What is Crohns disease?

Crohn's disease (also known as granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines which affects the whole gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease was named after the American gastroenterologist Burril Bernard Cronhn, who described fourteen disease's cases in 1932. Crohn's disease is in fact, one of the two most common inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) besides the Ulcerative Colitis, which is a chronic inflammatory condition that only involves the colon. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, which affects the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. This type of inflammation can involve all three layers of the intestines causing intestinal obstruction as well as intestinal swelling and scarring.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have no medical cure. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). According to the Patient Education Institute in Crohn's disease the inflammation involves the full thickness of the bowels, whereas in ulcerative colitis only the inside layer of the bowel is usually affected. Both predispose to cancer but ulcerative colitis to a greater extent. They affect approximately 500 thousand to 2 million people in the United States. Men and women are equally affected. IBD most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood, but it also can begin during childhood and later in life.

What Causes Crohns Disease?

Several theories exist about what causes Crohn's disease, but none have been proven. The human immune system is made from cells and different proteins that protect people from infection. The most popular theory is that the body's immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn's disease, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign. The immune system's response is to attack these "invaders." During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury.
Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohn's disease is a cause, or a result, of the disease. Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn's disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment. Foreign substances, also referred to as antigens, are found in the environment. One possible cause for inflammation may be the body's reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Some scientists think that a protein produced by the immune system, called anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may be a possible cause for the inflammation associated with Crohn's disease.

Is Crohn's Disease hereditary?

Crohn's disease does not seem to be a hereditary disease, which means that it is not passed from parent to child like some diseases are. However, around 20% of Crohn's disease patients have a blood relative with an inflammatory bowel disease. Some genetic markers have been identified but these are not entirely conclusive. There are also certain ethnic groups with a high incidence of Crohn's disease and some with a very low incidence.

The Symptoms of Crohn's Disease :

The symptoms of Crohn's disease depend on where in the intestinal tract the disorder appears. When the ileum (ileitis) is involved, recurrent pain may be experienced in the right lower abdomen. At times, the pain mimics acute appendicitis. When the colon is the site, diarrhea (sometimes bloody) may occur, along with fever and weight loss. Patients with Crohn's disease may also suffer from rectal bleeding, which can lead to anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin.)

Crohn's disease often affects the anal area where there may be a draining sinus tract called a fistula. A fistula is an abnormal connection between organs and vessels that normally do not connect. For instance, a fistula can be a connection between the colon and the bladder, the bladder and the vagina, etc. If fistulae develop, gas and stools may seep from them; depending on the place the fistula is located.

Crohn's disease can cause intestinal infections that can result in fever, severe pain and even death if it is not treated timely and properly.

Diagnosis:
In order to diagnose Crohn's disease, it is necessary to perform a detail physical examination which can include blood testing, a stool sample test, an upper gastrointestinal series or GI series, a colonoscopy, etc.

Diet and Crohn's Disease :

Diet and nutrition is very important when one is suffering from Crohn's disease, and should be considered in four separate roles :

* For reversing growth-failure in children
* Elemental diets as primary treatment for reducing disease activity
* As maintenance therapy on a long-term basis in the case of severe intestinal failure or short-bowel syndrome.
* As important add-on treatment to medical therapies for maintaining nutrition and correcting any nutritional deficiencies

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF DIET IN CROHNS DISEASE?

The role of diet and nutrition is very important in Crohns disease and should be considered in four separate roles:

As important add-on treatment to medical therapies for maintaining nutrition and correcting any nutritional deficiencies.

Elemental diets as primary treatment for reducing disease activity.

As maintenance therapy on a long-term basis in the case of severe intestinal failure or short-bowel syndrome.

How Is Crohn's Disease Treated?

Medical management of Crohn's disease focuses on reducing symptoms and bringing on a remission. Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. Once this is accomplished, the goal is to maintain remission for as long as possible, but there is no cure. The goal of AMP Floracel® is to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding

Crohns disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in 1932. It also is called granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis.

Crohns disease is related closely to another chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon called ulcerative colitis. Together, Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease have no medical cure. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). They affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million people in the United States. Men and women are equally affected. IBD most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood, but it also can begin during childhood and later in life.

What else Causes Crohns Disease?

Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohns disease is a cause, or a result, of the disease. Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohns disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment. Foreign substances, also referred to as antigens, are found in the environment. One possible cause for inflammation may be the body's reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Some scientists think that a protein produced by the immune system, called anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may be a possible cause for the inflammation associated with Crohns disease.

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