Introduction – Description
Crohns Disease is a disease of the gut. It was named after Dr. Crohn in the 1930s after he first described the disease. It can affect any part in one or more places although it affects the ileum (the final section of the gut) in around half of all cases.
It affects approximately 1 in 1500 people, affecting slightly more women than men with the age group predominantly affected by Crohns Disease being more affected.
Crohns Disease is also a chronic disease which means that it is persistent. Once you have it, you will always have it. The symptoms may vary over time in their severity.
What Causes Crohns Disease
It is now known exactly causes Crohns Disease. There appears to be enough evidence that it could possibly be inherited as about 1 in 10 sufferers have a relative who has also suffered from this condition. The evidence isnt absolute, but of certain degree to be significant.
It is possible that some people may be genetically predisposed to suffer from Crohns Disease although it needs some kind of germ to trigger it. The theory is that the germ triggers the immune system to cause inflammation of the gut. Interestingly, Crohns disease has become more common in recent times. The reason for this is unknown, however, smokers and women who use a combined contraceptive pill are at higher risk.
The Symptoms of Crohns Disease
The symptoms of Crohns Disease are different dependant upon which part of the gut is affected and to what degree.
The pain is normally located in the area where the inflammation is. Using the example of the inflammation being in the ileum, then the area of pain would be on the lower right side of the abdomen.
Ulcers may develop which affect the raw area of the lining of the gut.
Diarrhoea may be mixed with mucus or blood. What is common is the feeling of wanting to go to the toilet but when you get there, of not having anything to pass.
Some general feeling of being unwell with a loss of appetite, fever and tiredness.
If you lose a lot of blood, then you may suffer from anemia
Mouth ulcers are common
Painful cracks in the skin of the anus called anal fissures.
Treatment of Crohns Disease
As we dont know the cause of Crohns Disease, it is only possible to treat the symptoms. Some common treatments are as follows.
Drugs can be given which will firm up the stools.
Antibiotics can be given to fight any infection
Acute inflammation is normally treated via application directly up the back passage using various drugs such as corticosteriods.
There may be some surgery required to fix damaged portions of the bowel or to remove obstructions. The problems with surgery though is that it normally causes the Crohns Disease to flare up again.
Tags:
1930s,
Abdomen,
Age Group,
Chronic Disease,
Contraceptive Pill,
Crohn,
Crohns Disease Symptoms,
Dependant,
Diarrhoea,
Germ,
Immune System,
Inflammation,
Loss Of Appetite,
Mucus,
Raw Area,
Severity,
Smokers,
Symptoms Of Crohns Disease,
Ulcers,
Unwell
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. The disease is also called granulomatous enteritis, colitis, regional enteritis, regional ileitis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis and it causes ulcerations of the small and large intestine. The disease can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus, but distinctively affects the terminal ileum as well as demarcated areas of large bowel. The disease is named after the American physician, Burrill Bernard Crohn (18841983), who described the disease in 1932.
Crohns Disease Symptoms
Crohn’s disease symptoms may include:
Chronic diarrhea & disrupted digestion: It becomes difficult for the patients in the acute phase of the disease to eat and/or digest food.
Painful and debilitating inflammation
Fistulas of the colon
Hemorrhoids
Lipid absorption problems
Anemia: Persistent rectal bleeding may lead to anemia.
Bruising of the shins.
Fever, pain and psychological damage in many cases
Crohn’s disease in children may cause delayed development and stunted growth.
Crohns Disease Treatment
Crohn’s disease treatment may include medication, surgery, dietary advice and Helminthic therapy (current research).
- Medication Treatment
Acute treatment: steroids are used in the initial stages. Long-term steroid therapy is discouraged because of their side effects. Corticosteroids like prednisone are traditionally used medications. The side effects of steroids may include insulin resistance and frank diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), glaucoma, osteoporosis, severe psychological issues etc.
Chronic treatment (Steroid-sparing): The treatment may include Salicylates – 5-ASA derivates – 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, Salazopyrin), mesalamine (Pentasa, Asacol), olsalazine, and balsalazide. Immunomodulating drugs such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate are given mainly in moderate-to-severe cases. Infliximab (brand name Remicade) is given in patients with therapy-resistant or fistulating Crohn’s. Adalimumab (brand name Humira) has been used in patients who show allergic reaction to infliximab. The drugs like thalidomide are under study trials.
- Surgery
In the case of widespread intractable Crohn’s colitis, the colon and rectum (protocolectomy) are removed by the surgery ileostomy. Surgery is generally avoided, as this does not cure the disease. Crohns disease can recur at the site of the anastomosis or ileostomy.
- Dietary Advice
Crohns patients should avoid the following foods and liquids:
Dairy foods
High fiber foods should be avoided during flare-ups.
Hot spicy foods
Alcohol & caffeine
Foods containing saturated fats, found in meat and dairy products. However some fats such as in fish oil may actually be helpful.
Products containing corn or gluten, those made from wheat, oats, barley, or triticale
Foods, such as soy, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes
Gas-producing foods such as cabbage family vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts), dried peas and lentils, onions and chives, peppers and carbonated drinks
Foods that may irritate the intestine (particularly the cabbage family vegetables)
Simple sugars
Dried fruits or high-sugar fruits, such as grapes, watermelon, or pineapple
Sorbitol (an artificial sweetener)
Beneficial Foods:
Fluids to keep the body hydrated and prevent constipation
Fruits may be protective
A high protein diet with lean meats
Advice:
Eat small frequent meals
Prebiotics such as psyllium may help in the healing process.
Probiotics may also be helpful in aiding recovery of the intestines.
- Helminthic Therapy
Recent studies have come up with a promising Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis treatment. Helminthic therapy is a new treatment that has shown impressive results in clinical trials. It argues that the absence of intestinal worms (due primarily to higher hygiene standards) from the human intestinal tract may cause the immune system that is not evolutionary adapted to this condition, to over-react causing inflammation and other negative effects, and that reintroducing helminths through ingesting eggs of a certain species (which is not dangerous to humans) can help down regulate and normalize immune responses.
Helminthic therapy like the fecal bacterio therapy induces a characteristic TH2 white cell response in the diseased areas which seems to be the key in achieving and maintaining remission, and may prove to be of key significance in further research.
Tags:
6 Mercaptopurine,
Aminosalicylic Acid,
Balsalazide,
Chronic Diarrhea,
Chronic Inflammatory Disease,
Chronic Treatment,
Crohn S Disease,
Crohns Disease Symptoms,
Effects Of Steroids,
Immunomodulating Drugs,
Insulin Resistance,
Lipid Absorption,
Medication Treatment,
Pentasa,
Regional Ileitis,
Salazopyrin,
Side Effects Of Steroids,
Small And Large Intestine,
Steroid Therapy,
Terminal Ileitis
Introduction – Description
Crohns Disease is a disease of the gut. It was named after Dr. Crohn in the 1930s after he first described the disease. It can affect any part in one or more places although it affects the ileum (the final section of the gut) in around half of all cases.
It affects approximately 1 in 1500 people, affecting slightly more women than men with the age group predominantly affected by Crohns Disease being more affected.
Crohns Disease is also a chronic disease which means that it is persistent. Once you have it, you will always have it. The symptoms may vary over time in their severity.
What Causes Crohns Disease
It is now known exactly causes Crohns Disease. There appears to be enough evidence that it could possibly be inherited as about 1 in 10 sufferers have a relative who has also suffered from this condition. The evidence isnt absolute, but of certain degree to be significant.
It is possible that some people may be genetically predisposed to suffer from Crohns Disease although it needs some kind of germ to trigger it. The theory is that the germ triggers the immune system to cause inflammation of the gut. Interestingly, Crohns disease has become more common in recent times. The reason for this is unknown, however, smokers and women who use a combined contraceptive pill are at higher risk.
The Symptoms of Crohns Disease
The symptoms of Crohns Disease are different dependant upon which part of the gut is affected and to what degree.
The pain is normally located in the area where the inflammation is. Using the example of the inflammation being in the ileum, then the area of pain would be on the lower right side of the abdomen.
Ulcers may develop which affect the raw area of the lining of the gut.
Diarrhoea may be mixed with mucus or blood. What is common is the feeling of wanting to go to the toilet but when you get there, of not having anything to pass.
Some general feeling of being unwell with a loss of appetite, fever and tiredness.
If you lose a lot of blood, then you may suffer from anemia
Mouth ulcers are common
Painful cracks in the skin of the anus called anal fissures.
Treatment of Crohns Disease
As we dont know the cause of Crohns Disease, it is only possible to treat the symptoms. Some common treatments are as follows.
Drugs can be given which will firm up the stools.
Antibiotics can be given to fight any infection
Acute inflammation is normally treated via application directly up the back passage using various drugs such as corticosteriods.
There may be some surgery required to fix damaged portions of the bowel or to remove obstructions. The problems with surgery though is that it normally causes the Crohns Disease to flare up again.
Tags:
1930s,
Abdomen,
Age Group,
Chronic Disease,
Contraceptive Pill,
Crohn,
Crohns Disease Symptoms,
Dependant,
Diarrhoea,
Germ,
Immune System,
Inflammation,
Loss Of Appetite,
Mucus,
Raw Area,
Severity,
Smokers,
Symptoms Of Crohns Disease,
Ulcers,
Unwell
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. The disease is also called granulomatous enteritis, colitis, regional enteritis, regional ileitis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis and it causes ulcerations of the small and large intestine. The disease can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus, but distinctively affects the terminal ileum as well as demarcated areas of large bowel. The disease is named after the American physician, Burrill Bernard Crohn (18841983), who described the disease in 1932.
Crohns Disease Symptoms
Crohn’s disease symptoms may include:
Chronic diarrhea & disrupted digestion: It becomes difficult for the patients in the acute phase of the disease to eat and/or digest food.
Painful and debilitating inflammation
Fistulas of the colon
Hemorrhoids
Lipid absorption problems
Anemia: Persistent rectal bleeding may lead to anemia.
Bruising of the shins.
Fever, pain and psychological damage in many cases
Crohn’s disease in children may cause delayed development and stunted growth.
Crohns Disease Treatment
Crohn’s disease treatment may include medication, surgery, dietary advice and Helminthic therapy (current research).
- Medication Treatment
Acute treatment: steroids are used in the initial stages. Long-term steroid therapy is discouraged because of their side effects. Corticosteroids like prednisone are traditionally used medications. The side effects of steroids may include insulin resistance and frank diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), glaucoma, osteoporosis, severe psychological issues etc.
Chronic treatment (Steroid-sparing): The treatment may include Salicylates – 5-ASA derivates – 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, Salazopyrin), mesalamine (Pentasa, Asacol), olsalazine, and balsalazide. Immunomodulating drugs such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate are given mainly in moderate-to-severe cases. Infliximab (brand name Remicade) is given in patients with therapy-resistant or fistulating Crohn’s. Adalimumab (brand name Humira) has been used in patients who show allergic reaction to infliximab. The drugs like thalidomide are under study trials.
- Surgery
In the case of widespread intractable Crohn’s colitis, the colon and rectum (protocolectomy) are removed by the surgery ileostomy. Surgery is generally avoided, as this does not cure the disease. Crohns disease can recur at the site of the anastomosis or ileostomy.
- Dietary Advice
Crohns patients should avoid the following foods and liquids:
Dairy foods
High fiber foods should be avoided during flare-ups.
Hot spicy foods
Alcohol & caffeine
Foods containing saturated fats, found in meat and dairy products. However some fats such as in fish oil may actually be helpful.
Products containing corn or gluten, those made from wheat, oats, barley, or triticale
Foods, such as soy, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes
Gas-producing foods such as cabbage family vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts), dried peas and lentils, onions and chives, peppers and carbonated drinks
Foods that may irritate the intestine (particularly the cabbage family vegetables)
Simple sugars
Dried fruits or high-sugar fruits, such as grapes, watermelon, or pineapple
Sorbitol (an artificial sweetener)
Beneficial Foods:
Fluids to keep the body hydrated and prevent constipation
Fruits may be protective
A high protein diet with lean meats
Advice:
Eat small frequent meals
Prebiotics such as psyllium may help in the healing process.
Probiotics may also be helpful in aiding recovery of the intestines.
- Helminthic Therapy
Recent studies have come up with a promising Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis treatment. Helminthic therapy is a new treatment that has shown impressive results in clinical trials. It argues that the absence of intestinal worms (due primarily to higher hygiene standards) from the human intestinal tract may cause the immune system that is not evolutionary adapted to this condition, to over-react causing inflammation and other negative effects, and that reintroducing helminths through ingesting eggs of a certain species (which is not dangerous to humans) can help down regulate and normalize immune responses.
Helminthic therapy like the fecal bacterio therapy induces a characteristic TH2 white cell response in the diseased areas which seems to be the key in achieving and maintaining remission, and may prove to be of key significance in further research.
Tags:
6 Mercaptopurine,
Aminosalicylic Acid,
Balsalazide,
Chronic Diarrhea,
Chronic Inflammatory Disease,
Chronic Treatment,
Crohn S Disease,
Crohns Disease Symptoms,
Effects Of Steroids,
Immunomodulating Drugs,
Insulin Resistance,
Lipid Absorption,
Medication Treatment,
Pentasa,
Regional Ileitis,
Salazopyrin,
Side Effects Of Steroids,
Small And Large Intestine,
Steroid Therapy,
Terminal Ileitis
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