Crohn's Disease Case Study

Crohn’s disease is defined as a “transmural inflammatory process.”1 Crohn’s disease is one of the two forms of inflammatory bowel disease.2 Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the end of the ileum, which is the last part of the small intestine. Although, it can occur anywhere throughout the entirety of the gastrointestinal tract.1 Typically, there are areas of the gastrointestinal tract that are normal, but these segments are separated by areas of the gastrointestinal tract that have damage. Crohn’s disease cannot be cured, but it can be managed via diet and medication.
Our patient, J.A., presented to the clinic with a history of Crohn’s disease. During the first visit, J.A. told the physician that he had been experiencing rectal bleeding for the past few weeks. During the next visit, J.A. stated to the physician that he was not experiencing abdominal pain or abdominal cramps along with the rectal bleeding. Due to the rectal bleeding, we hypothesized that our patient, J.A., could be experiencing a Crohn’s exacerbation.
There is not an exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to a person developing Crohn’s disease. The …show more content…
Ulcers are common in the gastrointestinal tract. The mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is affected by ulcers, and the mucosal layer also becomes thick.1 Also, the mesentery is fibrous and red. Therefore, the inside of the intestine decreases in circumference. A severe pathological process in Crohn’s disease is the development of fistulas. This is when parts of the intestine become stuck together via fibrotic connections.1 Fistulas can become severe and even require surgery to treat them. Also, if the obstruction in the bowel is too severe, then surgery may also be required then. It is common for people to have deficiencies in vitamins due to patients decreasing how much they are eating or decreased