Confronting the Facts With Crohns Disease

Crohns disease is a potentially life-threatening type of infection that causes swelling in the walls of the digestive system. Due to limited knowledge on the disease, it is usually misdiagnosed on several occasions. It is necessary to understand how this disease comes about, its nature and some of the options one could consider upon diagnosis.

Crohns disease is part of a collective group of diseases known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (Mendall, 11). There are five known types of Crohns disease, and each of them has its set of symptoms. The first of the five types of Crohns diseases are the Ileocolitis which is the most common of the five. This disease specifically affects the colon and the ileum, and people who suffer from it experience diarrhoea, weight loss, abdomen pain and cramping. The second type of the Crohns disease is the Illetis which attacks the ileum. In addition to Ileocolitis symptoms, the patient is most likely to have inflammatory abscesses, fistulas which form on the lower abdomen( Acta Derm Venereo, 389). Gastroduodenal Crohns disease is the third type which in loves the duodenum and the stomach. Patients in this category suffer weight and appetite loss as well as nausea. The fourth in the list is Jejunoileitis which affects the upper half of the ileum. The fifth and the last is Crohns colitis affecting the colon, and the symptoms include joint pain, rectal bleeding, ulcers as well as anus abscesses. It is sometimes hard to tell these diseases apart since some overlap in the areas of the body they affect. Symptoms include inflammation of the affected parts, intense abdominal pain, and diarrhoea(Irwin et al., 2017).

According to Mayo clinic, an online website on medicine, Crohns disease affects the digestive system by causing swelling on the digestive track. A patient may feel tired, have a running stomach or lose weight due to poor appetite (WebMD). The disease affects a persons appetite and can lead to weight loss. It also causes fatigue, diarrhoea, and pain in the stomach (Mayo Clinic, n.p). Different tests can be carried to determine whether someone has Crohns disease. Some of the tests include colonoscopy and blood test. Medical practitioners use CT scans, blood test, checking the stool and colonoscopy to determine whether someone is suffering from Crohns infection. The test will enable a medical practitioner to determine the exact place that the digestive tract is infected. Other tests may include CT scan and testing of the stool for any traces of blood (WebMD).

No particular cause can be pointed out as a cause of the disease. However, genetic factors have been identified as a cause of the disease (WebMD). Genetic predisposition, however, has been linked to the disease. Thus people whose relatives have the disease have a higher chance of inheriting the disease. Smoking has also been linked to the causatives of Crohns diseases; hence it is advisable for people to keep off from tobacco use to reduce the chances of acquiring the disease. The abnormal reaction by the immune system has also been found to be a cause of Crohn disease. A person suffering from Crohns infection may also be prone to other risks such as stomach cancer, bleeding in the intestines and obstruction of the digestive track (MayoClinic, n.p). These complications according to Irwin et al.(2017) progress with time and age the patient has suffered. Some factors that are believed to contribute to the infection include the food that we eat such as fries, the condition of our living environment and genetics. People in industrialised areas are more likely to get infected than individuals in the rural area. A person coming from a family with a history of Crohns disease is also at risk of getting the disease (MayoClinic, n.p).

A person affected by Crohns disease has some options when it comes to treatment. Some of the treatment involves taking medications that reduce inflation. Other drugs such as antibiotics and salicylates can also be prescribed depending on the severity of the pain. Sometimes the patient may fail to respond to medication, and the doctors will result in doing an operation. Apart from drugs, healthy diet and a support system will also help a patient in his or recovery (Crohns Disease Treatment & Medication Options). People with Crohns can also lead a healthy lifestyle like those free of the disease only if they exercise regularly, avoid smoking, observe strict diet and keep active. Additionally, the patients should follow the dosage strictly so as to ensure proper healing (Gevers 385). The treatment involves medication diet and having a social structure. The severity of the disease will guide a doctor on what to give a patient. Some of the medication includes antibiotics and salicylate. To ensure the patient stays healthy, he is advised on the kind of diet to be taking.According to Svolos et al.(2015), Diet is strongly associated with the aetiology of Crohns Disease (CD) and exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the primary induction treatment in paediatric CD. Their study revealed positive opinions around the use of EEN and alternative novel, solid food-based diets (SFDs) expressed by paediatric patients with CD, previously treated with EEN. Recent studies have also shown a positive result in using alternative methods such as Ustekinumab to be effective intreating complications such as Refractory Amicrobial Pustulosis of the Folds which is associated with the Crohns Disease(Acta Derm Venereol, 390). It is also important for a patient to have a good support structure to enable them to heal better as stipulated in WebMD.

WORKS CITED

Acta Derm Venereol .,Ustekinumab as Effective Treatment for Refractory Amicrobial Pustulosis of the Folds Associated With Crohn's Disease. 2017 Mar 10. 97 (3), 389-390

Gevers, Dirk, et al. "The treatment-naive microbiome in new onset Crohns disease." Cell host & microbe 15.3 (2014): 382-392.

Irwin J, Ferguson E, Simms LA, Hanigan K, Carbonnel F, Radford-Smith G., A rolling phenotype in Crohns disease. (2017). PLoS ONE 12(4): e0174954. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0174954Mayo Clinic., "Crohn's Disease Causes., 19 Apr. 2017.Web.

Mayo Clinic.,"Crohns Disease Treatment & Medication Options." Crohns and Colitis'. 19 Apr. 2017. Web.Mendall, Michael A. "Environment and Risk of Crohn's Disease: Comments on The Increasing Weight of Crohn's Disease Subjects in Clinical Trials. Inflammatory bowel diseases. 20.4 (2014): E11-E12.

WebMD. "Crohn's Disease Complications: Abscess, Blockage, Ruptured Intestines, and More." 19 Apr. 2017.