What
causes Crohn's disease?
Theories about what causes Crohn's disease abound, but none has been
proven. The most popular theory is that the body's immune system
reacts to a virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing inflammation in
the intestine.
People with Crohn's disease tend to have abnormalities of the immune
system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a
cause or result of the disease. Crohn's disease is not caused by
emotional distress.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are abdominal pain,
often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight
loss, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and
persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn's disease may
suffer delayed development and stunted growth.
How is Crohn's disease diagnosed?
A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to
diagnose Crohn's disease.
Blood tests may be done to check for anemia, which could indicate
bleeding in the intestines. Blood tests may also uncover a high white
blood cell count, which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the
body. By testing a stool sample, the doctor can tell if there is
bleeding or infection in the intestines.
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The doctor may do an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series to look at the
small intestine. For this test, the patient drinks barium, a chalky
solution that coats the lining of the small intestine, before x rays
are taken. The barium shows up white on x-ray film, revealing
inflammation or other abnormalities in the intestine.
The doctor may also do a colonoscopy. For this test, the doctor
inserts an endoscope—a long, flexible, lighted tube linked to a
computer and TV monitor—into the anus to see the inside of the large
intestine. The doctor will be able to see any inflammation or
bleeding. During the exam, the doctor may do a biopsy, which involves
taking a sample of tissue from the lining of the intestine to view
with a microscope.
If these tests show Crohn's disease, more x rays of both the upper and
lower digestive tract may be necessary to see how much is affected by
the disease.
MORE INFORMATION
Lou Gehrigs Disease
(This info on Crohns Disease
was retrieved from the National Institute of Health)
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