Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders that
cause inflammation or ulceration in the small and large intestines. Most often
IBD is classified as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease but may be referred
to as colitis, enteritis, ileitis, and proctitis. Ulcerative colitis causes
ulceration and inflammation of the inner lining of a couple of really bad places,
while Crohn's disease is an inflammation that extends into the deeper layers of
the intestinal wall. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease cause similar
symptoms that often resemble other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome
(spastic colitis). The correct diagnosis may take some time. Crohn's ...
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years, when they are free of symptoms. There is no
way to predict when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return.
The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are abdominal pain, often in
the lower right area, and diarrhea. There also may be rectal bleeding, weight
loss, and fever. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia (low
red blood cell count). Children may suffer delayed development and stunted
growth.
What Causes Crohn's Disease and Who Gets It?
There are many theories about what causes Crohn's disease, but none has
been proven. One theory is that some agent, perhaps a virus, affects the body's
immune system to trigger an inflammatory reaction in the intestinal wall.
Although there is a lot of evidence that patients with this disease have
abnormalities of the immune system, doctors do not know whether the immune
problems are a cause or a result of the disease. Doctors believe, however, that
there is little proof that Crohn's disease is ...
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blood cells, suggesting an
inflammatory process in your body.The doctor may look inside your body through a
flexible tube, called an endoscope, that is inserted somewhere really bad!
During the exam, the doctor may take a sample of tissue from the lining of the
really bad place to look at it under the microscope. Later, you also may
receive x-ray examinations of the digestive tract to determine the nature and
extent of disease. These exams may include an upper gastrointestinal (GI)
series, a small intestinal study, and a barium enema intestinal x-ray. These
procedures are done by putting the barium, a chalky solution, into the upper or
lower intestines. The barium shows up white ...
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ Crohn's Disease. (2007, November 10). Retrieved November 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Crohns-Disease/74097
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"Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ Crohn's Disease." Essayworld.com. November 10, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Crohns-Disease/74097.
"Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ Crohn's Disease." Essayworld.com. November 10, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Crohns-Disease/74097.
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