Living With Crohn's Disease
By Katie Kelley
Crohn's disease is a physical disorder in which the inflammation of the digestive system occurs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is from the mouth to the anus, becomes inflamed, especially in the area of the small intestine or the colon, causing an array of discomforting side effects.
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) has researched the potential causes of Crohn's disease and have found that while more research is necessary as to the specific reasons behind the condition, the following are factors that may contribute to an individual developing the condition:
* genes (a family's history of illnesses)
* an individuals immune system
* foreign substances such as antigens in the environment
According to the CCFA, many scientists believe that "the interaction of an outside agent (such as a virus or bacterium) with the body's immune system may trigger the disease." Unfortunately, if an individual has a weakened immune system and they also have a family history of Crohn's disease or ulcerative coliti, they are at a high risk for developing the disease.
The condition also effects individuals also suffering from common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both males and females are equally affected and individuals between the ages of 15 and 35 make up most of the population of Crohn's disease sufferers, between 500,000 and 1 million Americans.
Symptoms of Crohn's Disease
Unfortunately, there are a variety of signs and symptoms for Crohn's disease and the severity of these signs and symptoms can range depending on an individual's case, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). Some of the signs include:
* rectal bleeding
* weight loss
* arthritis
* skin problems
* fever
* cramps
* abdominal pain
* fatigue
* loss of appetite
* joint, eye, skin and liver issues
* anemia
* loose, watery or frequent bowel movements
* stunted growth in a child as well as delayed development
Treatments of Crohn's Disease
The NDDIC reported that Crohn's disease can be treated in several ways including nutritional supplements as well as prescription drugs, surgery or a combination of these. The types of drugs that are available include the following:
* anti-inflammation drugs
* cortisone or steroids
* immune system suppressors
* infliximabs (remicades)
* antibiotics
* anti-diarrheal and fluid replacements
Of these Crohn's disease treatments, the immunosuppresants have recently been linked to severe side effects among patients. The drugs, which are also known as TNF blockers, include:
* Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
* Enbrel (etanercept)
* Humira (adalimumab)
* Remicade (infliximab)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked the drugs to serious side effects ranging from potentially causing cancer among young adult and children-aged patients to patients developing fatal infections among those with weakened immune systems. The FDA is currently investigating these serious side effects, especially among one of the drug's known as Cimzia.
A Reuters article noted that during a 10-year period nearly 30 cases of cancer were reported among young children. Cimzia, along with the other TNF inhibitors, have not been recalled as of yet and individuals who are concerned with developing any of the side effects should seek medical attention immediately.
Additionally, it may be advisable to contact an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer to learn how to develop a Cimzia class action lawsuit to be potentially be awarded monetary compensation for the pain and discomfort that developed while taking the drug for Crohn's disease.
About the author
For more information on Cimzia and Crohn's disease, visit http://cimzia.legalview.com or http://www.LegalView.com/. Here, readers can find the latest on other controversial issues such as the latest mesothelioma jury verdicts or the most recent statistics and facts on truck accident injuries. from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
|
|
Copy This Article
For FREE!!!
You can use this article and copy it on your own website
for free! All you have to do is make sure the article
is copied with no changes and includes the "About
The Author" text. Also please ensure that all url's
are hyperlinked according. Thank you. |
Link To This Article - And We'll
Link Back To Your Website!
You are more then welcome to link to this article! All
you have to do is copy this webpage address from the
address bar and create a link on your website. Please
use the title of this article for your link text. Please
get in contact once you have linked to this article
and we'll link back to you! Thank you. |
|
|
|
Other great articles from this category...
|
Related Sites
|
|
