Facts About Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease, named for American physician Burrill Crohn who was among the first to describe it, may effect any point of the digestive tract. It is most often associated with the intestine, which can become inflamed and ulcerated. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea — possibly containing blood, and fever. The condition may also be called regional enteritis or granulomatous enteritis or colitis.
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is not known. There is some speculation that it is related to a bacterial infection, but this is unproven. In any case, the illness is not contagious, although a family history of the disease is one thing doctors look for when making a diagnosis. Diagnostic images such as X-rays, colonoscopies, and CAT scans allow the location of outbreaks and determination of their severity.
At this time, no cure for Crohn’s disease exists. The condition is commonly treated with medication, both over the counter and via prescription. A wide range of possibilities include 5-aminosalicylic acid drugs, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. Some medications are administered orally, others rectally.
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