PHT 1217
Stephanie Henry
Prof. Mary Hanlon
2/22/2013
Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune condition, that is life-long with no known-cure. It is a reoccurring inflammation of the mucus lining within the Gastrointestinal Tract. Crohn’s Disease may be found anywhere along the GI Tract, from the mouth to the anus. Most frequently CD is sited where the small intestine (Terminal Ileum) and the Colon (Cecum) meet. All layers of the of the GI tract may be involved, in which affected areas may appear continuously or disrupted (CDC, 2011). While the primary etiology is still unknown, much has been expound on including, the epidemiology, signs and symptoms, prognosis and more. Crohn’s disease is named after American gastroenterologist Burrill B. Crohn, who first described the disease in the medical literature in 1932 with his colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzberg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer. Originally the name “Terminal Ileitis” was given. Later renamed because those who were diagnosed often wrongly correlated the word terminal, with fatal (Beth Israel Deaconess., n.d.). There are five primary types of CD. Ileocolitis is the most common, found between the ileum and colon. Then there is Ileitis, located solely in the colon. Gastroduodenal CD affects the stomach and into the beginning of the small intestine. Jejunoileitis is found in the upper portion of the small intestine (the jejunum) which is associated with patchy areas of inflammation. Lastly, Crohn’s (granulomatous) Colitis is CD in the colon. CD is grouped with a larger category of diseases named Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). In general, IBD is defined as “a broad term that describes conditions with chronic or recurring immune response and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.” (CDC, 2011). The etiology of Crohn’s Disease is sill unknown. Most experts in the field, agree that the immune system of people with Crohn 's disease acts abnormally. Handling good
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