Crohn's Disease Essay

Specific Characteristics :

Crohn’s most commonly affects the end of the small bowel and the beginning of the colon, but it may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease can also affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall. The inflammation of the intestine can skip,leaving normal areas in the bowel between patches of diseased intestine.

Causes:

The cause of Crohn 's disease is unknown. However, it is likely due to an abnormal response of the immune system. Food or bacteria in the intestines, or even the lining of the bowel may cause the uncontrolled inflammation associated with Crohn 's disease.

Signs and Symptoms:

The symptoms of Crohn 's disease depend on where the disease occurs in the bowel and its severity. These are some symptom examples

Chronic diarrhea, often bloody and containing mucus or pus

Weight loss

Fever

Abdominal pain and tenderness

Feeling of a mass or fullness in the abdomen

Rectal bleeding

In addition, gallstones and kidney stones may also develop as a result of Crohn 's disease. It is often inherited. About 20% of people with Crohn 's disease may have a close relative with Crohn 's disease. It can affect people of all ages, it is primarily an illness of the young. Most people are diagnosed before age 30, but the disease can occur in people in their 60 's, 70 's, or even later in life. Children with the disease may experience decreased growth or delayed sexual development.

Diagnosis : A specialist called a gastroenterologist may perform a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to obtain bowel tissue for analysis. Blood tests, including blood counts .Stool samples to rule out infections as the cause of diarrhea. Special X-rays of both the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract may be ordered as well to confirm the location of the inflammation.