Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease. In Crohn's disease, the immune system attacks antibodies in the gastrointestinal tract and causes an inflammatory process - this can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth all the way down to the rectum. Unlike Ulcerous colitis which only attacks the lower colon and rectum.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease

The most common symptoms of Crohn's are abdominal pain, diarrhea (which can be bloody if the inflammation is severe), fever and weight loss.

Other symptoms that may occur are anemia, skin rash, arthritis, eye inflammation and fatigue. The person may also experience constipation and intestinal problems / intestinal lung (fistula). People with Crohn's disease have a higher risk of getting bowel cancer.

Clinical signs

As mentioned above under 'symptoms'.

Diagnosis and cause

Crohn's disease is caused by a number of factors, including epigenetic, immunological and bacterial. The result is a chronic inflammatory process in which the body's own immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract - most likely in an attempt to fight what it believes are microbial antibodies.

It is believed that the condition is partly due to a weakened immune system and genes have been found to play an essential role in the disease. Smoking has been linked to a doubled risk of Crohn's disease.

The diagnosis is made through a series of studies, including biopsy, imaging and thorough medical history. Other diseases that can be differential diagnoses include irritable bowel syndrome and Behcet's disease. Colonoscopy is recommended regularly (approximately once a year) 1 years after the diagnosis has been made - this to examine for bowel cancer and the like.

Who is affected by the disease?

The disease affects 3.2 per 1000 inhabitants in Europe and America. The condition is not as common in Africa and Asia. There has been a sharp rise in the disease in developed countries since the 1970s - and this may be due to changes in diet, increased pollution and other factors that play an epigenetic role in the condition.

Men and women are equally affected by Crohn's disease (1: 1). The condition usually starts in the teens or twenties - but can in rare cases start at other ages as well.

Treatment

There are no medications or surgeries that can cure Crohn's disease. Treatment is therefore aimed at being symptom-relieving rather than curative. Adapted diet can be very useful in the treatment of the condition - therefore feel free to contact a clinical nutritionist for examination and setup of food program. Avoiding gluten, lactose or a high fat content can be symptom-relieving for many - otherwise a high fiber content is often recommended, such as in oatmeal and the like.

It is also strongly recommended that smokers with this condition quit as soon as possible - as this irritates the disease on a large scale.

Related theme: Stomach ache? You should know this

Also read: - Complete overview of autoimmune diseases