In treating an exacerbation of Crohn's disease, which corticosteroid is the nurse likely to administer?

In the treatment of an exacerbation of Crohn's disease, oral prednisone is frequently the corticosteroid of choice due to its effectiveness in managing inflammatory bowel conditions. Prednisone has a well-established history of use in inflammatory diseases because it acts rapidly to reduce inflammation and immune responses.

It is typically preferred in outpatient settings for its favorable oral bioavailability, allowing for convenient administration and a predictable response. The dosing can be adjusted based on the severity of the condition and patient response, and its relatively benign side effect profile when used in the short term makes it suitable for acute exacerbations.

While other corticosteroids listed may also be used in different situations or formulations (like injected or in specific cases), oral prednisone is generally favored for initial treatment due to the convenience of oral dosing and its established efficacy in treating flares of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.