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CROHN'S DISEASE: A Disorder on the rise, amongst the young and the productive of India.
- November 10, 2023
WHAT IS CROHN’S DISEASE?
Crohn’s disease is an incurable inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation (red, swollen, and tender areas) always affects the innermost lining of the gastrointestinal tract, called the mucosa.
Crohn’s disease is an incurable inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation (red, swollen, and tender areas) always affects the innermost lining of the gastrointestinal tract, called the mucosa.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CROHN’S DISEASE?
Crohn’s disease can present as abdominal disease, anorectal (anus and rectum) disease, or both. Patients with Crohn’s disease are at greater risk of developing a fistula. A fistula is a small tunnel that tracks from one portion of the bowel to either another portion of the bowel, another organ, or the skin. Symptoms vary widely among patients and often come and go over a long period of time. These include:
∙ Abdominal cramping
∙ Abdominal pain
∙ Ongoing diarrhoea
∙ Chronic constipation
∙ Bleeding with bowel movements
∙ Fever
∙ Extreme tiredness
∙ Weight loss
∙ Drainage from the skin around the anus
∙ Abscesses (infections) around the anus that come back
∙ Anal fissures
Crohn’s disease can present as abdominal disease, anorectal (anus and rectum) disease, or both. Patients with Crohn’s disease are at greater risk of developing a fistula. A fistula is a small tunnel that tracks from one portion of the bowel to either another portion of the bowel, another organ, or the skin. Symptoms vary widely among patients and often come and go over a long period of time. These include:
∙ Abdominal cramping
∙ Abdominal pain
∙ Ongoing diarrhoea
∙ Chronic constipation
∙ Bleeding with bowel movements
∙ Fever
∙ Extreme tiredness
∙ Weight loss
∙ Drainage from the skin around the anus
∙ Abscesses (infections) around the anus that come back
∙ Anal fissures
WHOM DOES IT AFFECT?
Any age group may be affected, but the majority of patients are young adults between 16 and 40 years old. Crohn’s disease occurs most commonly in people living in northern climates. It affects men more than and appears to be common in some families.
Any age group may be affected, but the majority of patients are young adults between 16 and 40 years old. Crohn’s disease occurs most commonly in people living in northern climates. It affects men more than and appears to be common in some families.
WHAT CAUSES CROHN’S DISEASE?
The exact cause is not known. However, current theories centre on an immunologic (the body’s defence system) and/or bacterial cause. Crohn’s disease is not contagious, but it does have a slight genetic (inherited) tendency. An X-ray study of the small intestine may be used to diagnose Crohn’s disease.
The exact cause is not known. However, current theories centre on an immunologic (the body’s defence system) and/or bacterial cause. Crohn’s disease is not contagious, but it does have a slight genetic (inherited) tendency. An X-ray study of the small intestine may be used to diagnose Crohn’s disease.
HOW CAN I REDUCE RECURRENCE?
Recurrence is most common in patients who stop taking their medications, so it is vital to follow your physician’s advice. Smoking negatively impacts every organ in the body and presents health risks for everyone, so quitting is advised. For patients with Crohn’s disease, smoking has been linked to higher recurrence rates, so quitting can reduce this risk.
Recurrence is most common in patients who stop taking their medications, so it is vital to follow your physician’s advice. Smoking negatively impacts every organ in the body and presents health risks for everyone, so quitting is advised. For patients with Crohn’s disease, smoking has been linked to higher recurrence rates, so quitting can reduce this risk.
