- Crohn's disease
- Crohn's disease 'krōnz- also Crohn disease 'krōn- n chronic ileitis that typically involves the distal portion of the ileum, often spreads to the colon, and is characterized by diarrhea, cramping, and loss of appetite and weight with local abscesses and scarring called also regional enteritis, regional ileitisCrohn Burrill Bernard (1884-1983)American physician. Crohn spent his career studying diseases of the intestines. In 1932 he published an article on regional ileitis. Since then that disease has also been known as Crohn's disease.
* * *
a condition in which segments of the alimentary tract become inflamed, thickened, and ulcerated. It usually affects the terminal part of the ileum; its acute form (acute ileitis) may mimic appendicitis. Chronic disease often causes partial obstruction of the intestine, leading to pain, diarrhoea, and malabsorption. fistula around the anus, between adjacent loops of intestine, or from intestine to skin, bladder, etc., are characteristic complications. The cause is unknown, but it is thought that an infectious agent might initiate the process (see Mycobacterium). Treatment includes rest, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant drugs, antibiotics, dietary modification, or (in some cases) surgical removal of the affected part of the intestine. Alternative names: regional enteritis, regional ileitis.B. B. Crohn (1884-1983), US physician
Medical dictionary. 2011.