disease.