Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease

PrognosisPeople with Crohn's are most likely able to lead normal lives. They would need to change their diets because certain foods will thicken the walls of the intestine. 80% of people who suffer from Crohn's will most likely have to get surgery at some point in their lives. In the surgery, most surgeons will take out the part of the intestine that is diseased and connect the healthy parts. Some people will have to have surgery more than once in their lives if the disease occurs again. The prognosis of a shortened life span or serious complications will increase the longer the illness occurs.

TreatmentThere is no known cure for Crohn's disease. People with Crohn's have to go on a diet because some foods will thicken (inflame) the bowel in the illium and more problems will occur. Medication helps with treating the disease. Surgery will also help with Crohn's incase the disease gets really bad. Treatment with surgery will occur if there is a failure of medical therapy to control the disease adequately, chronic or frequently recurring obstructions, or abscesses with or without fistulas.

BibliographyAli,Taussef.Crohn's and Colitis.Mississauga:JohnWiley'SonsCanada,2013.print.Black,Jessica.Dede,cummings.LivingwithCrohn's'Colitis.UnitedStates:hatherleigh,2010.print.Saibil,Fred.Crohn'sDiseaseandUlcerativeColitis.Buffalo:FireflyBooks,2003.print.http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/crohnsdisease.htmlhttp://galenet.galegroup.com/http://www.ccfa.org/research/current-research-studies/

Current Events/ResearchThe Crohn's ' Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) are currently researching Microbiome Initiative and Genetics Initiative. Microbiome Initiative studies the role that gut microbes normally found in the intestines play in the digestive health and disease. To study this scientists use the latest generation of big parrellel DNA sequencers and sophisticated computational methods. Genetics Initiative looks at the relationship between specific genes and the organisms in the intestine to better understand the digestive disease.

Definition/Description of Crohn'sCrohn's is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It can affect any part of gastrointestinal sytems (GI), otherwise known as the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus. Although, the most common place for Crohn's to occur is in the last part of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. This area is called the ileocecal valve. The disease can thicken (inflame) the intenstinal wall which results in food/waste blockage and scarring of the intestinal wall. The scarring and cuts on the intestinal wall are called ulcers. The scars will eventually lead to the formation of strictures which is abnormal narrowing and will cause obstruction. Food can get caught in these cuts and infections can develop.

Overview of the digestive systemCrohn's Disease affects the digestive system. Digestion is the mechanical and chemical process in which molecules are broken down into smaller pieces and different substances. The digestive system starts in the mouth and ends when waste is removed from the anus. Teeth break down food by chewing and then you swallow and food enters your esophagus. When the food is in the mouth saliva helps moisten it. Food travels from the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach mixes the food with acids and other enzymes to break down the food into a thick liquid. Then the liquid travels to the small intestine. In the small intestine enzymes from the liver, pancreas, and gallbadder come together to break down the food even more. Once the food is broken down absorption takes place in the small intestine through villi. After absorption the leftover liquid goes into the large intestine. In the large intestine water is absorbed into the body. The leftover waste that the body does not need goes into the rectum to be compacted. Once compacted it is deposited out the anus. There is also a reference to the immune system in Crohn's and you will hear more about it in the video.

DiagnosisCrohn's is difficult to diagnose because it is so similar to other intestinal disorders. A common age for a diagnosis is anywhere between 15-35 years. There are many tests that can take place in diagnosing someone for Crohn's. Some tests for people are stool, blood colonscopy and endoscopy, CT scans, leukocyte scans, MRI, and ultrasounds. People can also get upper GI series test such as barium enemas and X-rays. Genetic test may also be performed. If children have not grown for a while doctors suggest that it could be a part of Crohn's because Crohn's can stunt your growth.

Symptoms/Signs>Severe abdominal pain>Diarrhea>Blood in stool samples>Urgency-to have sudden bowel movement>Tenesmus-alway feeling like you have to have bowel movement>Gas and bloating>Nausea and vomitting>Fever>Weight loss>Little or no growth in children>Aching joints>Kidney stones>Rectal bleeding