What is Crohn's disease? Crohn's ...

What is Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease causes festers to form in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract anywhere from the aperture to the anus. Symptoms include stomach cramps and pain that issues and goes, diarrhea, and vital current in your stool. Other symptoms include weight los nausea, joint pain, and feeling tired. an people with Crohn's disease have rigorous symptoms, while others have les simple symptoms. Some people with the disease have lengthy periods without symptoms, even without needing treatment. Others with more harsh disease will need long-term treatment or on the same level surgery.

Who prepares Crohn's disease?

Almost 500000 commonalty in the United States have Crohn's disease. Anyone can realize Crohn's disease, but it's more often met with in women, whites, and Jewish family It is not known what causes Crohn's disease. It strike one as beings to run in families, still there is no known pattern of inheritance.

by what mode can my doctor tell if I have Crohn's disease?

If your doctor thinks you may have Crohn's disease, he or she will ask you about your symptoms and do a completed exam to look for signs of the illness. If your symptoms and exam findings recommend that you may have Crohn's disease, your doctor may do near blood work. While no vital fluid test can prove you have Crohn's disease, your children might show anemia, salt imbalance, vitamin deficiency, or increased signs of inflammation. Your doctor also may order special x-rays or a manner of proceeding called endoscopy, which lets your doctor consider at your colon or stomach to check for ulcers

to what degree is Crohn's disease treated?

The treatment of Crohn's disease be pendents on how bad it is and where it is in your GI tract. When the disease is mild, medicines called salicylates may help. Sulfasalazine (brand name: Azulfidine) and mesalamine (brand name: Rowasa) are the most numerous common salicylates. Antibiotics such as metronidazole (brand name: Flagyl) and ciprofloxacin (brand name: Cipro) are also used to treat mild Crohn's disease.

Steroids are generally used for somebodys with more severe disease. In more aggressive disease, steroids may be used with immunosuppressants, or with a newer medicine called infliximab (brand name: Remicade). If you have same severe disease, you may ne to stay in the hospital. Sometimes, surgery is distressed but it does not help the disease.

What can I reckon upon after treatment?

The succes of treatment for Crohn's disease varies. While there is no known remedy for the illness, many folks have long periods without symptoms. Your doctor will ne to papal court you regularly to check for signs of active disease or any disease complications. family with long-term disease may become degradeed or have other mood disorders. Your doctor will check you for these riddles as well.

Where can I secure more information?

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America

386 Park Avenue southerly 17th Floor New York, NY 10016-8804

Telephone: 1-800-932-2423 or 1-212-685-3440

E-mail: info@ccfa.org

Web address: www.ccfa.org

In addition, you can visit the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse at www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/crohns/crohns.htm.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group