I was wondering what people in general know/think about Crohn's Disease, or at least what they assume. Thank you for your honest, real answers. Wow. You people seem to have an unnatural grasp of what this is. You all impress me. its autoimmune digestive disorder progressive not any fun Painful and progressive lots of bleeding and discomfort My cousin has it,it's not a pretty thing. If you need more info,checkout www.webmd.com,alot of info there not a lot to be honest surgery to remove the diseased part of the colon before it takes over the entire tract! my brother has it....causes massive diarrhea
Crohn鈥檚 disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of Crohn鈥檚 disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn鈥檚 disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.
Crohn鈥檚 disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn鈥檚 disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn鈥檚 disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn鈥檚 disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn鈥檚 disease. a subacute chronic enteritis, of unknown cause, involving the terminal ileum and less frequently other parts of the gastrointestinal tract; characterized by patchy deep ulcers that may cause fistulas, and narrowing and thickening of the bowel by fibrosis and lymphocytic infiltration, with noncaseating tuberculoid granulomas that also may be found in regional lymph nodes; symptoms include fever, diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain, and weight loss. Syn: Crohn disease, chronic cicatrizing enteritis, granulomatous enteritis, distal ileitis. Crohn鈥檚 disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn鈥檚 disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.
Crohn鈥檚 disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of Crohn鈥檚 disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn鈥檚 disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.
Crohn鈥檚 disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn鈥檚 disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn鈥檚 disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn鈥檚 disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn鈥檚 disease.
Crohn鈥檚 disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis.
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What causes Crohn's disease?
Several theories exist about what causes Crohn鈥檚 disease, but none have been proven. The human immune system is made from cells and different proteins that protect people from infection. The most popular theory is that the body鈥檚 immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn鈥檚 disease, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign. The immune system鈥檚 response is to attack these 鈥渋nvaders.鈥?During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury.
Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohn鈥檚 disease is a cause, or a result, of the disease. Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn鈥檚 disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment. Foreign substances, also referred to as antigens, are found in the environment. One possible cause for inflammation may be the body鈥檚 reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Some scientists think that a protein produced by the immune system, called anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may be a possible cause for the inflammation associated with Crohn鈥檚 disease.
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What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of Crohn鈥檚 disease are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, skin problems, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn鈥檚 disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies.
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How is Crohn's disease diagnosed?
A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to diagnose Crohn鈥檚 disease.
Blood tests may be done to check for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the intestines. Blood tests may also uncover a high white blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body. By testing a stool sample, the doctor can tell if there is bleeding or infection in the intestines.
The doctor may do an upper GI series to look at the small intestine. For this test, the person drinks barium, a chalky solution that coats the lining of the small intestine, before x rays are taken. The barium shows up white on x-ray film, revealing inflammation or other abnormalities in the intestine. If these tests show Crohn鈥檚 disease, more x rays of both the upper and lower digestive tract may be necessary to see how much of the GI tract is affected by the disease.
The doctor may also do a visual exam of the colon by performing either a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. For both of these tests, the doctor inserts a long, flexible, lighted tube linked to a computer and TV monitor into the anus. A sigmoidoscopy allows the doctor to examine the lining of the lower part of the large intestine, while a colonoscopy allows the doctor to examine the lining of the entire large intestine. The doctor will be able to see any inflammation or bleeding during either of these exams, although a colonoscopy is usually a better test because the doctor can see the entire large intestine. The doctor may also do a biopsy, which involves taking a sample of tissue from the lining of the intestine to view with a microscope.
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What are the complications of Crohn's disease?
The most common complication is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs because the disease tends to thicken the intestinal wall with swelling and scar tissue, narrowing the passage. Crohn鈥檚 disease may also cause sores, or ulcers, that tunnel through the affected area into surrounding tissues, such as the bladder, vagina, or skin. The areas around the anus and rectum are often involved. The tunnels, called fistulas, are a common complication and often become infected. Sometimes fistulas can be treated with medicine, but in some cases they may require surgery. In addition to fistulas, small tears called fissures may develop in the lining of the mucus membrane of the anus.
Nutritional complications are common in Crohn鈥檚 disease. Deficiencies of proteins, calories, and vitamins are well documented. These deficiencies may be caused by inadequate dietary intake, intestinal loss of protein, or poor absorption, also referred to as malabsorption.
Other complications associated with Crohn鈥檚 disease include arthritis, skin problems, inflammation in the eyes or mouth, kidney stones, gallstones, or other diseases of the liver and biliary system. Some of these problems resolve during treatment for disease in the digestive system, but some must be treated separately.
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What is the treatment for Crohn's disease?
Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. At this time, treatment can help control the disease by lowering the number of times a person experiences a recurrence, but there is no cure. Treatment for Crohn鈥檚 disease depends on the location and severity of disease, complications, and the person鈥檚 response to previous medical treatments when treated for reoccurring symptoms.
Some people have long periods of remission, sometimes years, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person鈥檚 lifetime. This changing pattern of the disease means one cannot always tell when a treatment has helped. Predicting when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return is not possible.
Someone with Crohn鈥檚 disease may need medical care for a long time, with regular doctor visits to monitor the condition.
Drug Therapy
Anti-Inflammation Drugs. Most people are first treated with drugs containing mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation. Sulfasalazine is the most commonly used of these drugs. Patients who do not benefit from it or who cannot tolerate it may be put on other mesalamine-containing drugs, generally known as 5-ASA agents, such as Asacol, Dipentum, or Pentasa. Possible side effects of mesalamine-containing drugs include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, and headache.
Cortisone or Steroids. Cortisone drugs and steroids鈥攃alled corticosteriods鈥攑rovide very effective results. Prednisone is a common generic name of one of the drugs in this group of medications. In the beginning, when the disease it at its worst, prednisone is usually prescribed in a large dose. The dosage is then lowered once symptoms have been controlled. These drugs can cause serious side effects, including greater susceptibility to infection.
Immune System Suppressors. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used to treat Crohn鈥檚 disease. Most commonly prescribed are 6-mercaptopurine or a related drug, azathioprine. Immunosuppressive agents work by blocking the immune reaction that contributes to inflammation. These drugs may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and may lower a person鈥檚 resistance to infection. When patients are treated with a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the dose of corticosteroids may eventually be lowered. Some studies suggest that immunosuppressive drugs may enhance the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
Infliximab (Remicade). This drug is the first of a group of medications that blocks the body鈥檚 inflammation response. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn鈥檚 disease that does not respond to standard therapies (mesalamine substances, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents) and for the treatment of open, draining fistulas. Infliximab, the first treatment approved specifically for Crohn鈥檚 disease is a TNF substance. Additional research will need to be done in order to fully understand the range of treatments Remicade may offer to help people with Crohn鈥檚 disease.
Antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery. For this common problem, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole.
Anti-Diarrheal and Fluid Replacements. Diarrhea and crampy abdominal pain are often relieved when the inflammation subsides, but additional medication may also be necessary. Several antidiarrheal agents could be used, including diphenoxylate, loperamide, and codeine. Patients who are dehydrated because of diarrhea will be treated with fluids and electrolytes.
Nutrition Supplementation
The doctor may recommend nutritional supplements, especially for children whose growth has been slowed. Special high-calorie liquid formulas are sometimes used for this purpose. A small number of patients may need to be fed intravenously for a brief time through a small tube inserted into the vein of the arm. This procedure can help patients who need extra nutrition temporarily, those whose intestines need to rest, or those whose intestines cannot absorb enough nutrition from food. There are no known foods that cause Crohn鈥檚 disease. However, when people are suffering a flare in disease, foods such as bulky grains, hot spices, alcohol, and milk products may increase diarrhea and cramping.
Surgery
Two-thirds to three-quarters of patients with Crohn鈥檚 disease will require surgery at some point in their lives. Surgery becomes necessary when medications can no longer control symptoms. Surgery is used either to relieve symptoms that do not respond to medical therapy or to correct complications such as blockage, perforation, abscess, or bleeding in the intestine. Surgery to remove part of the intestine can help people with Crohn鈥檚 disease, but it is not a cure. Surgery does not eliminate the disease, and it is not uncommon for people with Crohn鈥檚 Disease to have more than one operation, as inflammation tends to return to the area next to where the diseased intestine was removed.
Some people who have Crohn鈥檚 disease in the large intestine need to have their entire colon removed in an operation called a colectomy. A small opening is made in the front of the abdominal wall, and the tip of the ileum, which is located at the end of the small intestine, is brought to the skin鈥檚 surface. This opening, called a stoma, is where waste exits the body. The stoma is about the size of a quarter and is usually located in the right lower part of the abdomen near the beltline. A pouch is worn over the opening to collect waste, and the patient empties the pouch as needed. The majority of colectomy patients go on to live normal, active lives.
Sometimes only the diseased section of intestine is removed and no stoma is needed. In this operation, the intestine is cut above and below the diseased area and reconnected.
Because Crohn鈥檚 disease often recurs after surgery, people considering it should carefully weigh its benefits and risks compared with other treatments. Surgery may not be appropriate for everyone. People faced with this decision should get as much information as possible from doctors, nurses who work with colon surgery patients (enterostomal therapists), and other patients. Patient advocacy organizations can suggest support groups and other information resources. (See For More Information for the names of such organizations.)
People with Crohn鈥檚 disease may feel well and be free of symptoms for substantial spans of time when their disease is not active. Despite the need to take medication for long periods of time and occasional hospitalizations, most people with Crohn鈥檚 disease are able to hold jobs, raise families, and function successfully at home and in society.
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Can diet control Crohn's disease?
People with Crohn鈥檚 disease often experience a decrease in appetite, which can affect their ability to receive the daily nutrition needed for good health and healing. In addition, Crohn鈥檚 disease is associated with diarrhea and poor absorption of necessary nutrients. No special diet has been proven effective for preventing or treating Crohn鈥檚 disease, but it is very important that people who have Crohn鈥檚 disease follow a nutritious diet and avoid any foods that seem to worsen symptoms. There are no consistent dietary rules to follow that will improve a person鈥檚 symptoms.
People should take vitamin supplements only on their doctor鈥檚 advice.
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Can stress make Crohn鈥檚 disease worse?
There is no evidence showing that stress causes Crohn鈥檚 disease. However, people with Crohn鈥檚 disease sometimes feel increased stress in their lives from having to live with a chronic illness. Some people with Crohn鈥檚 disease also report that they experience a flare in disease when they are experiencing a stressful event or situation. There is no type of person that is more likely to experience a flare in disease than another when under stress. For people who find there is a connection between their stress level and a worsening of their symptoms, using relaxation techniques, such as slow breathing, and taking special care to eat well and get enough sleep, may help them feel better.
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Is pregnancy safe for women with Crohn's disease?
Research has shown that the course of pregnancy and delivery is usually not impaired in women with Crohn鈥檚 disease. Even so, women with Crohn鈥檚 disease should discuss the matter with their doctors before pregnancy. Most children born to women with Crohn鈥檚 disease are unaffected. Children who do get the disease are sometimes more severely affected than adults, with slowed growth and delayed sexual development in some cases.
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Hope Through Research
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts and supports research into many kinds of digestive disorders, including Crohn鈥檚 disease. Several clinical trials are currently evaluating the efficacy and safety of different therapies for the treatment of Crohn鈥檚 disease. For a complete listing of trials being conducted, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
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For More Information
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10016鈥?804
Phone: 1鈥?00鈥?32鈥?423 or 212鈥?85鈥?440
Email: info@ccfa.org
Internet: www.ccfa.org
Reach Out for Youth with Ileitis and Colitis, Inc.
84 Northgate Circle
Melville, NY 11747
Phone: Phone: 631鈥?93鈥?102
Email: reachoutforyouth@reachoutforyouth.org
Internet: www.reachoutforyouth.org
United Ostomy Association, Inc.
19772 MacArthur Blvd #200
Irvine, CA 92612鈥?405
Phone: 1鈥?00鈥?26鈥?826 or 949鈥?60鈥?624
Fax: 949鈥?60鈥?262
Email: uoa@deltanet.com
Internet: www.uoa.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn%27s_d... In laymens terms Crohn's Disease is a lot like a bad stomach ache that won't go away. Periods of diarrhea and other bowel discomforts can go along with it. Some medication can help ease the symptoms but there is no actual cure. My ex has crohn's . Some think its something passed down in the gene line. Its VERY VERY painful and doesn't have a very good recovery rate. You can get it any where in your digestive tract. If you have surgery 98% of the time it returns. It can't be cured but it can be controlled. More people know about it now than before but that's still not alot of people. They use predisone (sp? its a type of steroid) sometimes to keep the flare ups down but the side effects of that are HORRIBLE depending on the amount you have to take.
If you have this I'm very sorry I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Edit: I'M SORRY LYNDEE ITS ONE MILLION TIMES WORSE THAN A REALLY BAD STOMACH ACHE. My ex bleed so much from his flare up he had to get blood the last time he was in the hospital. Crohn's Disease is an autoimmune disease that mostly affects the colon, but can affect any part of the digestive system from the throat to the anus. It's symptoms include inflammation of the colon, diarrhea and/or constipation, chronic fever, fistulas, etc. They used to do surgery, but it is avoided now because of improved medications and the fact that surgery is not a cure. When the diseased tissues are removed, it often spreads to a different part of the digestive system.
I was diagnosed with it almost 9 years ago, when I was 19 years old. I was told that I would be taking medications for the rest of my life and that I may have to have surgery and a colostomy bag at some point in my life. I refused to accept this prognosis and started doing a lot of my own research. My saving grace 5 years ago was the book "Patient Heal Thyself" by Jordan Rubin. He is a naturopathic doctor who battled Crohns disease himself. By following his plan and finding a doctor that subscribed to his theories I now am off of all my medications and I have been symptom free for over 3 years. I used to be dependent on prednizone. I found out I am allergic to wheat and milk. By avoiding them religiously I have been able to contol my symptoms through diet.
Check out the book. It is useful for lots of other diseases as well.
Take care. MY sister had Chrons i have ulcerative colitis Ask your doc about Imuron. Better than steroids. Here's what I know, I would never want anyone that I love to get it. I have had Crohn's for 15+ yrs, a small bowel resection. I am currently on Remicade. I currently have 8" of narrowing in my ileum it is only opened 1 cm & I really have to watch what I eat. I have had bouts of uncontrollable diarrhea . I am usually in the bathroom at least 3 times & I'm in remission! The most I think was 17 in a 24hr. period. Here's the symtoms I have had, PAIN, nausea, PAIN, diareha, PAIN, eye infections, PAIN, fatigue, PAIN, depression, PAIN, loss of appetite, PAIN, skin rashes, PAIN, bloating & did I mention the PAIN! I have had 2 boys in my 6 yrs of remission & the pain of childbirth hurts, but at least it goes away!! |
