Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. In this disease, excess abdominal pain occurs. Bloody diarrhea is accompanied with weight loss. These symptoms themselves reveal the severity of the disease. Children affected with this disease experience growth failure, malnutrition, pubertal delay and bone demineralization. Inflammation of descending colon is common, that is why the disease is called as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also.
Statistics:
The main point of concern is that this disease was not seen in kids (below the age of 12) 20 years back. But now its incidences are increasing. Recent reports have proved that rate of this disease is rising in Canadian children who are below ages of five even. The number of children below the age of 16, living with this IBD rose from 29 per 100,000 (in 1999) to 46 per 100,000 (in 2008). This was an increase of about 60%. In children below the age of 5, new cases of IBD rose at about 7.2% per year from 1999 to 2010. This is reported in American Journal of Gastroenterology. The highest increase in Canada was found in Nova Scotia. Rest of the provinces had almost similar statistics.
Final costs:
The disease is currently incurable. It is caused by an inflammation that blocks the intestine. The only treatment is possible. But the medicines currently available are costly.
Diagnosis and treatment
There are no confirmatory tests which can reveal the disease. Most patients are treated with sulfasalazine which is an anti-inflammatory drug. This drug costs about $21. If this drug is ineffective on the patient, then an immune suppressor Infliximab is commonly used. This drug costs about $900 for every 100mg dose.
Anatomy and Physiology/Etiology:
A combination of three factors causes this disease:
Immune system problems
Genetics
Environmental factors.
Conclusion and Findings:
The above statistics reveal the final conclusion. The cases of the disease are rising at an alarming rate. Newer and faster researches are required; otherwise, the rate of infantile mortality will go beyond the reach of medical science. Lifestyle changes like exercise and a healthy diet are the best prophylaxis of the disease.