Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It may affect any part of your digestive system, from your mouth down through your stomach and bowel to your anus.
Crohn’s disease isn’t caused by an infection and you can’t catch the illness from someone else.
The prevalence of Crohn’s disease ranges from between 50 and 100 people per population of 100,000. The incidence ranges from between 5-10 people per population of 100,000 per year. These variations are dependant where you live and your ethnicity.
It is most common in individual aged between 15-30 years but also has a high prevalence in people between 60-80 years. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease are variable, but they are likely to include diarrhoea which may be bloody. The individual will experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, tears, ulcers or abscesses around your anus.
It is still not fully understood why you may develop Crohn’s disease but it does tend to run in families. Smoking will increase the risk of developing Crohn’s disease. High sugar and low in fibre diets may also increase the risk of developing Crohn’s Disease.
Unfortunately there is no cure, so treatment is designed to increase your quality of life as much as possible. It may be a special diet or medicines. Severe cases may require surgery.
There should be no reason why a person with Crohn’s disease should not be able enjoy life to the full. The need to have easy access to toilets may be their primary concern. With some careful planning individuals should be able to travel wherever they want to.
Please help increased the awareness of individuals with Crohn’s Disease.