Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease (CD) can involve ongoing
(chronic) inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract,
from the mouth to the anus, with ulceration and for-
mation of fistulas and perianal abscesses. Five types
are recognized, depending on the affected region:

Ileocolitis. This is the most common form, it affects
the lowest part of the small intestine (ileum) and the
large intestine (colon).

Ileitis. This type affects the ileum.

Gastroduodenal CD. This type causes inflammation
in the stomach and first part of the small intestine,
called the duodenum.
Jejunoileitis. This type causes spotty inflammation in
the top half of the small intestine (jejunum).
Granulomatous CD colitis. This type affects the
large intestine.

Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis typically involves continuous
inflammation from the rectum to the entire colon.
The disease usually begins in the rectal area and may
eventually spread to the entire large intestine.
Repeated inflammation thickens the wall of the intes-
tine and rectum with scar tissue.

Demographics
More than 600,000 Americans are diagnosed
every year with some type of inflammatory bowel
disease. Ulcerative colitis may affect any age group,
although there are peaks at ages 15 to 30 and at ages 50
to 70. Crohn’s disease may occur at any age, but it

commonly affects persons between ages 15 and 35.

Risk factors include a family history of Crohn’s dis-

ease, Jewish ancestry, and smoking. Men and women

appear to be at equal risk of developing IBD. Accord-

ing to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America,

two- thirds to three-quarters of patients with Crohn’s

disease will need bowel surgery at some time.

Causes and symptoms

The exact causes of IBD are unknown. The disease

maybecausedbyagermorbyanimmunesystemprob-

lem. It is known that IBD is not contagious and it seems

to be hereditary. In the case ofulcerative colitis, symp-

toms vary in severity and may start gradually or sud-

denly. They usually include all or some of the following:

Abdominal pain and cramps that usually disappear

after a bowel movement;

Constipation, difficulty passing stool;

Diarrhea. It can be intermittent to very frequent;

Fever;

Gastrointestinal bleeding;

Gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine;

Nausea and vomiting;

Pain in the joints;

Undesired weight loss.

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is also

unknown, but it has been linked to a problem with

the body’s immune system (autoimmune disease). The

immune system helps protect the body from harmful

foreign substances and pathogens. But in patients with

Crohn’s disease, the immune system can no distin-

guish between the body’s own cells and foreign

invaders. The result is an overactive immune response

that leads to chronic inflammation. Since Crohn’s

Disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal

tract, symptoms can vary greatly between affected

individuals. The following may be observed:

Abdominal fullness and gas

Abdominal pain and cramps

Blood clotting problems

Constipation

Diarrhea. (It is usually persistent and watery)

Eye inflammation

Fatigue

Fever

Fistulas

Foul-smelling stools

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine

Ulcerated intestine (colored in yellow) caused by
inflammatory bowel disease.(David Mack/Photo Researchers,
Inc. Reproduced by permission.)

Inflammatory bowel disease