| Chron’s DiseaseBy Ricky Parker |
Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s 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's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that causes swelling in the intestines. In Chron’s disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.
It affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. It occurs in people in all groups, but is more often in people between the ages of 20 to 30.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease may very person to person. The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease includes swelling in the intestines, 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’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a Crohn’s disease can be difficult because its symptoms are very much similar to other disease like anemia, intestinal infection etc.
Physicians generally test blood to measures level anemia, white blood cell or infection in the intestines. For the test of gastrointestinal 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’s disease, more x rays of both the upper and lower digestive tract may be necessary. If the test of patients is positive then doctor refer for treatment.
Treatment
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. Treatment for Crohn’s disease depends on the location and severity of disease, complications.
Some people have suffered long periods, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person’s lifetime. This changing pattern of the disease means one cannot always tell when a treatment has helped. Someone with Crohn’s 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 to control inflammation.
Cortisone or Steroids - It is used in the beginning, when the disease at its worst, prednisone is usually prescribed in a large dose. These drugs can cause serious side effects, including greater susceptibility to infection.
Antibiotics - Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery. For this type of problem the doctor may prescribe the following antibiotics like ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole
Anti-Diarrheal and FluidReplacements - To overcome with Diarrhea and crampy abdominal pain. Several antidiarrheal agents could be used like diphenoxylate, loperamide, and codeine.
Nutrition Supplementation
Nutrition Supplementation are required, especially for children whose growth has been slowed. A special high-calorie liquid formula are sometimes used for this purpose. This treatment 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’s 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.
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February, 2008
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