Crohn?s Disease Information

Crohn?s Disease Information
Anyone suffering with Crohn?s Disease knows well the misery that this inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will cause to the digestive tract. The disease starts out with just a twinge in the lower bowels and gradually progresses until the symptoms range from abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, malnutrition, blood in the stool, ulcers and severe weight loss. Once this disease is fully active, symptoms progress from the simply annoying to the severe and dangerous. Patients begin to develope fevers, chronic fatigue, arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, and in children, even delayed growth and or sexual developement.

Researchers?have yet to locate the exact cause of Crohn?s disease. For years many doctors?suspected that diet and stress were the culprits but now these factors are known to only aggravate the condition. Currently the two possible causes being investigated are that the immune system it having a difficult time fighting off a virus or bacterium because the system is abnormal in some way.

There are a number of risk factors for Crohn?s Disease. While you can contract it at any age the most likely ages are between 20 and 30. Caucasians have a much higher chance to contract Crohn?s than any ethnic group other than Ashkenazi Jews and if you have a close family member with it there is a 1 in 5 chance that you will develope the disease also. Smokers are more likely to need surgery after developing Crohn?s than are non-smokers and finally, if you live in an urban area or in an industrialized country, you are more likely to contract Crohn?s, or if you live in a northern climate. Many doctors recommend careful use of both Isotretinion (Accutane), and any non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibrprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, which, while not shown to cause Crohn?s can cause similar symptoms, or aggravate existing conditions.

Research has yet to locate a cure for Crohn?s Disease, but there are therapies and medications that can assist in reducing the symptoms to tolerable levels, or even bring a lasting remission. The primary end goal of any treatment is to reduce the symptoms, such as the painful inflammation. Two common treatments are the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and Immune system supressors. While both of these treatments work on different areas, both are used to reduce the main problem which is the inflammation. Other treatments include the use of anti-biotics to attack abcesses that may develope and laxatives, pain relievers, iron suppliments and special diets.