Crohn's Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, but most frequently affects the terminal part of the ileum at the end of the small bowel. The wall of the affected part of the bowel is thickened, and there may be ulceration and abscess formation causing diarrhoea and pain. In some cases there may be fistula formation between one part of the bowel and another (a fistula is an abnormal communication between two hollow organs - such as two parts of the bowel, or the bowel and the bladder, or a hollow organ and the skin). It is rare in childhood, but occurs in adolescence.
The cause is uncertain, but may involve both genetic and environmental factors. More than one member of the family may be affected, and there is an association between Crohn’s disease and another inflammatory bowel condition called ulcerative colitis (see the large intestine in the digestive tract section). Treatment involves anti-inflammatory agents, drugs to suppress the immune response (possibly including steroids) and antibiotics. If there is only one localised area, surgical removal may be a possibility. Surgery will be required for the treatment of complications such as obstruction or fistula formation.
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