What is Crohns disease?
Crohns Disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It generally occurs in the lower part of the small intestine (ileum), but may affect any part of the digestive tract – from the mouth to the anus. The inflammation extends into the lining of the affected organs. Pain can result from the inflammation and may make the intestines empty frequently, causing diarrhea. Crohns Disease is also known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This is the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines. Crohns Disease can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are very similar to other digestive disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis. Crohns Disease is often misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, or appendicitis. That’s because the pain is located in the same place – the lower right-hand quadrant of the abdomen.
Crohn’s disease (CD) is an inflammatory process that can affect any portion of the digestive tract, but is most commonly seen (roughly half of all cases) in the last part of the small intestine otherwise called the terminal ileum and cecum. Altogether this area is also known as the ileocecal region. Other cases may affect one or more of: the colon only, the small bowel only (duodenum, jejunum and/or ileum), the anus, stomach or esophagus. In contrast with UC, CD usually doesn’t affect the rectum, but frequently affects the anus instead.
Crohns disease (CD) is a chronic disease that can cause inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Crohns disease results from an abnormal immunologic response within the intestinal wall. Of all cases of CD, 45% occur in ileum and colon, 35% in just the ileum, and 20% in just the colon. Unlike ulcerative colitis (UC), which only affects the inner layer, CD commonly involves all layers of the intestinal wall. CD and UC are collectively called Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Symptoms of Crohns disease can include: cramps, diarrhea, fever and weight loss.
