[Karl Note: The page below is one of many very standard explanation of Crohn's Disease. Much of the mechanical information in the text is OK, but the recommended treatment is NOT!
The entire solution of Crohn's Disease lies in diet. You will NOT get proper diet advice from any doctor -- they only want to give you drugs. You will also, many who read this page, reject "diets" as too simple. This is one of these diseases which many doctors have told you cannot be cured -- etc. When you have seen MANY doctors and they have pronounced their profundities to you -- talking in Greek, generally, giving you complicated diagnoses, and fancy drugs, you finally find a guy who says, "It is simple . . . ." No matter what follows that, you know it cannot be true.
Well, it can!
Crohn's Disease is a disease of bad diet!
If you want to cure this, get onto the right diet. It will NOT include sugar, sodas, junk food, grains of any kind, or even dairy (unless you can buy raw milk). It will never include fruit juice, and only limited fruit. Click here to start your adventure in learning -- then write to me, Karl Loren, if you have any question or need a bit of further help.
The number one thing to avoid would be the use of anti-depressants -- since many with this disease feel "depressed" the doctor prescribes some anti-depressant. They cause great harm.
Karl Loren]
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Crohn's disease causes inflammation in the small intestine. Crohn's disease usually occurs in the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The inflammation extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The inflammation can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines. Crohn's disease can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and to another type of IBD called ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. Crohn's disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn's disease have a blood relative with some form of IBD, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn's disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis. |
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What Causes Crohn's Disease? |
Theories about what causes
Crohn's disease abound, but none has been
proven. The most popular theory is that
the body's immune system reacts to a
virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing
inflammation in the intestine. People with Crohn's disease tend to have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or result of the disease. Crohn's disease is not caused by emotional distress. |
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What Are the Symptoms? |
The most common symptoms
of Crohn's disease are abdominal pain,
often in the lower right area, and
diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss,
and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be
serious and persistent, leading to
anemia. Children with Crohn's disease may
suffer delayed development and stunted
growth. |
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How Is Crohn's Disease Diagnosed? |
A thorough physical exam
and a series of tests may be required to
diagnose Crohn's disease. Blood tests may be done to check for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the intestines. Blood tests may also uncover a high white blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body. By testing a stool sample, the doctor can tell if there is bleeding or infection in the intestines. The doctor may do an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series to look at the small intestine. For this test, the patient drinks barium, a chalky solution that coats the lining of the small intestine, before x-rays are taken. The barium shows up white on x-ray film, revealing inflammation or other abnormalities in the intestine. The doctor may also do a colonoscopy. For this test, the doctor inserts an endoscope--a long, flexible, lighted tube linked to a computer and TV monitor--into the anus to see the inside of the large intestine. The doctor will be able to see any inflammation or bleeding. During the exam, the doctor may do a biopsy, which involves taking a sample of tissue from the lining of the intestine to view with a microscope. If these tests show Crohn's disease, more x-rays of both the upper and lower digestive tract may be necessary to see how much is affected by the disease. |
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What Are the Complications of Crohn's Disease? |
The most common
complication is blockage of the
intestine. Blockage occurs because the
disease tends to thicken the intestinal
wall with swelling and scar tissue,
narrowing the passage. Crohn's disease
may also cause sores, or ulcers, that
tunnel through the affected area into
surrounding tissues such as the bladder,
vagina, or skin. The areas around the
anus and rectum are often involved. The
tunnels, called fistulas, are a common
complication and often become infected.
Sometimes fistulas can be treated with
medicine, but in some cases they may
require surgery. Nutritional complications are common in Crohn's disease. Deficiencies of proteins, calories, and vitamins are well documented in Crohn's disease. These deficiencies may be caused by inadequate dietary intake, intestinal loss of protein, or poor absorption (malabsorption). Other complications associated with Crohn's disease include arthritis, skin problems, inflammation in the eyes or mouth, kidney stones, gallstones, or other diseases of the liver and biliary system. Some of these problems resolve during treatment for disease in the digestive system, but some must be treated separately. |
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What Is the Treatment for Crohn's Disease? |
Treatment for Crohn's
disease depends on the location and
severity of disease, complications, and
response to previous treatment. The goals
of treatment are to control inflammation,
correct nutritional deficiencies, and
relieve symptoms like abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Treatment
may include drugs, nutrition supplements,
surgery, or a combination of these
options. At this time, treatment can help
control the disease, but there is no
cure.
Some people have long periods of remission, sometimes years, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person's lifetime. This changing pattern of the disease means one cannot always tell when a treatment has helped. Predicting when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return is not possible. Someone with Crohn's disease may need medical care for a long time, with regular doctor visits to monitor the condition. Drug Therapy Some patients take corticosteroids to control inflammation. These drugs are the most effective for active Crohn's disease, but they can cause serious side effects, including greater susceptibility to infection. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used to treat Crohn's disease. Most commonly prescribed are 6-mercaptopurine and a related drug, azathioprine. Immunosuppressive agents work by blocking the immune reaction that contributes to inflammation. These drugs may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and may lower a person's resistance to infection. When patients are treated with a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the dose of corticosteriods can eventually be lowered. Some studies suggest that immunosuppressive drugs may enhance the effectiveness of corticosteroids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug infliximab (brand name, Remicade) for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease that does not respond to standard therapies (mesalamine substances, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents) and for the treatment of open, draining fistulas. Infliximab, the first treatment approved specifically for Crohn's disease, is an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) substance. TNF is a protein produced by the immune system that may cause the inflammation associated with Crohn's disease. Anti-TNF removes TNF from the bloodstream before it reaches the intestines, thereby preventing inflammation. Investigators will continue to study patients taking infliximab to determine its long-term safety and efficacy. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery. For this common problem, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole. Diarrhea and crampy abdominal pain are often relieved when the inflammation subsides, but additional medication may also be necessary. Several antidiarrheal agents could be used, including diphenoxylate, loperamide, and codeine. Patients who are dehydrated because of diarrhea will be treated with fluids and electrolytes.
Nutrition
Supplementation Surgery Some people who have Crohn's disease in the large intestine need to have their entire colon removed in an operation called colectomy. A small opening is made in the front of the abdominal wall, and the tip of the ileum is brought to the skin's surface. This opening, called a stoma, is where waste exits the body. The stoma is about the size of a quarter and is usually located in the right lower part of the abdomen near the beltline. A pouch is worn over the opening to collect waste, and the patient empties the pouch as needed. The majority of colectomy patients go on to live normal, active lives. Sometimes only the diseased section of intestine is removed and no stoma is needed. In this operation, the intestine is cut above and below the diseased area and reconnected. Because Crohn's disease often recurs after surgery, people considering it should carefully weigh its benefits and risks compared with other treatments. Surgery may not be appropriate for everyone. People faced with this decision should get as much information as possible from doctors, nurses who work with colon surgery patients (enterostomal therapists), and other patients. Patient advocacy organizations can suggest support groups and other information resources. (See Resources for the names of such organizations.) People with Crohn's disease may feel well and be free of symptoms for substantial spans of time when their disease is not active. Despite the need to take medication for long periods of time and occasional hospitalizations, most people with Crohn's disease are able to hold jobs, raise families, and function successfully at home and in society. |
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Research |
Researchers continue to
look for more effective treatments.
Examples of investigational treatments
include
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Can Diet Control Crohn's Disease? |
No special diet has been
proven effective for preventing or
treating this disease. Some people find
their symptoms are made worse by milk,
alcohol, hot spices, or fiber. People are
encouraged to follow a nutritious diet
and avoid any foods that seem to worsen
symptoms. But there are no consistent
rules. People should take vitamin supplements only on their doctor's advice. |
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Is Pregnancy Safe for Women With Crohn's Disease? |
Research has shown that
the course of pregnancy and delivery is
usually not impaired in women with
Crohn's disease. Even so, women with
Crohn's disease should discuss the matter
with their doctors before pregnancy. Most
children born to women with Crohn's
disease are unaffected. Children who do
get the disease are sometimes more
severely affected than adults, with
slowed growth and delayed sexual
development in some cases. |
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Resources |
Crohn's & Colitis
Foundation of America, Inc. 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016-8804 Phone: 1-800-932-2423 or (212) 685-3440 Email: info@ccfa.org Internet: www.ccfa.org
Pediatric Crohn's &
Colitis Association, Inc. Reach Out for Youth
with Ileitis and Colitis, Inc. United Ostomy
Association, Inc. |
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National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1980, the clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. NDDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about digestive diseases. Publications produced by the clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This e-text is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of this e-pub to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. |
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NIH Publication No.
00-3410 April 2000 |
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