Shauna Griffin
Immunology
Spring 2016
April 23, 2016
Dr. Turner
Crohn’s disease, also known as Ileitis, is a chronic, inflammatory disease involving the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). The main purpose of the GI tract is to break down food in order to allow the nutrients to be absorbed effectively. This is extremely important to the body’s functioning and overall performance. The GI tract is essential for energy, growth and repair and it is because of these reasons that Crohn’s disease is such a serious condition. Like any disease, understanding how it develops, knowing the symptoms and complications, as well as being able to recognize ways to treat them, are all key factors in living with Crohn's Disease. Through …show more content…
The symptoms of Crohn's can also reflect symptoms of other diseases and illnesses, making it hard to diagnose. Although Individuals’ symptoms vary, some of the common symptoms of the disease include; abdominal cramps, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhea and rectal bleeding (Lashner, B. A. 2013). Crohn's disease is a chronic disease, meaning that those who have it will experience symptom free bouts, but the symptoms return eventually whether it be weeks, days, months or years later. Crohn’s is a very complex disease, there are several complications that accompany the common side effects listed previously. These accompanying complications include; ulcers, fistulas, malnutrition, bowel obstruction, and certain cancers. Many of these complications can arise due to the inflammation, symptoms and side effects, or a combination of all three (Lashner, B. A. …show more content…
Bowel rest allows the GI tract to recover from any recent damage that has occurred. Surgery may be an option for some individuals depending on the severity of their case of Crohn's. Some surgery consists of removing certain damaged parts of the GI tract and reconnecting it to the healthy parts of the tract. Another surgery regarding fistulas involves clearing and disinfecting the wound and surgically closing the hole in the intestine. Although it helps with immediate issues, surgery is not a permanent solution to these problems and can leave some patients lacking the ability to absorb the key nutrients their bodies