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Crohn's Disease: Do You Have It

By: Alex Morgan...

Crohn's disease is a chronic disease which causes inflammation of the digestive tract. This inflammation can occur anywhere from mouth to anus, but the most common areas affected are the small and large intestine. About 1 in 1500 people suffer from Crohn's disease and it occurs slightly more often in women than men. It is a condition characterized by times of activity and remissions. The severity of symptoms, and how frequently they occur, varies from person to person, with the first episode often being the worst. Many people have very mild symptoms and so the disease can remain undiagnosed for years.

In Crohn's disease the lining of part of the digestive tract becomes swollen and painful. Ulcers may form which can then bleed, or on healing, can leave scar tissue that narrows the tract and cause a complete blockage. Sufferers will often experience pain, its location depending on the exact site of the inflammation. If the intestine is affected the pain will occur in the lower right abdominal area and is sometimes mistaken for appendicitis.

For most suffers, diarrhea is a common symptom and this can often contain pus, mucus or blood. People say that they experience a strong feeling of needing to go to the toilet but when they get there nothing comes. Unsurprisingly, during a flare up sufferers can be really very ill with weight loss, fever and tiredness. Their health can be further affected if heavy bleeding has led to anemia, or if food cannot be absorbed properly leading to vitamin and mineral deficiency.

For patients who have had some of the above symptoms of diarrhea, stomach pains and weight loss for more than three to four weeks, Crohn's disease is suspected. Blood samples, stool specimens, endoscopic examinations of the small and large intestines, and barium enema and barium meal studies can often confirm or disprove the diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Biopsies are often taken from the affected areas.

Once Crohn's disease has been identified, treatment normally begins with medication. A group of drugs known as 5-aminosalicylates are the mainstay of treatment for people with mild symptoms. However, these may be ineffective in people with moderate or severe symptoms, and often steroids are then given, on a short term basis, to reduce inflammation and calm the condition. These are not used over the long term, because although highly effective, they do have unwanted side effects. In addition, other medication may be required on an ad hoc basis. For example antibiotics are sometimes needed to fight a secondary infection, or iron supplements used to treat anemia.

If medication fails to alleviate the symptoms or if complications have occurred, surgery may be required to remove the affected part of the gut or other obstructions. Indeed some 80% of all sufferers with moderate symptoms will require some surgery during the course of their treatment. In addition a diet of easily digestible food may be prescribed for a few weeks during a flare up to give the body a chance to rest, after which a normal diet is slowly re-introduced.

It is promising to note however that research and development into the disease continue and there are hopes that new drugs will become available in the near future. Until then most people with Crohn's disease cope very well with the condition and the majority are able to lead normal lives.

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