What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is one of the two main types of irritable bowel disease, along with ulcerative colitis, and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The disease was named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who first discovered the condition in 1932. Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system attacks tissues and cells in the body it perceives as foreign. In the case of Crohn’s disease, the body’s immune system attacks its digestive organs, including the intestines. Start reading now for all of the necessary information about what Crohn’s disease is, including symptoms and treatment.

Disease Basics

During the early stages of Crohn’s disease, small ulcerations are formed on the inner surface of the bowel walls. Over time, the erosions become deeper and larger, causing scarring and bowel stiffness. The bowel becomes increasingly narrow as the disease progresses and can eventually become obstructed. Crohn’s disease may result in deep ulcers that cause holes in the bowel wall in which bacterial infections can occur and spread to organs surrounding the abdominal cavity. This condition will disrupt the body’s ability to perform healthy functions such as digesting food, eliminating waste, and absorbing the required nutrition.

Continue reading for details on the common symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Symptoms

In most cases, the areas Crohn’s disease affects are the colon and the final part of the small intestine (the ileum). Symptoms of this condition typically develop gradually, but sometimes symptoms will start without warning. Sometimes patients report periods in which no symptoms are present. Symptoms can range in severity from mild to more extreme depending on the affected individual and each case.

When symptoms of Crohn’s disease are present, they typically include a collection of infected pus, high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, mouth sores, abdominal pain and cramping, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue. Patients who have severe cases of Crohn’s disease may also experience symptoms such as joint, eye, skin, liver, and bile duct inflammation. Children with severe Crohn’s disease may also have delayed growth or sexual development.

Continue reading for information on Crohn’s disease risk factors.

Risk Factors And Causes

Crohn’s disease is known to affect up to 700,000 individuals, including both men and women, in the United States. Although the disease can occur at any age, it is usually found in those between fifteen and thirty-five. Typically, patients develop the condition while they are younger. Crohn’s disease can also affect individuals of any ethnicity, though Caucasians and those of Eastern European Jewish descent appear to be at the highest risk. Furthermore, those with a family history of Crohn’s disease are at a much higher risk for developing it themselves. Reports indicate one out of five individuals with Crohn’s disease also have a close family member with the condition as well.

Diet and stress are the most significant known factors to cause Crohn’s disease, particularly diets high in refined foods and fat. It may also be due to overuse of antibiotics, which wipe out all the bacteria in the gut, even good bacteria. Taking antibiotics can weaken the immune system, which leaves the door wide open for infection to occur. Smoking can also greatly increase an individual's risk of developing Crohn’s disease, though it is also the factor most easily controlled. Finally, although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium do not cause Crohn’s disease, they can exacerbate symptoms.

Continue reading to learn about diagnosing Crohn’s disease and medical treatments.

Diagnosis And Treatment

Traditionally, Crohn’s disease is diagnosed through a colonoscopy, although other methods doctors will use include lab tests, an endoscopy, barium X-rays, CT scans, video capsule endoscopy, and a physical exam. Medication that suppresses the immune system is usually used to treat Crohn’s disease, as suppressing the immune system is thought to stop the abnormal response of the immune system from attacking the digestive organs. Other medications such as steroids are designed to reduce inflammation and induce remission.

As Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition, it will never be cured. But shifts in diet and lifestyle can further help patients manage the condition. Continue reading to learn more about these treatments.

Lifestyle Treatment

In addition to medications, someone with Crohn’s disease can benefit from diet and lifestyle changes. Regarding diet, a plant-based diet including whole foods has been shown to be quite effective at preventing symptoms from flaring. Some patients find eliminating various animal products, such as eggs, meat, cheese, and even fish beneficial. Other Crohn’s patients swear by eliminating grains and starchy carbohydrates. Finally, some research shows a diet high in fiber and including significant amounts of fruits and vegetables helps repair damaged tissue, supports the immune system’s response, and also promotes digestion, all of which alleviate symptoms. It all comes down to each specific case, as there is no one size fits all diet to reduce Crohn’s disease symptoms.