Information on Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of your digestive system and can affect any area from your mouth to your anus. It is found most often in the small bowel or your colon. According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Crohn's occurs most frequently in individuals between the ages of 15 and 35. There is no cure for Crohn's disease.

• Crohn's disease most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 15 and 35.

Causes

• CCFA indicates that research is ongoing to determine the cause of Crohn's disease. It may be the result of genetics or environmental factors.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of Crohn's disease may include persistent diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and cramping, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite and weight loss. It may also result in fissures (tears in the skin inside your anus) and fistulas (tunnels between intestinal loops or from the intestine to other organs, such as your bladder).

Diagnosis

• Crohn's disease is diagnosed by a combination of lab test results, barium x-rays of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and endoscopy.

Treatment

• Crohn's disease is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs (Asacol, Pentasa), corticosteroids (prednisone, Entocort), immune modifiers (azathioprine, 6-MP, methotrexate), antibiotics (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin) and biologic therapies (Remicade, Humira).

Complications

• Complications that may occur as a result of Crohn's disease include bowel obstruction due to scar formation and narrowing of the bowel, and nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption of nutrients. Bowel obstruction that does not resolve on its own will require surgery.