Mandy Adams
Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. It usually affects the lower part of the small intestine and can cause pain and diarrhea. This disease can be difficult to diagnose. Crohn’s disease is usually inherited. A person is thirty times more likely to be diagnosed if a family member has it. It is mostly diagnosed in people between the ages of twenty and thirty. The white blood cells that accumulate in the lining of the intestines causes Crohn’s disease. They produce chronic inflammation which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury. People that have Crohn’s disease are found to have high levels of a protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) that is produced by the immune system. The earliest, most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, arthritis, or skin problems are also possible. Bleeding could be severe enough to cause anemia. Some people may have blood clots or swelling in the legs. Another symptom is episderitis which is inflammation in the white part of the eye or uveitis, which is inflammation of the interior portion of the eye and can cause vision loss if untreated. Osteoporosis and clubbing, which is a deformity of the fingertips, is also possible. Crohn’s disease causes a decrease in appetite sever enough to be deficient in vitamins and proteins. This also causes malnutrition and malabsorption. A fever may be present, but if it is over 101.3 an abscess may exist. It is not easy to diagnose Crohn’s disease. Blood tests are usually taken to check for anemia and high white blood cell count, which is a sign that there is inflammation in the body. An upper GI test and x-rays are taken to look at the small intestine. A colonoscopy is seventy percent effective in diagnosing. It may be done next to check the large intestine for any bleeding or inflammation. Forty percent would show a cobblestone appearance inside the intestinal wall. A biopsy from the lining of the intestine may also be tested. There is no cure for Crohn’s disease. Treatment can include medication but three quarter of cases will require surgery at some point. This disease can have long periods of remission where no symptoms exist. However, it will most likely come back at times in a lifetime. People that have Crohn’s usually take an anti-inflammatory medication most of their lives. Cortisone or steroids are effective to help control symptoms, and are prescribed in large doses after being diagnosed. Antibiotics are needed to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. A nutritional supplement is most of the time needed, especially in children, because the intestines cannot absorb enough nutrition from food. A person with Crohn’s is at risk for bowel cancer and it is recommended they get screened after eight years of being diagnosed. If medication or medical therapy doesn’t suppress symptoms, surgery will be needed. Complications that need to be corrected include blockage, perforation, abscess, or bleeding in the intestine. Surgery is still not a cure as other parts of the intestine may become diseased. The diseased area may be removed or a full colectomy may be performed. When a person is diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, they need to make dietary adjustments and stay properly hydrated. They should avoid dairy products and anything that worsens symptoms. Smoking causes the disease to flare and become active again. Some people use relaxation techniques if they have a connection with their symptoms and their stress level. The introduction of hormonal contraception in the 1960’s in the U.S. was linked to an increase of Crohn’s disease. Remission can occur during pregnancy but has not shown impairment of pregnancy or delivery. Children that do inherit this disease are usually more severely affected than adults and thirty percent have slowed growth. This disease affects the whole digestive tract. Some may experience sores on the mouth that don’t heal, difficulty swallowing, upper abdominal pain or vomiting. Breathing can be difficult at times also. People who inherit this disease really do suffer and hopefully soon we will have a cure.