Crohn’s disease is a complex, long-lasting disorder that primarily affects the digestive system. “Experts have found links between the disease and mutations in genes located on chromosomes 5 and 10” (healthline). Though it is known to be on chromosomes 5 and 10, it is still a mystery as to where it exactly is.
For someone with crohn disease, “about 20% of people have a blood relative with some sort of inflammatory bowel disease” (genome). It is known to be a recessive gene. “Crohns is more common in industrialized nations and urban areas” (healthline). People who live in northern climates develop the disease more. Environmental factors such as pollution, stressors to the immune system, and a Western diet may play a role. (healthline).
Crohn disease can be a nightmare to someone with it, the symptoms include: “stomach pain and cramps, blood in stool, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, lack of appetite, mouth sores, urgent bowel movements, and weight loss”(webmb). A lot of these diseases can be very severe and can be constant for twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. “Even though one can develop crohn’s at any age, in most cases people are diagnosed before the age of 30”(mayoclinc). To diagnose it, there can be many tests that have to occur. These tests include “blood tests, CT scans, X-rays, colonoscopies, MRI’s, ultrasounds, and white blood cell scans”(crohnsandcolitis).
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There is currently no cure for crohn’s but there are some ways to cope with it. Currently, People take anti-inflammatory drugs such as “prednisone and budesonide” which are corticosteroids (mayoclinic). Usually, just anti-inflammatory drugs are not enough so patients need immune system suppressors like “Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, Remicade, Humira, Cimzia, Trexall, Tysabri, Entyvio, and Stelara” (mayoclinic). Sometimes, medications do not work so there is a need to have surgery such as a removal of the ileocecal valve (the spot connecting the large and small intestines). About two-thirds to three-quarters of people with Crohn’s have an operation sometime in their life. “After the surgeries, 30% of patients have a flare-up(inflamed intestine which causes symptoms) within 3 years while 80% will have within in 20 years” (healthline).
Most people with Crohn’s have to go on some sort of diet. This diet usually includes, limited dairy products because their body cannot digest lactose. They need to have low fat-fat foods with may not be digestible and make diarrhea worse. Also, it is hard to eat fiber foods such as fruits vegetables and whole grains which can cause flare ups and make symptoms worse. Patients should also avoid nuts, seeds, corn, popcorn, spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine which almost guaranteed to make symptoms worse. “In the United States, the government spends about $3.6 billion each year on the disease. The average cost of a patient’s medical expenses per year is roughly $8,265 with more than one-third of that towards medications” (inflammatoryboweldisease).
Currently, there is one surgeon named, “Jonathon Hermon-Taylor who has been working a vaccine that cures crohn’s. After years of his research, he has concluded that it may be caused by a single bacterium — Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, or MAP” (everydayhealth). It has been sent to Oxford University to be tested on healthy humans and those with crohn’s. For the vaccine, “patients and families have donated $1.2 million” to help the project along (everydayhealth). One of the main research institution’s is the Benaryoa Research Institute.
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“The chances of obtaining crohn’s is about one out of one hundred thousand” (healthline). Sadly, it is becoming more and more common in children today. Crohn’s disease is not deadly. Most patients can live a long life but suffer through it. Smoking is a strong risk factor and can speed up progression of the disease. Those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a greatly increased risk of developing the disease. Those with crohn’s have a 20% increase of developing cancers such as colon cancer.
Works Cited
- “Causes of Crohn’s Disease.” Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health/crohns-disease/causes.
- “Crohn’s Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Mar. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304.
- Lots of people have stomach cramps with diarrhea or constipation. It’s uncomfortable. “Crohn’s Disease Symptoms, Signs, & Complications.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/symptoms-crohns-disease#1.
- Seidholz, Matt. “A Cure for Crohn’s Disease – How Hopeful Should We Be?” Stroke Center – EverydayHealth.com, Ziff Davis, LLC, 18 May 2018, www.everydayhealth.com/crohns-disease/treatment/cure-crohns-disease-how-hopeful-should-we
- “Statistics.” InflammatoryBowelDisease.net, inflammatoryboweldisease.net/what-is-crohns-disease/statistics/.
