Showing posts with label Pediatric Crohn's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pediatric Crohn's. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Pediatric Crohn's Disease

Pediatric Crohn's Disease
What is Pediatric Crohn's Disease? First, it must be understood that there isn't really a big different between Pediatric Crohn's Disease and Adult Crohn's Disease. The description, signs and symptoms, and treatments are the same.



Crohn's disease, also known as granulomatous colitis and regional enteritis, is an inflammation various part of the GI tract. The GI tract that is generally effect by Crohn's disease is typically the proximal portion of the colon. This disease broaden through all the stratums of the intestinal wall, and it could also involve the mesentery regional and lymph nodes. Crohn's disease generally is more widespread in adults that are aged between 20 to 40 years of old. It is 2 or 3 times more common in the Jewish population, but it is the not very common in the African population.



What are the signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease? The clinical effects can be mild and nonspecific initially. It will, however, differ according to the location and extent of the lesions. The signs of Cohn's disease are inflammatory signs like appendicitis, and a steady, colicky pain in the right lower quadrant in the stomach. Other signs are tenderness, cramping, diarrhea nausea, flatulence, and fever. Some bleeding will occur and though it is usually mild it may become quite massive. A person with Crohn's disease may also have bloody stools.



Some of the chronic symptoms are persistent and not as severe as the initial disease. This includes diarrhea (which is not limited to just watery stools but also includes having a stool five to six times a day). There is also steatorrhea (additional fat in feces), a decrease in weight, pain in the right lower abdomen and some patients even report clubbing in the fingers. A lot of patients have weakness and fatigue. However, with Crohn's disease there can be complications. Some complications are intestinal obstruction intra-abdominal abscesses, and fistula formation.



Treatment for Crohn's disease is symptomatic. The therapy may include total parenteral nutrition. The drug therapy may include anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. For complications a surgery may be needed to be performed.



In conclusion, it is extremely important to understand what Crohn's disease is because there are many people who suffer from this disease. If you or a love one suffers from Crohn's diease then it's important to understand all the implication of this disorder, so that you or that love one can get can better treatment.