Crohn's Disease
Who is affected?
Between one in 1,000 and one in 1,500 people have Crohn's disease in the UK. Crohn's disease tends to present initially in the teens and twenties, with another peak in the fifties to seventies age range, although the disease can occur at any age. In Europe and North America, it most commonly affects Caucasians, particularly those of Jewish descent. The precise cause of Crohn's is unknown. The condition can run in families and is three times more common in smokers. Not smoking may reduce the risk of developing the disease.
What are the symptoms?
- Diarrhoea UlcersAbdominal pain Loss of Appetite and Weight Fever Anaemia
- Feeling generally unwell
The symptoms vary depending on the part of your gut affected. For example, if you have pain in your abdomen, with no other symptoms, it may be due to a small patch of Crohn's disease in your small intestine. If however, the condition causes severe diarrhoea and other symptoms, the large intestine will be affected.
If the colon is affected, there may be rectal bleeding or blood in the diarrhoea. The condition tends to get better or worse sporadically.
Complications include malabsorption, causing anaemia or vitamin and mineral deficiency, anal abscesses, fistulas and intestinal obstruction.
Crohn's disease involving all or most of the colon for several years increases a person's risk of bowel cancer.
Those with Crohn's may also have ankylosing spondylitis, eye disorders (uveitis), kidney stones and erythema nodosum.
What is the treatment?
Treatments include anti-diarrhoea medication and painkillers, and medication (for example, corticosteroids) to reduce inflammation during attacks. Medication to suppress the immune system may be recommended to prevent recurrent attacks and antibiotics may be prescribed to treat infections.
Dietary supplements can be given to counteract malabsorption. Surgery may be necessary to remove diseased areas of the gut.