Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. The disease can affect any area from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum.

Crohn's disease seems to run in some families. It can occur in people of all age groups but is most often diagnosed in young adults. Common symptoms are pain in the abdomen and diarrhea. Bleeding from the rectum, weight loss, joint pain, skin problems and fever may also occur. Children with the disease may have growth problems. Other problems can include intestinal blockage and malnutrition.

Treatment may include medicines, nutrition supplements, surgery or a combination of these options. Some people have long periods of remission, when they are free of symptoms.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Crohn's Disease on Wikipedia

'''Crohn's disease''' is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and it can involve any part of it - from the mouth to the anus. It typically affects the terminal ileum as well as demarcated areas of large bowel, with other areas of the bowel being relatively unaffected. It is often associated with Autoimmune disorder disorders outside the bowel, such as Mouth ulcer and rheumatoid arthritis. Crohn's disease should not be confused with a non-progressive and non-degenerative digestive disorder called irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is not an autoimmune disease. Ulcerative colitis is a sibling autoimmune disease to Crohn's but only impacts the colon while Crohn's can impact any part of the digestive tract. Furthermore, Crohn's tends to impact multiple layers of the bowel lining which can lead to many additional and hard-to-treat complications.

Symptoms

Crohn's patients typically suffer from chronic diarrhea and disrupted digestion, making it difficult for sufferers in the acute phase of the disease to eat and/or digest food. The inflammation can be extremely painful and debilitating. Other common complications of Crohn's include fistulas of the colon (anatomy), hemorrhoids, lipid absorption problems, and anemia. Bleeding is seen in 20% cases, against 98% cases in ulcerative colitis. Bruising of the shins, varying fever symptoms, indirect minor brain damage, varying levels of pain, and psychological damage is seen in many cases.

Incidence

The disease typically first appears in a young adults in their late teens and twenties, although it is not unknown for symptoms to first appear quite late in life. Additionally, there has been an increase in cases occurring in young children. Recent studies suggest that up to 30% off all newly diagnosed cases are in children and teens under ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

The Culinary Couple's Creative Colitis Cookbook - 100 low fiber, non-dairy recipes for those on restricted diets because of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Primal Defense - Natural alternatives to treating Crohn's disease and other digestive complaints as well as reduce inflammation and enhance immunity.

Inner Relief for Crohns and Colitis Sufferers - A natural food product with high levels of natural anti-inflammatories, giving relief to sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease.

Centocor Inc. - Pharmaceutical company makes Remicade, new treatment for Crohn's Disease.

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Biomedical pharmaceutical company working on new treatments for Crohn's Disease.

BioSphings AG. - Innovating viral phospholipase inhibitor to prevent expression of Herpes specific genes, and intracellular viral antigens, and drug inducing death of tumor cells and autoreactive immune cells, in multiple sclerosis, rheumatism, and Crohn's disease. Based in Leverkusen, Germany.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals - Manufactures pharmaceuticals within urology, gynaecology, gastroenterology and endocrinology for treatment of bedwetting, pre-term labour, infertility, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and growth disorders.

Autoimmunity - the Hidden Link - Is there an Autoimmunity Gene and are the Autoimmune Diseases linked? This site explores these issues as well as looking at the personal story of a journey with atypical Crohn's Disease.

Principal Health News - Digestive Center - Digestive disorders center for help with intestinal problems, from common disorders like flatulence or heartburn to less common ones such as Crohn's Disease or gallstones.

About Digestion and Crohn's Disease - Doctor-produced, peer-reviewed articles about Crohn's, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and related conditions.

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