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The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. No infectious agent (virus, bacteria, or fungi) has been identified as the cause of Crohn's disease. Still, some researchers have theorized that some type of infection may have originally been responsible for triggering the immune system, resulting in the continuing and out-of-control cycle of inflammation that occurs in Crohn's disease. Other evidence for a disorder of the immune system includes the high incidence of other immune disorders that may occur along with Crohn's disease.
The first symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, inability to eat, weight loss, and fatigue. Some patients have severe pain that mimics appendicitis. It is rare, however, for patients to notice blood in their bowel movements. Because Crohn's disease severely limits the ability of the affected intestine to absorb the nutrients from food, a patient with Crohn's disease can have signs of malnutrition, depending on the amount of intestine affected and the duration of the disease.
The combination of severe inflammation, ulceration, and scarring that occurs in Crohn's disease can result in serious complications, including obstruction, abscess formation, and fistula formation.
An obstruction is a blockage in the intestine. This obstruction prevents the intestinal contents from passing beyond the point of the blockage. The intestinal contents "back up," resulting in constipation, vomiting, and intense pain. Although rare in Crohn's disease (because of the increased thickness of the intestinal wall due to swelling and scarring), a severe bowel obstruction can result in an intestinal wall perforation (a hole in the intestine). Such a hole in the intestinal wall would allow the intestinal contents, usually containing bacteria, to enter the abdomen. This complication could result in a severe, life-threatening infection.
Abcess formation is the development of a walled-off pocket of infection. A patient with an abscess will have bouts of fever, increased abdominal pain, and may have a lump or mass that can be felt through the wall of the abdomen.
Fistula formation is the formation of abnormal channels. These channels may connect one area of the intestine to another neighboring section of intestine. Fistuals may join an area of the intestine to the vagina or bladder, or they may drain an area of the intestine through the skin. Abscesses and fistulas commonly affect the area around the anus and rectum (the very last portions of the colon allowing waste to leave the body). These abnormal connections allow the bacteria that normally live in the intestine to enter other areas of the body, causing potentially serious infections.
Patients suffering from Crohn's disease also have a significant chance of experiencing other disorders. Some of these may relate specifically to the intestinal disease, and others appear to have some relationship to the imbalanced immune system. The faulty absorption state of the bowel can result in gallstones and kidney stones. Inflamed areas in the abdomen may press on the tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder (the ureter). Ureter compression can make urine back up into the kidney, enlarge the ureter and kidney, and can potentially lead to kidney damage. Patients with Crohn's disease also frequently suffer from:
- Arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
- spondylitis (inflammation of the vertebrae, the bones of the spine)
- ulcers of the mouth and skin
- painful, red bumps on the skin
- inflammation of several eye areas
- inflammation of the liver, gallbladder, and/or the channels (ducts) that carry bile between and within the liver, gallbladder, and intestine
The chance of developing cancer of the intestine is greater than normal among patients with Crohn's disease, although this chance is not as high as among those patients with ulcerative colitis
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What causes skin tags and how do you get rid of them if you eat better will they go?
If you have them in your armpits it is from eating too many junk foods and sugary drinks or foods.
Is it healthy to eat junk foods?
no it is not healthy to eat junk foods
Are junk foods nutritionally empty?
almost/all are. that's why there called JUNK foods.
What causes 'leaky gut syndrome'?
gluten and sometimes processed foods and Monsanto causes these problems everybody gut is leaky because the world is full of junk and pollution.
Which foods are included in junk food?
Heavily processed foods are junk food. If it comes in a bag or a box, its junk food. If it doesnt grow in the ground or on an animal, its junk food.
What causes us to eat junk food?
A majority of people eat junk food (unhealthy foods) when they are stressed, upset, or depressed. It makes them feel better in much the same way drugs work.
How does junk food affect one years old brain development?
Junk foods contain many preservatives,some of which or all are bad or like a monster to the health and brain of a 1 year-old child. Examples are: monosodium glutamate-causes kidney cancer trans fat-causes heart disease, heart attack,stroke and kidney failure propyl gallate-could be linked on some types of cancer olestra-blocks the nutrients from healthy foods like vegetables & fruits by:Drew Bernadine P. Carritero :)
What bad chemicals are in junk foods?
There are tons of bad chemicals in junk foods. Sugar is one of the worst offenders in the list of ingredients.
What are foods to eat and not?
Foods to eat are natural foods. Foods not to eat are junk food and less healthier foods.
Why is junkfoods harmful to your kidneys?
junk foods are bad to our health specially in our kidney junk foods have a lot of salts that affect our kidney,instead of eating junk foods eat a vriety of fruits and vegatable like me!!!!
Where can you find a bar code?
on the junk foods
Why are food additives bad for you?
junk foods
