Crohn’s Disease is a chronic inflammation of the digestive track.

The digestive track covers the following:
•    Mouth
•    Esophagus
•    Stomach
•    Small Intestine
•    Large Intestine
•    Rectum
•    Anus

Crohn’s can affect any of those areas, but most commonly attacks the ileum or the lower small intestine. The swelling of the affected area will cause pain and diarrhea.

Statistics
Crohn’s can be found in both men and women. It may run in families, 20% of people diagnosed with the disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 30, although people of all ages can suffer from Crohn’s. People of Jewish heritage have a greater risk of developing the disease while people of African American heritage have less of a risk.

Prevalance of Crohn’s disease: 500,000 Americans

Prevalance Rate: approx 1 in 544 or 0.18% or 500,000 people in

Hospitalization statistics for Crohn’s disease: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Crohn’s disease:
•    0.17% (21,634) of hospital consultant episodes were for crohn’s disease in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    82% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    42% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    58% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    35% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    9.6 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for crohn’s disease in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    6 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for crohn’s disease in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    39 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for crohn’s disease in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    78% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    5% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    36% of hospital consultant episodes for crohn’s disease were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
•    0.18% (93,538) of hospital bed days were for crohn’s disease in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)

Until now, treatment for Crohn’s has relied on surgery and anti-inflammatory and other drugs also used to treat other conditions. In August 1998, the Food and Drug Administration licensed the first treatment specifically for Crohn’s disease, an incurable and sometimes debilitating inflammation of the bowel.

Remicade (infliximab) is a genetically engineered antibody that blocks inflammation caused by a protein called tumor necrosis factor. After clinical trials showed benefit from Remicade treatment within a two-to-four week period following a single dose, FDA approved the drug for patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease who have not found relief with other treatments. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Humira (adalimumab) to treat adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, which affects an estimated one million Americans. Humira is a human-derived, genetically-engineered monoclonal antibody (a protein that can be produced in large quantities in a manufacturing plant). The product acts to reduce excessive levels of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, which plays an important role in abnormal inflammatory and immune responses.

The labeling includes a boxed warning about potential serious adverse events. Crohn’s disease is a chronic, incurable, inflammatory bowel disease that causes diarrhea, cramping and abdominal pain, and in some cases, abnormal connections (fistulas) leading from the intestine to the skin. “Humira has been shown to reduce signs and symptoms, and to induce and maintain clinical remission of Crohn’s disease in patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy, and in those patients who did not benefit from treatment, or who were intolerant to previous treatment with Remicade (infliximab) therapy,” said Dr. Douglas Throckmorton, Deputy Director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval provides patients and their health care providers with a new treatment option.”

The product has been studied in 1,478 patients with Crohn’s disease in four clinical trials comparing the drug to a placebo (contains no active ingredient) and two longer term extension studies. The labeling of Humira includes a boxed warning, the strongest type of label warning, that use of this product has been associated with serious, sometimes fatal, infections, including cases of tuberculosis, opportunistic infections, and sepsis.

Before initiating Humira treatment, patients should be evaluated for tuberculosis risk factors and tested for latent tuberculosis infection. Other serious adverse events reported by Humira users include lymphoma, a type of cancer. The most frequent adverse events included upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, and nausea. Humira requires subcutaneous injections (under the skin) to initiate treatment for Crohn’s disease, and maintenance treatment is administered as one injection every other week.

Humira was previously approved for the treatment of three autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammation of the joints; psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint swelling and scaly skin; and ankylosing spondylitis, a systemic rheumatic disease that affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. Humira is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.

In the last quarter century, it has become clear that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect large numbers of children and young teens. Nutritional deficiency is a major issue in treatment of children with Crohn’s disease. Children are growing machines.

Inflammatory bowel disease may not cause great weight loss for youngsters at first, so failure to grow normally or backsliding on height and weight charts should be taken as signs that something is wrong and worth investigating. Children facing Crohn’s disease also have significant self-image issues to deal with.

The disease changes their routines, and its effects may separate them from the normal activities of childhood and adolescence. Therefore, these youngsters need sensitive support from family, friends, and physicians to help them maintain their social, as well as their physical, growth. Crohn’s disease is a serious, chronic disease affecting the digestive system. Chronic means that the disease is long-term and persistent, usually lifelong. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation, most often in the small intestine (which has three parts: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum).

The walls and lining of the affected areas become red and inflamed, leading to ulcers and bleeding. Crohn’s disease sometimes is named by referring to inflammation in the part of the intestine affected, such as jejunoileitis, ileitis, ileocolitis, or colitis (when it involves the large intestine, also called the colon).

Crohn’s disease can appear at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in adults in their 20s and 30s. However, approximately 30% of people with Crohn’s disease develop symptoms before 20 years of age. In the United States, about 100,000 teens and preteens have Crohn’s disease.Along with ulcerative colitis, a similar illness, Crohn’s disease is also called inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

Ulcerative colitis attacks only the large intestine in a continuous manner and does not affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall. Crohn’s disease, on the other hand, can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, from mouth to the anus, attacks different sites in the intestine with areas of normal intestine in between (“skip lesions”), and affects the full thickness of the intestinal wall.

Both conditions wax and wane: there are times when symptoms reappear or get worse (exacerbations or “flares”) and other periods when symptoms get better or go away altogether (“remission”).While Crohn’s disease causes many problems for people of all ages, it can present special challenges for children and teens. In addition to bothersome and often painful symptoms, the disease can stunt growth, delay puberty, and weaken the bones. Crohn’s disease symptoms may sometimes prevent a child from participating in enjoyable activities.

The emotional and psychological issues of living with chronic disease can be especially difficult for young people. As many as 70% of children with the disease have inflammation of the lower part of the ileum. More than half of these children also have inflammation in variable segments of the colon.

•    About 10%-20% of children have inflammation in the colon only.
•    Another 10%-15% have inflammation scattered around the small bowel, mainly in the middle section (jejunum and upper ileum).
•    A very small number have inflammation only in the stomach and the uppermost section of the small intestine where the stomach empties into the bowel (duodenum).

For those suffering from Crohns Disease diet and nutrition are of utmost concern. Although there is no evidence to show that the condition is caused by nutritional factors, the food you eat can affect the symptoms of the disorder.

Because inflammatory bowel disease manifests itself differently from patient to patient, and can affect so many different areas of the digestive tract, there is not one specific diet for Crohns Disease that works for everyone. Rather, it is an experimental process whereby the patient determines what foods tend to aggravate the condition, and makes dietary changes based on this determination.

As Crohns is marked by flareups, with good periods and bad periods, the Crohns Disease diet may have to be adjusted accordingly.Some patients follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which entails curbing carbs that are difficult to digest. This may offer relief for certain symptoms, but has yet to be supported by clinical evidence.
The best diet for Crohns Disease is a healthy balanced one, including all of the food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, whole grains, fats and protein should all be included daily, with those foods that may cause flare-ups eliminated or at least minimized.

One of the major concerns for patients is the strong possibility of malnutrition due to the inability of the impaired small intestine to properly digest and absorb nutrients from the food they eat.So even with a fully-balanced Crohns Disease diet, it is likely that you are not getting the nutrients you need. Add to that the common loss of appetite and the increased energy the body needs to combat the illness and many patients find themselves in a state of severe malnutrition.

This can and will lead to further health complications down the road. That is why many Crohns patients choose to take nutritional supplements to make sure they are getting the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other important nutrients they may not be getting from their diet for Crohns disease.

High quality supplements can offer a full spectrum of vital ingredients, including B12, folic acid, Vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, trace elements and other specific nutrients that are often lacking in Crohns patients. One of the most complete nutritional supplements we have found is called Total Balance which is manufactured by a highly-regarded natural health company. It contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in one comprehensive formula.

What separates this supplement from others is that it has an enteric coating which significantly increases the amount of nutrients that can be used by your cells and tissues, unlike others where a large percentage of nutrients get destroyed by stomach acids. Although some patients get adequate nourishment from a complete Crohns Disease diet, supplements are certainly worth consideration to ensure that your body gets what it needs.

As with all nutrition programs, a diet for Crohns Disease should be as well-balanced as possible, and include ample amounts of diverse foods. A nutritionist can offer diet help Crohns Disease patients can use to form the basis of their eating.

They can then tailor the regimen based on their specific needs. It’s important to check with your doctor to determine if supplementation might be right for you. In many cases, poor appetite, poor absorption and increased requirements may make you malnourished, and it might make sense to supplement these important nutrients to complement your Crohns diet.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition involving the small intestine, most often the lower part called the ileum. However, inflammation may also affect the entire digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, appendix or anus. Crohn’s disease is also called ileitis or enteritis.

Crohn’s disease affects a half million Americans, many aged 15 to 35 years.

Previous studies of vitamin D status in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease have revealed conflicting results. We sought to report (1) the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentration < or = 15 ng/mL) in a large population with inflammatory bowel disease, (2) factors predisposing to this problem, and (3) its relationship to bone health and serum parathyroid hormone concentration.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Factors predisposing to the problem include having a dark-skin complexion, winter season, lack of vitamin D supplementation, early stage of disease, more severe disease, and upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in patients with Crohn’s disease.

The long-term significance of vitamin D deficiency for this population is unknown at present and merits additional study. A 42-year-old blond Caucasian woman taking azathioprine for 8 years developed an intra-epidermal carcinoma of the shin. She regularly used a sun bed to maintain a tan. Although the increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in immunosuppressed transplant recipients is well recognized, patients with Crohn’s disease are not currently warned of the risk of exposure to ultraviolet light.

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease who take azathioprine, especially those with a fair complexion, should be informed of the potential dangers of sun bathing and should be advised to limit sun exposure. Spleen Deficiency – may be due to constitutional deficiency or overeating cold and raw food.

Patients with Crohn’s disease usually have spleen deficiency characterized by a compromised ability of the spleen to transform and transport food. Symptoms include frequent and severe diarrhea, watery stool with undigested food, dull abdominal pain, poor appetite, poor digestion, gastric discomfort after food intake, pale facial complexion, fatigue and lethargy due to chronic malabsorption and malnutrition.

Diagnostic criteria for this type of ulcerative colitis includes loose bowels made worse by poor lifestyle habits or consumption of greasy foods, undigested foods in the stools, lack of appetite, distention, fatigue and sallow complexion. On examination, the tongue is pale and covered by white fur; the pulse is weak and thready. Diagnostic criteria for this type include diarrhea with mucus or darkish blood, straining for defecation, fixed stabbing pain, distention, belching and a darkish complexion. On examination, the tongue is purple with bleeding spots; the pulse is taut and hesitant.

Colitis or Crohn’s Disease, NACC has produced a range of different benefit guides relating to incapacity benefit and disability living allowance. Crohn’s disease (CD) frequently presents during early adulthood, a peak time of work productivity. There are limited data from the United States on work disability from CD. We performed this study to identify clinical factors associated with permanent work disability in a CD tertiary referral cohort.

Methods: Cases were identified as patients who received permanent work disability compensation from the social security administration (SSA) related to CD. Four control patients who were not receiving work disability were selected for each case. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify characteristics that were independently associated with work disability.

Results: A total of 737 patients with CD were seen in our center, and 185 CD patients were included in our study (37 disability cases, 148 controls). On multivariate analysis, an SIBDQ score ≤50 (OR 12.44, 95% CI 4.45-34.79), undergoing two or more GI surgeries (OR 7.09, 95% CI 2.63-19.11), and two or more medical hospitalizations (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.03-7.37) were significantly associated with work disability in CD. Disease location (small bowel vs colon), type (inflammatory, stricturing, or fistulizing), or specific treatment strategies were not associated with work disability in our analysis.

Conclusion: Permanent work disability administered through social security was encountered in 5.3% of the Crohn’s patients followed in our cohort. Patients who consistently report low quality of life, or have frequent flares requiring surgical intervention or hospitalization for medical management, may be at risk for CD-related work disability.
The statistics of the German social security system were used to analyse the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Germany and to assess its impact on disability.

Patients granted disability pension for IBD were compared with a control group of patients disabled from other causes. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis led to disability in significantly younger patients than other diseases. Disability from Crohn’s disease was 2.0-fold more common in women than men (95% confidence interval: 1.8-2.3), while disability from ulcerative colitis was similar in both sexes.

White collar employees were affected by both diseases more frequently than blue collar employees, the ratio being 1.3 (1.2-1.5) in Crohn’s disease and 1.6 (1.4-1.8) in ulcerative colitis. Although IBD is relatively rare, it has severe socioeconomic implications, because compared with other diseases, predominantly young age groups become disabled

It is also known as regional enteritis is a chronic, episodic, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects any part of the entire wall of the bowel or intestines. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus; as a result, the symptoms of Crohn’s disease vary among afflicted individuals.

The disease is characterized by areas of inflammation with areas of normal lining between in a symptom known as skip lesions. The main gastrointestinal symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody, though this may not be visible to the naked eye), constipation, vomiting, weight loss or weight gain. Crohn’s disease can also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, and inflammation of the eye.

The disease was independently described in 1904 by Polish surgeon Antoni Lesniowski and in 1932 by American gastroenterologist Burrill Bernard Crohn, for whom the disease was named. Crohn, along with two colleagues, described a series of patients with inflammation of the terminal ileum, the area most commonly affected by the illness.

Crohn’s disease affects between 400,000 and 600,000 people in North America. Prevalence estimates for Northern Europe have ranged from 27–48 per 100,000. Crohn’s disease tends to present initially in the teens and twenties, with another peak incidence in the fifties to seventies, although the disease can occur at any age. Although the cause of Crohn’s disease is not known, it is believed to be an autoimmune disease that is genetically linked. The highest relative risk occurs in siblings, affecting males and females equally. Smokers are three times more likely to get Crohn’s disease.

Unlike the other major types of IBD, there is no known drug based or surgical cure for Crohn’s disease. Treatment options are restricted to controlling symptoms, putting and keeping the disease in remission and preventing relapse. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in 1932.

It also is called granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis. Crohn’s disease tends to be more common in relatives of patients with Crohn’s disease. It also is more common among relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is related closely to another chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon called ulcerative colitis.

Together, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease have no medical cure.

Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.

The main symptom of active disease is usually diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset. Ulcerative colitis is, however, a systemic disease that affects many parts of the body outside the intestine. Because of the name, IBD is often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), a troublesome, but much less serious condition. Ulcerative colitis has similarities to Crohn’s disease, another form of IBD.

Ulcerative colitis is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free. Although the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can sometimes diminish on their own, the disease usually requires treatment to go into remission.Ulcerative colitis is a rare disease, with an incidence of about one person per 10,000 in North America.

The disease tends to be more common in northern areas. Although ulcerative colitis has no known cause, there is a presumed genetic component to susceptibility. The disease may be triggered in a susceptible person by environmental factors. Although dietary modification may reduce the discomfort of a person with the disease, ulcerative colitis is not thought to be caused by dietary factors. Although ulcerative colitis is treated as though it were an autoimmune disease, there is no consensus that it is such.

Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppression (suppressing the immune system), and biological therapy targeting specific components of the immune response. Colectomy (partial or total removal of the large bowel through surgery) is occasionally necessary, and is considered to be a cure for the disease. Ulcerative colitis is a relatively uncommon, chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease of the colon or rectal mucosa. Often a lifelong illness, the condition has profound emotional and social impact on the affected individual. Ulcerative colitis is defined as continuous idiopathic inflammation of the colonic or rectal mucosa.

The rectum is involved in more than 95% of cases. Some authorities believe that the rectum is always involved in an untreated patient. Partial healing may occur in a patient treated with topical therapy, creating diagnostic confusion. Ulcerative colitis occurs more frequently in white people. The incidence of ulcerative colitis is reported to be 2-4 times higher in Jewish people. However, recent population studies in North America do not completely support this assertion. Ulcerative colitis seems to have a female preponderance. Ulcerative colitis affects 30% more females than males. The incidence of ulcerative colitis peaks in people aged 15-25 years and in people aged 55-65 years, although it can occur in people of any age.

There is no diet for ulcerative colitis that is agreed upon by all healthcare professionals. Most eating plans that are advertised as an ulcerative colitis diet were designed by those who suffer from the disease or those who love them.

One man who sells a cookbook for his ulcerative colitis diet plan says that he was told by a doctor of “oriental medicine” (his words, not mine) that he should eat no meat, no fish, no egg yolks, no fruits and no nuts. While another diet for ulcerative colitis control, developed by a doctor and a biochemist recommends meat, fish, eggs, fruits and nuts. It may be wise and most effective to design your own ulcerative colitis diet, taking into account any known food allergies or sensitivities.

A symptoms and food diary may be helpful to use as you are designing your diet for ulcerative colitis control. Try to note not only what you ate, but what you drank. While there is little agreement about what foods should be included in an ulcerative colitis diet, there are certain products (like caffeine, alcohol, high fiber cereals, some fruits and some fruit juices) that are known to have a laxative effect, cause cramping and diarrhea, even in people who do not have an inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis.

Diet is important. A healthy diet is important for overall good health and sense of well being. For those who suffer from ulcerative colitis, diet is particularly important.Chronic diarrhea may lead to malnutrition, weight loss, weakness and dehydration. For these reasons a diet for ulcerative colitis control should be well-balanced, with adequate amounts of protein, carbohydrates and good fats. Including vitamin supplements, particularly D, B12 and iron is recommended.

Simple sugars and artificial sweeteners cause flare ups in some people. No matter what your food preferences, it is important when designing your ulcerative colitis diet to be honest with yourself. It may be hard to give up sodas, coffee, candy and muffins, but your goal should be to control your symptoms. Ulcerative colitis is considered a chronic disease that has a tendency to go into remission and then flare up again over time. Mild to moderate symptoms may be controlled with an ulcerative colitis diet, supplements, herbs and medications, but severe ulcerative colitis can only be cured with surgery. Since cases rarely begin as severe, keeping your symptoms under control decreases the likelihood that surgery will be necessary. One thing to consider when designing your ulcerative colitis diet is stress and anxiety.

While stress and anxiety are not believed to cause ulcerative colitis, it is believed that they can aggravate the condition. Many people who suffer from ulcerative colitis also suffer from anxiety. It may be that the condition causes people to be more anxious, never knowing when they may have to find a bathroom, always worrying about a flare up, etc. Symptoms of anxiety include rapid pulse, trembling, shaking, sweating and nausea or abdominal distress. If you experience symptoms of anxiety, in addition to symptoms of ulcerative colitis, diet considerations are similar, but there are other suggestions.

These include eating smaller meals more frequently, chewing thoroughly and eating slowly.Salt and preservatives are known to put additional stress on the body. These should be excluded or at least restricted from a healthy ulcerative colitis diet, particularly when symptoms of stress and anxiety are present. When designing your diet for ulcerative colitis control, try to include less pre-packaged foods which are full of salt and preservatives.
One more consideration for an ulcerative colitis diet is meat selection. Most companies that raise poultry, cattle and pigs for human consumption include hormones in the animal’s diets. While there is no conclusive evidence that these hormones are harmful to humans, many people believe that they can put additional stress on the human body, because they increase stress on the animal’s bodies. When you are selecting meat and fish for your ulcerative colitis diet, try to select products that do not contain hormones. For example, wild salmon, free range chicken and other organic products are better choices for a diet for ulcerative colitis control than pork and beef.

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, describes two similar yet distinct conditions called Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases affect the digestive system and cause the intestinal tissue to become inflamed, form sores and bleed easily. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea.Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Patches of inflammation occur, with healthy tissue between the diseased areas.

The inflammation can extend through every layer of affected bowel tissue. Crohn’s disease can not be cured by drugs or surgery, although either or both can help relieve symptoms.Ulcerative colitis affects only the inner layer of the colon, or large bowel. It always starts in the rectum and may extend as a continuous inflammation from there into the rest of the colon. Usually ulcerative colitis can be controlled with medication. The disease can be completely eliminated by surgically removing the colon, but afterward, waste material may have to be stored and expelled through an external appliance.

While ulcerative colitis causes inflammation only in the colon (colitis) and/or the rectum (proctitis), Crohn’s disease may cause inflammation in the colon, rectum, small intestine (jejunum and ileum), and, occasionally, even the stomach, mouth, and esophagus.The patterns of inflammation in Crohn’s disease are different from ulcerative colitis. Except in the most severe cases, the inflammation of ulcerative colitis tends to involve the superficial layers of the inner lining of the bowel. The inflammation also tends to be diffuse and uniform. (All of the lining in the affected segment of the intestine is inflamed.) Unlike ulcerative colitis, the inflammation of Crohn’s disease is concentrated in some areas more than others and involves layers of the bowel that are deeper than the superficial inner layers. Therefore, the affected segment(s) of bowel in Crohn’s disease often is studded with deeper ulcers with normal lining between these ulcers.

The most common disease that mimics the symptoms of Crohn’s disease is ulcerative colitis, as both are inflammatory bowel diseases that can affect the colon with similar symptoms. It is important to differentiate these diseases, since the course of the diseases and treatments may be different. In some cases, however, it may not be possible to tell the difference, in which case the disease is classified as indeterminate colitis.

Currently there is no cure for Crohn’s disease and remission may not be possible or prolonged if achieved; in cases where remission is possible, relapse can be prevented and symptoms controlled with medication, lifestyle changes and in some cases, surgery. Adequately controlled, Crohn’s disease may not significantly restrict daily living. Treatment for Crohn’s disease is only when symptoms are active and involve first treating the acute problem, then maintaining remission.