Okay, it is time for the multi-part Crohn’s Disease informational blog entries to start. In an effort to obtain the latest information I will be researching (and updating my own knowledge) as I go… so this may take a little time. Please be patient. In the mean time some good resources to check our are:
http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/what-is-crohns-disease
http://www.mayoclinic.org/crohns/
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/index.htm
In these entries I intend to cover the following topics related to Crohn’s Disease:
- What is Crohn’s Disease
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Screening and Diagnosis
- Complications
- Treatments
- Diet and taking care of your self
- Alternative Medicine
- Resources
If there are any areas you think I may be missing or I may need to add please feel free to let me know.
Thanks!
Ben
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s Disease is a type of inflamatory bowel disease (IBD) which involves the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the small bowel. It causes pain, fever, and diarrhea. It can also affect the joints and the eyes, leading to blindness. When it attacks the colon and bowel, it thickens the walls with inflamed tissue, which if left unchecked, can lead to intestinal blockages, which are life threatening. The mechanism for it is the same for all of the autoimmune disorders – the body turns on itself.
In a normal system, if a person experiences a wound or an illness, the T cells and white cells react as antigens which attack the diseased or damaged area, then shut themselves off. In autoimmune disorders, there is a failure to turn off this immune response, resulting in damage that continues, unless through medications it is modified. Most of the drugs used are geared toward damping the response down to healthier levels. Imuran, cyclosporin, Plaquenil, azothioprine and prednisone are often used. All of them have unpleasant side effects, much like those experienced in chemotherapy.
While there’s no known medical cure for Crohn’s disease, therapies can greatly reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease and even bring about a long-term remission. With these therapies, many people afflicted with Crohn’s disease are able to function normally in their everyday lives.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe and may develop gradually or come on suddenly, without warning. They include:
Diarrhea. The inflammation that occurs in Crohn’s disease causes cells in the affected areas of your intestine to secrete large amounts of water and salt. Because the colon can’t completely absorb this excess fluid, you develop diarrhea. Intensified intestinal cramping also can contribute to loose stools. In mild cases, stools may simply be looser or more frequent than usual. But people with severe disease may have dozens of bowel movements a day, affecting both sleep and ordinary activities.
Abdominal pain and cramping. Inflammation and ulceration may cause the walls of portions of your bowel to swell and eventually thicken with scar tissue. This affects the normal movement of intestinal tract contents through your digestive tract and may lead to pain and cramping. Mild Crohn’s disease usually causes slight to moderate intestinal discomfort, but in more serious cases, the pain may be severe and occur with nausea and vomiting.
Blood in your stool. Food moving through your digestive tract can cause inflamed tissue to bleed, or your bowel may also bleed on its own. You might notice bright red blood in the toilet bowl or darker blood mixed with your stool. You can also have bleeding you don’t see (occult blood). In severe disease, bleeding is often serious and ongoing.
Ulcers. Crohn’s disease begins as small, scattered sores on the surface of the intestine. Eventually these sores may become large ulcers that penetrate deep into – and sometimes through – the intestinal walls. You may also have ulcers in your mouth similar to canker sores.
Reduced appetite and weight loss. Abdominal pain and cramping and the inflammatory reaction in the wall of your bowel can affect both your appetite and your ability to digest and absorb food.
Fistula or abscess. Inflammation from Crohn’s disease may tunnel through the wall of the bowel into adjacent organs, such as the bladder or vagina, creating an abnormal connection called a fistula. This can also lead to an abscess, a swollen, pus-filled sore. The fistula may also tunnel out through your skin. A common place for this type of fistula is in the area around the anus. When this occurs, it’s called perianal fistula.
Other signs and symptoms. People with severe Crohn’s disease may experience fever and fatigue as well as problems that occur outside the digestive tract, including arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, and inflammation of the liver or bile ducts. Children with Crohn’s disease may have delayed growth or sexual development.
The course of Crohn’s disease varies greatly. You may have long periods without signs and symptoms, or you may have recurrent episodes of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes fever or bleeding.
Stay tuned for more info…
