Crohn’s Disease
Derell L Latin Jr
Brookhaven College
Regional enteritis, but most commonly known as Crohn’s Disease is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the intestines causing swelling and irritation. Most commonly it affects the small intestines and beginning of the large intestine, but can affect any portion of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s can affect men and women of all ages, but is likely to affect people between the ages of 20-29. “Currently about 1.5 million people suffer from Crohn’s Disease in the United States” (Benson), and with no known causes of the disease, any prevention or cure optimism remains unclear. Crohn 's resides in a family of …show more content…
However treatment is influenced by the location and amount of the intestines are affected. Drug therapy consist of prescription anti-inflammatory drugs such as sulfasalazine or remicade to prevent inflammation in the body. This is generally reserved for newly diagnosed patients with mild symptoms Corticosteroids help to reduce the immune systems activity. Drugs like hydrocortisone, budesonide, or prednisone are given to patients with moderate to severe symptoms. Immune system suppressors which decreases action of the immune system, decreasing inflammation of the intestines in the process. Immune suppressors are very effective in patients with Crohn’s disease. However the can take months to work, 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine are common immune suppressors. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial growth. In some cases bowel rest is recommended to let the patients bowels heal naturally. Oral intake of foods is stopped, while intravenous feeding provides nutrients to patients while under bowel resting protocols. Patients with severe symptoms may not respond to medication, so surgery may be recommended to treat complications. Complication that require surgery include fistulas, bowel obstructions, and excessive bleeding. Types of surgical procedures include, small or large bowel resection, removal of the patient’s entire colon/rectum, …show more content…
A series of test are performed to rule out other diseases before an accurate diagnoses is made. Radiographic procedures are often valuable in diagnosing Crohn’s disease due to its distinctive radiographic characteristics. Barium enemas, upper GI series, CT scan of the abdomen, and MRI of the abdomen are radiographic procedures typically performed to diagnose Crohn’s disease. Skip lesions or string signs along the intestine are positive indications of Crohn’s disease (see figure# 1-1 below). Another radiographic appearance of Crohn’s is a cobblestone appearance of the terminal ileum (see figure# 2-2 below). Positive indications of Crohn’s disease on CT scans show a comb sign similar to teeth on a hair comb. Ct scans are also provide valuable information on bowel thickening and
Derell L Latin Jr
Brookhaven College
Regional enteritis, but most commonly known as Crohn’s Disease is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the intestines causing swelling and irritation. Most commonly it affects the small intestines and beginning of the large intestine, but can affect any portion of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s can affect men and women of all ages, but is likely to affect people between the ages of 20-29. “Currently about 1.5 million people suffer from Crohn’s Disease in the United States” (Benson), and with no known causes of the disease, any prevention or cure optimism remains unclear. Crohn 's resides in a family of …show more content…
However treatment is influenced by the location and amount of the intestines are affected. Drug therapy consist of prescription anti-inflammatory drugs such as sulfasalazine or remicade to prevent inflammation in the body. This is generally reserved for newly diagnosed patients with mild symptoms Corticosteroids help to reduce the immune systems activity. Drugs like hydrocortisone, budesonide, or prednisone are given to patients with moderate to severe symptoms. Immune system suppressors which decreases action of the immune system, decreasing inflammation of the intestines in the process. Immune suppressors are very effective in patients with Crohn’s disease. However the can take months to work, 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine are common immune suppressors. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial growth. In some cases bowel rest is recommended to let the patients bowels heal naturally. Oral intake of foods is stopped, while intravenous feeding provides nutrients to patients while under bowel resting protocols. Patients with severe symptoms may not respond to medication, so surgery may be recommended to treat complications. Complication that require surgery include fistulas, bowel obstructions, and excessive bleeding. Types of surgical procedures include, small or large bowel resection, removal of the patient’s entire colon/rectum, …show more content…
A series of test are performed to rule out other diseases before an accurate diagnoses is made. Radiographic procedures are often valuable in diagnosing Crohn’s disease due to its distinctive radiographic characteristics. Barium enemas, upper GI series, CT scan of the abdomen, and MRI of the abdomen are radiographic procedures typically performed to diagnose Crohn’s disease. Skip lesions or string signs along the intestine are positive indications of Crohn’s disease (see figure# 1-1 below). Another radiographic appearance of Crohn’s is a cobblestone appearance of the terminal ileum (see figure# 2-2 below). Positive indications of Crohn’s disease on CT scans show a comb sign similar to teeth on a hair comb. Ct scans are also provide valuable information on bowel thickening and