Conditions / Adult Crohn’s Disease
Adult Crohn’s Disease
Adult Crohn’s Disease Infusion Center & Adult Crohn’s Disease Infusion Treatment
Overview
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people.
While there’s no known cure for Crohn’s disease, therapies can greatly reduce its signs and symptoms and even bring about long-term remission. With treatment, many people with Crohn’s disease are able to function well.
Symptoms
The most common areas affected by Crohn’s disease are the last part of the small intestine and
the colon. Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe. They usually
develop gradually, but sometimes they will come on suddenly, without warning. You may also
have periods of time when you have no signs or symptoms (remission).
When the disease is active, signs and symptoms may include:
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Blood in your stool
• Mouth sores
• Reduced appetite and weight loss
• Pain or drainage near or around the anus due to inflammation from a tunnel into the skin (fistula)
People with severe Crohn’s disease also may experience:
• Inflammation of skin, eyes and joints
• Inflammation of the liver or bile ducts
• Delayed growth or sexual development, in children
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have persistent changes in your bowel habits or if you have any of the
signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease, such as:
• Abdominal pain
• Blood in your stool
• Ongoing bouts of diarrhea that don’t respond to over-the-counter (OTC) medications
• Unexplained fever lasting more than a day or two
• Unexplained weight loss
Causes
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease remains unknown. A number of factors, such as heredity
and a malfunctioning immune system, likely play a role in its development.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for Crohn’s disease may include:
• Age: Crohn’s disease can occur at any age, but you’re likely to develop the condition when you’re young. Most people who develop Crohn’s disease are diagnosed before they’re around 30 years old.
• Ethnicity: Although Crohn’s disease can affect any ethnic group, whites and people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish descent have the highest risk. However, the incidence of Crohn’s disease is increasing among blacks who live in North America and the United Kingdom.
• Family History: You’re at higher risk if you have a close relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, with the disease. As many as 1 in 5 people with Crohn’s disease have a family member with the disease.
• Cigarette Smoking: Smoking also leads to more severe disease and a greater risk of having surgery. If you smoke, it’s important to stop.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications: These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve), diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) and others. While they do not cause Crohn’s disease, they can lead to inflammation of the bowel that makes Crohn’s disease worse.
• Where you live: If you live in an urban area or in an industrialized country, you’re more likely to develop Crohn’s disease. This suggests that environmental factors, including a diet high in fat or refined foods, may play a role in Crohn’s disease.
Complications
Crohn’s disease may lead to one or more of the following complications:
• Bowel Obstruction
• Ulcers
• Fistulas: an abnormal connection between different body parts.
• Anal fissures
• Malnutrition
• Colon Cancer
• Other health problems: like anemia, skin disorders, osteoporosis, arthritis, gallbladder, or liver disease.
Mediacal Risk
Certain Crohn’s disease drugs that act by blocking functions of the immune system are associated with a small risk of developing cancers such as lymphoma and skin cancers. They also increase the risk of infection.
Other medical risks include:
• Corticosteroids: can be associated with a risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and high blood pressure, among others. Work with your doctor to determine the risks and benefits of medications.
Treatments