Digestive System

Medical management of Crohn’s disease focuses on reducing symptoms and bringing on a remission. Once this is accomplished, the goal is to maintain remission for as long as possible. Most of the medications used to treat Crohn’s disease are generally safe for long-term use. Many doctors keep individuals on maintenance doses of medications indefinitely. Medications […]

Because the inflammation in Crohn’s disease affects the entire thickness of the intestinal wall (rather than only the inner mucosal layer, as in ulcerative colitis), particular complications can occur. These include: Fistulas Fissures Strictures and obstructions Abscesses In addition, individuals who live with Crohn’s disease are at risk for malnutrition. Fistulas Fistulas are openings that breach

Surgery does not cure Crohn’s disease, but corrects an immediate problem that cannot be resolved using medication. Four types of surgery are commonly performed on individuals with Crohn’s disease: Partial bowel resection, to remove a diseased portion of intestine Strictureplasty Correction of fistulas Draining of an abscess It is estimated that about 75% of individuals

Living with a chronic disease has often been equated with having a second full-time job. It is a constant management struggle that involves organizing a medication schedule, keeping appointments with health-care providers, and conserving physical and mental energy. In addition, people with Crohn’s disease must stick to lifestyle regimens that help maintain maximum health. These

Some people who feel a flare-up coming on seek medical attention immediately, while others choose to “lay low” for a few days and try to “ride it out,” only speaking to the doctor if they can’t shake the symptoms after a couple of weeks. Early medical intervention will often, though not always, result in more

In the last quarter century, it has become clear that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect large numbers of children and young teens. Nutritional deficiency is a major issue in treatment of children with Crohn’s disease. Children are growing machines. Inflammatory bowel disease may not cause great weight loss for youngsters at first, so failure

There is no evidence to suggest that inactive Crohn’s disease has any effect on either female or male fertility, or on a woman’s ability to carry a pregnancy to term and have a vaginal delivery. None of the medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease have been shown to be teratogenic, which means to cause

While Crohn’s disease is often thought of as a disease of the young, about 25% of new cases are diagnosed in individuals over age 60. Diagnosis of late-onset Crohn’s disease is often difficult, since some of the typical symptoms are similar to those of other diseases commonly found in older people. These include eschemic colitis,

Every day, scientists are gaining a better understanding of Crohn’s disease: its genetic aspects, how the immune system comes to malfunction, and the mechanisms of the relationship between infection and chronic inflammatory disease. New medical compounds are being tested in clinical trials and promise to provide greater relief with fewer side effects. Surgical techniques continue

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Crohn’s Disease. Q: Is Crohn’s disease an autoimmune disease? A: A malfunction in the immune system is certainly a part of Crohn’s disease. This may be an inability to “turn off” the immune system after it “turns on” for an appropriate reason. Or, the immune system may “turn

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a chronic, inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The majority of cases of Crohn’s disease involve the terminal ileum, the place in the body where the small

Here are definitions of medical terms related to Crohn’s disease. Abscess: A pocket of infection on the bowel wall or outside the bowel wall near a portion of diseased bowel tissue. Abscesses cause high fever and pain. Barium enema: A procedure in which a special dye called barium is pumped into the colon through a tube inserted