crohns

anastacia was diagnosed with crohns diease when she was just 13 and now has a scar from the operation, here is some information on the disease:

what is crohns
It is a chronic inflammatory disease, which can affect the whole of the alimentary tract (digestive tube) from mouth to anus. The inflammation extends through all layers of the gut wall (transmural) and is characteristically patchy in distribution (skip lesions) with areas of normal tissue between.
The most commonly affected sites are the terminal ileum (the lower part of the small intestine), and the large intestine.

characteristics
1. The course of the disease is chronic with periods of remission, when patients are symptom-free, and relapses, when symptoms flare up.
2. It has a wide range of symptoms.
3. Complications outside the intestine are common.
4. There is a strong tendency for it to recur after surgery.

cause of crohns
Despite extensive and continuing research the cause of Crohn's Disease is still unknown. However, there are a number of predisposing factors, which may play a part in the development of the disease. these are:
1. Genetics and Heredity
2. Infection
3. Immunological Factors (the immune system)
4. Dietary Factors
5. Psychological factors (proven not a cause but can induce flare ups
6. Measles, MMR vaccine

symptons
according to its site and severity:
1. Diarrhoea - sometimes, but not always, with blood.
2. Abdominal pain and tenderness over the intestine
3. Weight loss, and in children failure to grow.
4. Fever.
5. Tiredness.
6. Other symptoms not involving the intestine may occur:
I. Sore mouth due to ulcers on the tongue or inside the cheek
II. Painful, inflamed eyes
III. Painful, stiff or swollen joints, e.g. arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
IV. Sore, red lumps on the skin

CREDITS:http://www.crohns.org.uk/