Crohn’s disease is an inflammation and swelling within the digestive tract. It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although Crohn’s is usually a disease seen in the intestines, it can affect all layers of the digestive tract and can cause a wide variety of problems inside and outside of the digestive system.
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease but with appropriate treatment and care, most symptoms can be controlled and managed. Crohn’s disease can go into inactive stages for periods of time where there are no signs or symptoms. These inactive stages are called remissions. (Ccfa.org, “About Crohn’s,” accessed March 12, 2010).
Signs and Symptoms of Crohn's Disease
When Crohn’s disease is active, signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe and can come on gradually or suddenly. The most common symptom of Crohn’s disease is diarrhea. Other general symptoms of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain, cramping, nausea and vomiting, bloating, fatigue and high fever. Patients with Crohn’s disease often have decreased appetite which leads to weight loss.
Severe cases of Crohn’s disease can cause sores that develop on the surface of the intestines. These sores, called ulcers, can become very large and penetrate deep into or through the intestinal wall. Ulcers in the mouth may also develop. Other symptoms of severe Crohn’s disease may be arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders and inflammation of the liver or bile ducts.
All of these symptoms are dependent on the location, the amount and the severity of inflammation and swelling. There are different subtypes of Crohn’s disease that better predict specific symptoms. (Mayoclinic.com, “Crohn’s Disease,” accessed March 12, 2010).
Subtypes of Crohn’s Disease
One subtype of Crohn’s disease is called Crohn’s colitis. This is an inflammation confined only to the colon. A second subtype is Crohn’s Enteritis. This is inflammation confined to the small intestine. Crohn’s Enteritis can affect the first part of the small intestine called the jejunum, or the second part of the small intestine called the ileum. If the inflammation is confined only to the ileum, the subtype is called Crohn’s Ileitis.
When the inflammation only affects the very end of the small intestine, the terminal ileum, the subtype is called Crohn’s terminal ileitis. The last subtype is called Crohn’s entero-colitis and ileo-colitis. These terms describe inflammation involving both the small intestine and the colon. (Webmd.com, “Ibd-Crohns-Disease,” accessed March 12, 2010).
Treatments for Crohn’s Disease
Although Crohn’s disease cannot be completely cured, there are several treatment goals. These goals include bringing about remissions, maintaining remissions, relieving symptoms, minimizing side effects of treatment and improving one’s quality of life.
Traditionally, the first line of treatment that a doctor will initiate is medicine. For those cases where medicine is not effective enough or where the disease is causing further complications, the doctor will try combinations of medicines or even surgery if indicated.
What Can be Done at Home for Crohn’s Disease
There are several life changes that can be made that help in managing Crohn’s disease and in controlling symptoms. One of the most helpful changes is in choosing a suitable diet. Bland foods like pasta, breads and crackers can help soothe gastrointestinal symptoms. Avoiding fruits and vegetables will help control symptoms but it is important to eat a variety of foods in order to maintain healthy levels of vitamins and minerals and other necessary nutrients.
Keeping a food diary will help one find out which foods cause problems so that troublesome foods can be minimized or avoided. No one diet is right for every person with Crohn’s disease. A person with any type of inflammatory bowel disease does not always absorb vitamins and nutrients from the food they eat. It may be necessary to create a Crohn’s disease diet that is high in calories and high in protein. It is sometimes easier to achieve this by eating snacks in-between each meal. In some cases, a doctor may also recommend a vitamin and mineral supplement.
Webmd.com, in the article “Crohn’s Disease”, recommends a few more home treatments. Antidiarrheal medications can be useful for mild symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen should be avoided. Studies have shown that these types of pain relievers can cause flare-ups of symptoms. (Webmd.com ”Ibd-crohns-disease,” accessed March 12, 2010).
There are other types of pain relievers and medications that will help minimize symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Before starting a medication regime, it is important to consult with a physician. (Webmd.com, “Ibd-Crohns-Disease,” accessed March 12, 2010).
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory illness that most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood. However, it can also begin during childhood or even later in life. There is no known cause for this disease. There are several scientific theories for what causes this disease but, to date, there is no known cause. Crohn’s disease is not contagious. Men and women are equally affected by Crohn’s disease. Symptoms can be controlled and the disease can go into periods of remission.
Mary Ann George - I am a registered nurse currently working as a case manager in the home health industry. My credentials include a BS degree in education, ...
