Overview
Crohn’s disease takes its name after American gastroenterologist Dr. Burrill Crohn.
Over 350,000 Americans are affected by this digestive disorder—and they’re not alone.
Crohn’s disease, also known as regional enteritis or ileitis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
It is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract, specifically the ileum (the last part of the small intestine), the large intestine (colon), and the rectum.
Crohn’s disease can affect all or any part of the digestive tract.
This condition inflames and irritates the digestive tract.
This can lead to symptoms such as frequent diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping.
Although symptoms are often mild, some patients have frequent flare-ups, lasting for weeks, months, or even years.
Have you been diagnosed with Crohn’s or suspect that you might have Crohn’s disease?
In the following article we will cover everything you need to know about this disorder as well as how it is completely possible to live a happy life, despite your diagnosis.
How Crohn’s Disease Affects the Individual
Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the small intestine, but can also affect the large intestine, stomach, and esophagus.
Crohn’s disease can be extremely painful and debilitating and can often lead to life-threatening complications.
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but there are treatments available that can help to manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life for those affected by it.
If you have Crohn’s disease, you know that it can have a big impact on your quality of life.
You may have to make changes to your diet and lifestyle to manage your symptoms. You may also have to take medication to control the disease.
But even with all of these challenges, you can still live a full and rich life.
Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease
The most common symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue
Many people with Crohn’s also experience symptoms outside of the gastrointestinal tract, such as:
- Joint pain
- Skin rashes
- Eye inflammation
- Feeling tired
- Feeling unwell
- Loss of appetite
- Weight Loss
- Fever
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for Crohn’s disease, but there are a number of medications and therapies that can help control the symptoms.
Causes Of Crohn’s Disease
The cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
We do know that genetic factors play a role in Crohn’s diagnosis.
This is one reason why people with a family history of the condition are more likely to get it themselves.
Why do people suffer from this disease? What causes it?
Sadly, there is no definitive answer. The exact cause of a disease varies from individual to individual.
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but there are treatments that can help control the symptoms.
Let’s look at some treatment options available for Crohn’s disease.
Treatments For Crohn’s Disease
Treatment of Crohn’s disease typically involves the use of anti-inflammatory medications, immune system suppressors, and antibiotics. Surgery may also be necessary in some cases.
Types of Crohn’s Disease
There are four main types of Crohn’s disease: ileitis, colitis, ileocolitis, and gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease.
Ileitis is the inflammation of the ileum, which is the last part of the small intestine.
Colitis is the inflammation of the colon, also known as the large intestine.
Ileocolitis is the inflammation of both the ileum and the colon.
Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease is the inflammation of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
How Common is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is one of the two main types of IBD, the other being ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is less common than ulcerative colitis, but the two conditions have many similarities.
Crohn’s disease is more common in men than women and while it can occur at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 15 and 30.
Crohn’s disease is more common in developed countries, and the incidence is increasing. It is estimated that 1 in every 1000 people in the United States has Crohn’s disease.
Managing Crohn’s Disease
If you have Crohn’s disease, you know that it can be a challenge to manage. There are a lot of things to think about and keep track of, from medications to diet to stress levels.
It can be easy to feel like you’re constantly managing your disease, and that can be exhausting.
But there are things you can do to make managing Crohn’s disease easier.
First, make sure you have a good support system in place. Family and friends can be a great help, but you may also want to consider joining a Crohn’s disease support group.
Second, stay on top of your medications and keep track of how they make you feel—both physically and emotionally.
Working with your doctor to create a treatment plan is essential to managing Crohn’s disease. There are a variety of medications that can be used to control inflammation, pain, and other symptoms.
In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove damaged sections of the intestine.
Making lifestyle changes can also help you manage Crohn’s disease.
Eating a healthy diet, getting enough rest, and reducing stress can all help lessen the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Clinical Trials for Crohn’s Disease
When it comes to participating in a clinical trial, it’s important to be well-informed and understand the process.
The first step is to find a clinical trial that may be a good fit for you.
You can do this by searching for clinical trials in South Africa and around the world.
Once you’ve found a trial that interests you, the next step is to contact the study coordinator to learn more about the trial and see if you’re eligible to participate.
To participate in a clinical trial, you must be in good health and meet the specific criteria for the trial.
What Is a Clinical Trial?
A clinical trial is a research study which tests to see if a new treatment or therapy is safe and effective.
Clinical trials are the safest way to determine whether a new treatment is safe and effective in treating an illness.
Before a new treatment can be registered with a medical council and used in the general population, it must be tested in a clinical trial.
During a clinical trial, participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: the treatment or the control group.
The treatment group receives the new treatment, while the control group receives a placebo or an existing treatment.
The purpose of the clinical trial is to determine whether a new treatment is better than the control treatment.
Clinical trial participants are carefully supervised by doctors to ensure their safety.
Contact an Expert
As with any chronic illness, you will require to stay on top of your health, with the assistance of a qualified medical practitioner to guide you, at all times.
Dr George and Dr. Deetlefs are clinical investigators at Spoke Research Inc and became involved in Clinical Research in 2017, and now runs the Inflammatory Bowel Disease trials.
If you’d like to take part in a clinical trial, join us here:
Apply for Crohn’s Disease Trial
Apply for Ulcerative Colitis Trial
We are here to provide you with expert medical advice in the field of clinical research with years of experience.
Contact us to find out more on clinical trials and treatment.
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