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Crohns: Crohns Disease
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Crohns Disease is an inflammation of the Gastro-Intestinal tract. It can affect any portion from the mouth to the anus. It usually occurs in either the small and/or large intestine. The inflammation leads to ulceration of the intestinal wall, which results in blood and mucous being present in bowel motions. Severe ulceration leads to abscesses forming resulting in surgical intervention.
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The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, skin problems, and fever may ... occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies.
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Many times, a person with Crohns has relatives who have the disease. There are ... current theories that describe it as a reaction of the immune system to a virus or bacteria in the intestines.
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Crohns disease is related closely to another chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon called ulcerative colitis. Together, Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease have no medical cure. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). They affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million people in the United States. Men and women are equally affected.
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An estimated six new Crohn’s disease cases per 100,000 population occur in most developed countries, including the U.S., each year. Peak ages are in adolescence and early adulthood and after age 60. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea and weight loss. Its cause is unknown. However, some researchers suggest the disease arises from an excessive immune response to bacteria in the bowel.
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The etiology of Crohn’s is not understood, but it appears to be more frequent in some families and is probably some sort of autoimmune type disease. Crohn’s leads to inflammation and thickening of the bowel wall. It can effect both the small and large intestine and usually leads to several or "skip" lesions in the bowel. It often effects the anus with ulcers and draining tracts. Untreated, these inflammatory areas thicken and narrow the lumen or opening of the bowel. They often lead to penetrating ulcers which cause fistulas or abscesses around the bowel.
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Crohns Disease