Crohn’s disease is a chronic, lifelong condition which is part of a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (gut).
Crohn’s disease is a chronic, lifelong condition which is part of a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (gut). This inflammation can be anywhere from the mouth to the anus and most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon.
Crohn’s disease is named after Dr Burrill B. Crohn, who first described the disease in 1932 along with colleagues Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr, Gordon D. Oppenheimer.
The other main type of IBD is ulcerative colitis (UC). Crohn’s disease and UC share some of the same symptoms, but it is important to understand that they affect different areas of the gut.
While Crohn’s disease can affect any of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) UC just affects the colon (large intestine) and rectum. Crohn’s disease can also affect the entire thickness of the digestive tract wall, while UC only involves the innermost lining of the colon. Crohn’s disease may also skip areas - meaning you could have inflammation near you mouth and also in your small bowel but no where in between.
There is no known cure for Crohn’s disease. Some people have surgery to remove parts of their gut which are affected but inflammation could return at another time and having this surgery doesn’t necessarily remove all of the symptoms of IBD.
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What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
Crohn's disease symptoms vary greatly depending on where you have inflammation.
Some of the common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
Diarrhoea which may be mixed with mucus, blood or pus
There is no one method of diagnosing Crohn’s disease. If you have been suffering from Crohn’s-type symptoms for several weeks or more then the following tests may be carried out:
There are millions of people around the world who suffer from Crohn’s disease so it’s important to remember that you are not alone. It can affect people of all ages, including children, however it most commonly first develops between the ages of 16 - 30. A large number of cases also develop between 60 - 80.
What is remission?
People with Crohn’s disease often go through periods of flare-ups where they have severe symptoms and periods where their symptoms are more mild or non-existent. Someone with the disease who isn’t displaying any symptoms is known to be in remission.
What are the complications of Crohn’s disease?
Over time there are various complications that can occur as a result of Crohn’s disease. These include:
Strictures - narrowing of the intestine caused by inflammation
Fistulas - a channel developing between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus or vagina