Crohn's
malady affecting only the
big intestine (colon). The
malady generally affects
persons in their teens or
early twenties. It tends to be chronic,
recurrent with periods of
remission and exacerbation. In the
early stages, it causes
little scattered shallow crater-like areas (erosions) called
apthous ulcers in the
inner surface of the bowel. With time, deeper and larger
ulcers develop, causing scarring and stiffness of the
bowel and the
bowel becomes increasingly narrowed, leading to obstruction. Deep
ulcers can puncture holes in the
bowel wall, leading to
infection in the
abdominal cavity (peritonitis) and in
adjacent organs. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and
weight loss can be symptoms. Crohn's
malady can be
associated with reddish
tender skin nodules, and
inflammation of the joints, spine, eyes, and liver. Diagnosis is by
barium enema,
barium X-ray of the
little bowel, and colonoscopy. Treatment includes medications for inflammation,
immune suppression, antibiotics, or surgery. (The
malady is
also called
granulomatous enteritis or
regional enteritis).