What is crohn's disease?
By definition, crohn's is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, especially the colon and ileum, associated with ulcers . But these hard words barely have any meaning to people who will just go on with their lives. To break it down, Inflammatory bowel disease(also known as crohn's) is not a single ailment. It actually refers to a number of disorders that cause inflammation and, often, ulcers in the intestinal tract. Ulcers are tears or breaks in the lining of the intestines that can cause pain or bleeding. Crohn's disease most often develops where the small and large intestines meet and usually causes all layers of the intestinal wall to become sore, inflamed, and swollen. Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus.
Genetic Transmission
The inheritance pattern of crohn's disease is unclear because many genetic and environmental factors are likely to be involved. This condition tends to cluster in families, however, having an affected family member is a significant risk factor in the disease.
Disorder Characteristics and symptoms
Characteristics and symptoms of Crohn's disease can range from mild to severe. ... When the disease is active, signs and symptoms may include:
Treatments
Treatment for Crohn's disease usually involves drug therapy or, in certain cases, surgery. There is currently no cure for the disease, and there is no one treatment that works for everyone. Doctors use one of two approaches to treatment — either "step-up," which starts with milder drugs first, or "top-down," which gives people stronger drugs earlier in the treatment process.
Crohn's disease is not uncommon. Recent estimates suggest that up to 600,000 people in the United States alone are afflicted with Crohn's disease, evenly affecting males and females. It is more common in developed countries and is seen most commonly in North America and Western Europe. It also appears to be more common in urban rather than rural areas and in the northern rather than the southern areas. Although Crohn's disease can develop at any age, it most commonly presents between ages 20-30 years. One-quarter of patients present before the age of 20. Although less common, elderly patients can still develop Crohn's disease. -- See more at: http://www.bidmc.org/Centers-and-Departments/Departments/Digestive-Disease-Center/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Program/Crohns-Disease/Who-gets-Crohns-disease-and-how-common-is-it.aspx#sthash.z2sGGXJH.dpuf
Interesting Facts
Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/crohnsdisease.htm#ixzz3P8hJPBtK
http://www.ehow.com/about_5387924_interesting-crohns-disease.html
Recent Research:
The Genetics Initiative continues the work of several recent studies that have demonstrated how specific organisms in the gut can cause inflammatory bowel diseases in the presence of specific genes, and that specific genes only cause disease in the presence of specific organisms. The Genetics Initiative is a collaborative effort to better understand the genes and their functions, and the chain of biological events that result in IBD (the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases).
he Pediatric RiskStratification Initiative is working to “crack the code” of disease prognosis by identifying measurable risk factors for the complications of severe disease. CCFA’s Professional KIIDS Pediatric Network is committed to identifying the genetic, microbiological, and immunological factors that are predictive of more severe disease. The resulting knowledge will translate into new protocols for individualized approaches to treating inflammatory bowel diseases in children and the prevention of severe disease and itslifelong consequences.
By definition, crohn's is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, especially the colon and ileum, associated with ulcers . But these hard words barely have any meaning to people who will just go on with their lives. To break it down, Inflammatory bowel disease(also known as crohn's) is not a single ailment. It actually refers to a number of disorders that cause inflammation and, often, ulcers in the intestinal tract. Ulcers are tears or breaks in the lining of the intestines that can cause pain or bleeding. Crohn's disease most often develops where the small and large intestines meet and usually causes all layers of the intestinal wall to become sore, inflamed, and swollen. Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus.
Genetic Transmission
The inheritance pattern of crohn's disease is unclear because many genetic and environmental factors are likely to be involved. This condition tends to cluster in families, however, having an affected family member is a significant risk factor in the disease.
Disorder Characteristics and symptoms
Characteristics and symptoms of Crohn's disease can range from mild to severe. ... When the disease is active, signs and symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea. ...
- Fever and fatigue. ...
- Abdominal pain and cramping. ...
- Blood in your stool. ...
- Mouth sores. ...
- Reduced appetite and weight loss. ...
Treatments
Treatment for Crohn's disease usually involves drug therapy or, in certain cases, surgery. There is currently no cure for the disease, and there is no one treatment that works for everyone. Doctors use one of two approaches to treatment — either "step-up," which starts with milder drugs first, or "top-down," which gives people stronger drugs earlier in the treatment process.
Crohn's disease is not uncommon. Recent estimates suggest that up to 600,000 people in the United States alone are afflicted with Crohn's disease, evenly affecting males and females. It is more common in developed countries and is seen most commonly in North America and Western Europe. It also appears to be more common in urban rather than rural areas and in the northern rather than the southern areas. Although Crohn's disease can develop at any age, it most commonly presents between ages 20-30 years. One-quarter of patients present before the age of 20. Although less common, elderly patients can still develop Crohn's disease. -- See more at: http://www.bidmc.org/Centers-and-Departments/Departments/Digestive-Disease-Center/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Program/Crohns-Disease/Who-gets-Crohns-disease-and-how-common-is-it.aspx#sthash.z2sGGXJH.dpuf
Interesting Facts
- Despite years of research, the exact cause of Crohn's disease is not known, which limits the ability to treat the disease. In Crohn's disease, the immune system attacks the gastrointestinal system. Heredity plays a role, as well. The overactive immune system in Crohn's disease attacks good bacteria and attempts to fight them off, causing white blood cells to gather in an area. This pool of white blood cells results in the inflammation.
- Crohn's disease may produce symptoms outside the gut all together. The skin, joints, eyes and liver can be involved, making Crohn's disease a 'multi-system' or generalized disease.
- Crohn's disease is named after Dr Burrill B Crohn, a New York doctor, who reported cases in the 1930s.
Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/crohnsdisease.htm#ixzz3P8hJPBtK
http://www.ehow.com/about_5387924_interesting-crohns-disease.html
Recent Research:
The Genetics Initiative continues the work of several recent studies that have demonstrated how specific organisms in the gut can cause inflammatory bowel diseases in the presence of specific genes, and that specific genes only cause disease in the presence of specific organisms. The Genetics Initiative is a collaborative effort to better understand the genes and their functions, and the chain of biological events that result in IBD (the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases).
he Pediatric RiskStratification Initiative is working to “crack the code” of disease prognosis by identifying measurable risk factors for the complications of severe disease. CCFA’s Professional KIIDS Pediatric Network is committed to identifying the genetic, microbiological, and immunological factors that are predictive of more severe disease. The resulting knowledge will translate into new protocols for individualized approaches to treating inflammatory bowel diseases in children and the prevention of severe disease and itslifelong consequences.
Crohn's Disease Doesn't Care if You're Famous
Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. President
"President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a war hero, was the 34th president of the United States. Ike, as he was called, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while he was in office, only months before he ran for his second term. Though the President initially kept his Crohn’s disease a secret at the suggestion of his doctors, he soon underwent surgery for ileitis, and the news of his Crohn’s became public."
Source:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/crohns-disease-pictures/7-celebs-with-crohns-disease.aspx#02
"President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a war hero, was the 34th president of the United States. Ike, as he was called, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while he was in office, only months before he ran for his second term. Though the President initially kept his Crohn’s disease a secret at the suggestion of his doctors, he soon underwent surgery for ileitis, and the news of his Crohn’s became public."
Source:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/crohns-disease-pictures/7-celebs-with-crohns-disease.aspx#02