Purple Ribbon - Crohns disease

Crohns disease is characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract. Although any par of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus can be affected, most commonly, the small intestine (more specifically, ileum) is affected. Men and women are equally affected. The disease shows a tendency to run in families. The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is not known. It is believed that the disorder may be caused due to improper functioning of the immune system. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, knee pain, anemia, skin problems and fever may be seen. A variety of treatment options ranging from drugs, nutritional supplements to surgery are available. In most of the cases, combination therapy including two or more of the above mentioned options are instituted.