Asking About Crohn's Disease

QUESTION: I am writing to ask about crone or crone disease. What is it and
what is the cause of it? A few months ago my brother was sick and he just
told me that the doctor said that he had that disease, but he does not
remember any explanations. He is 71 years old.
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ANSWER: Your letter caught my eye because it expresses a concern that occurs
in so many families that are interested in the welfare of each member. When
the sick individual does not understand the nature of the disease, it is the
right and obligation of any family member to seek the necessary explanations
and gain the knowledge that can help in providing the care needed to alleviate
any suffering and discomfort. The name of this disease is Crohn's Disease,
also know as regional enteritis, one of a group of intestinal diseases
classified as inflammatory bowel diseases. It usually starts with chronic
diarrhea, along with abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite and loss of
weight. In many cases the first episode may mimic appendicitis, and care must
be used in making the diagnosis. However, a barium enema (x-ray) can clearly
show the ulcerations in the walls of segments of the intestine. These
diseased areas are limited and occur next to parts of the intestines that show
no disease at all, giving rise to the term "regional" used in describing the
disease. A biopsy, where a small piece of tissue is obtained for a
microscopic examination, is often used to help make the diagnosis. The
disease occurs with equal frequency in both sexes, usually begins before age
40, and is more common among Jews, with a tendency to be seen in members of
the same family. The exact causes for any of the inflammatory bowel diseases
remain unclear although immunologic factors, infections and fiber poor diet in
developed countries have all been considered to play a role. Without the
knowledge of a specific cause, there can be no one therapy, so many are used,
depending upon the severity and extent of the disease. These include steroid
therapy (prednisone), antibiotics when infections do occur, antidiarrheal
medications and diet. When all else fails, surgery may be considered to
remove the portion of bowel that is affected.