Crohn's Disease - Symptoms and Treatment
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the
digestive tract. The disease is also called granulomatous
enteritis, colitis, regional enteritis, regional ileitis,
ileitis, or terminal ileitis and it causes ulcerations of the
small and large intestine. The disease can affect the digestive
system anywhere from the mouth to the anus, but distinctively
affects the terminal ileum as well as demarcated areas of large
bowel. The disease is named after the American physician,
Burrill Bernard Crohn (1884-1983), who described the disease in
1932.
Crohn's Disease Symptoms
Crohn's disease symptoms may include:
* Chronic diarrhea & disrupted digestion: It becomes difficult
for the patients in the acute phase of the disease to eat and/or
digest food.
* Painful and debilitating inflammation
* Fistulas of the colon
* Hemorrhoids
* Lipid absorption problems
* Anemia: Persistent rectal bleeding may lead to anemia.
* Bruising of the shins.
* Fever, pain and psychological damage in many cases
* Crohn's disease in children may cause delayed development and
stunted growth.
Crohn's Disease Treatment
Crohn's disease treatment may include medication, surgery,
dietary advice and Helminthic therapy (current research).
Medication Treatment
Acute treatment: steroids are used in the initial stages.
Long-term steroid therapy is discouraged because of their side
effects. Corticosteroids like prednisone are traditionally used
medications. The side effects of steroids may include insulin
resistance and frank diabetes, hypertension (high blood
pressure), glaucoma, osteoporosis, severe psychological issues
etc.
Chronic treatment (Steroid-sparing): The treatment may include
Salicylates - 5-ASA derivates - 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds
such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine