Essay on Crohn's disease

Submitted By aries328
Words: 1837
Pages: 8

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines. Crohn's disease can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and to another type of IBD called ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis. Crohn’s disease can affect the digestive system anywhere between the mouth and the anus, but usually affects the final section of the small intestine, the ileum. Ulcerative Colitis causes inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum, while Crohn's disease is an inflammation that extends into the deeper layers of the intestinal wall. Crohn's disease can also affect the colon, the regional lymph nodes, and the mesentery, which is the outside covering of the intestines. The symptoms of Crohn's disease sometimes act like an appendicitis attack. The ileum is usually involved in Crohn's disease, and is located next to the appendix. Some side effects of Crohn’s disease include abdominal right sided tenderness and pain, appetite and weight loss, possible diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, and a general sick feeling. Crohn's disease also can cause growth retardation in children. Crohn's disease can also appear as periodic cramps with diarrhea, and may or may not involve the obstruction of the bowel. Poorly digestible fruits and vegetables can plug the already narrowed segment of the intestine and cause an obstruction. Diarrhea may be the result from the obstruction because of poor absorption of nutrients, excessive growth of bacteria in the small bowel, or inflammation of the large intestine. The result of this could be blood in the stools, or rectal bleeding. Hemorrhages from Crohn's disease are rare, but they do occur. In one-fourth of all reported cases, the symptoms appear only once or twice, and the disease does not come back. If the symptoms recur, they will come back every few months or every few years for the rest of your life, with periods of remission. If Crohn's disease continues for years, it will gradually deteriorate the bowel functioning, there will be a risk of poor absorption of nutrients, severe bleeding could cause iron-deficiency, or it could possibly increase your risk of cancer of the intestine. If you experience chronic abdominal pain, with the mentioned symptoms, the doctor will check for Crohn's disease. This involves a series of tests starting with a blood test for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the intestines and a stool test. Another test is called a colonoscopy, which is when a flexible, lighted tube linked to a computer and TV monitor, called an endoscope, is inserted through the anus. Later, the doctor may run an upper gastrointestinal series, a small intestinal study, and a barium enema intestinal x-ray to determine the extent of the disease. If you have Crohn's disease the doctor will want to give you regular check-ups to diagnose your condition, and you may be a candidate for surgery. The fact that Crohn’s disease often recurs makes it very important for the patient and doctor to consider carefully the benefits and risks of surgery, compared to other treatments. Treatment may include medications, surgery, nutrition supplementation, or a combination of these options. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Treatment for Crohn’s disease depends on its location, severity, and complications. Treatment can help control Crohn’s disease and make recurrences less frequent, but no cure exist. Someone with Crohn’s disease may need long lasting medical care and regular doctor visits to monitor the condition. Some people have long periods, sometimes years of remission when they are free of symptoms, and predicting when a