Crohn’s Disease – What Is It?
You may not have heard a lot about Crohn’s disease before, or maybe you know someone who has the condition but you never really learned about its effects on the body.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic and serious inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically the lower intestines. The disease is also sometimes referred to as ileitis, regional enteritis, or Crohn’s colitis. Gastroenterologists may use one of these terms to differentiate the portion of the bowel that is affected by the disease.
People with Crohn’s disease may experience a number of symptoms, including:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Fever
- Rectal bleeding
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Although Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition, many people diagnosed with Crohn’s are able to lead active, productive lives. In fact, more than 500,000 Americans have Crohn’s disease.
Every Crohn’s patient’s condition differs in some way, but severity and frequency of symptoms are the most common factors. Crohn’s symptoms can be frequent or rare, mild, or severe. For some people with severe symptoms, the disease can be debilitating and interfere with daily life. Other people may experience long bouts of remission in which they experience periods of no symptoms or very few symptoms.
Learn more:
Inside Crohn’s Disease
Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease
Treating Crohn’s Disease
Conversations with Your Gastroenterologist
