Crohn’s Disease
Introduction/Overview
Have you ever wondered: What is Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which affects the digestive tract. With Crohn’s disease, the layers of tissue in the lining of the digestive tract become inflamed. The disease can be painful and can bring on bouts of chronic diarrhea.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Crohn’s disease symptoms can be minor or very severe. Often people with Crohn’s disease are in remission and the disease will again become active. The number one symptom of Crohn’s disease is diarrhea. You could also have blood in your stools or intense abdominal cramping. Other Crohn’s disease symptoms include an inflamed liver, fever, skin conditions, arthritis, and eye problems. Crohn’s disease in children can cause a delay in growth and sexual development.
Crohn’s disease can only be diagnosed by a doctor. You should see your doctor if you have bloody stools, reoccurring diarrhea, a fever or pain in your abdomen. Your doctor will want to rule out other possibilities by testing your blood, or performing such tests as a colonoscopy, barium enema with xray, or flexible sigmoidoscopy. You might need a CT or MRI of your small bowel or a capsule endoscopy, where you swallow a small camera which takes photos as it passes through your bowels and out.
Known Causes
The causes of Crohn’s disease are still not known. Scientists believe that it can have a genetic cause and that it can also be caused by an immune system that is not functioning correctly.
Treatments/Procedures
With Crohn’s disease, many different types of medication are used to treat the inflammation of the bowel. Drugs are the first option and then in some cases, surgery is needed. The types of drugs used in treatment include anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, immune system suppressors, and antibiotics. Some of these have harsh side effects so discuss these with your doctor before beginning treatment. Other medications used to control symptoms include anti-diarrheals, laxatives, and pain relievers. You might need to eat a special diet and take vitamin and mineral supplements. The last recourse is Crohn’s disease surgery, during which the diseased portion of the digestive tract is removed and the healthy sections rejoined. Unfortunately, in most cases surgery is only a temporary fix.
Prevention / Vaccination
There is no way to prevent or cure Crohn’s disease. That is one of the reasons many people who have the disease need support in living their daily lives. Crohn’s disease is particularly frustrating because you can go in and out of remission your entire life. If you are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, it is very important to wear a medic alert bracelet or carry a medical ID card identifying your disease, meds, and who to call in case of emergency.
Prognosis / Management
There are several ways to manage Crohn’s disease so that you can continue to be active. For instance, if certain foods cause flares, you can keep a food diary to identify the culprits and avoid those foods. Both dairy products and high fat foods can make your diarrhea worse so eat low-fat and limit dairy products. Fiber also can worsen diarrhea in people with Crohn’s disease. Eat several small meals every day instead of three large ones. That way your digestive tract doesn’t have to process too much food at one time. Relax and reduce stress levels.
Alternative Treatments & Products
People with Crohn’s disease often try alternative treatments. These include herbs, supplements, omega-3 fish oil, antioxidants, acupuncture and probiotics.