subject: Day 42-44 Part 2- IBS Diet Crohns Colitis Disease Symptoms [print this page] When Your Child has Crohn's Disease When Your Child has Crohn's Disease
Nearly 30% of Crohn's sufferers are diagnosed before the age of 20. Crohn's Disease is a chronic condition, usually meaning there is no cure. Children who suffer from unexplained weight loss, joint pain, fatigue and stunted growth should be evaluated by medical professionals. It is estimated that more than 100,000 teenagers suffer from Crohn's Disease in North America.
Symptoms such as rectal bleeding, severe stomach pain, frequent diarrhea, and accompanied by vomiting must be checked and treated immediately. Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory disease that attacks the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, which makes it distinctive from other irritable bowel problems. Crohn's presents a special challenge for young sufferers because it has a tendency to stunt growth and cause a delay in the onset of puberty. The illness may keep a young person from taking part in the normal youth activities causing emotional and psychological issues.
Traditional medical experts preach that there is no known cause of Crohn's, however some researchers are successfully using diet as way to combat the illness. Some even claim success at finding a cure through diet, specifically a raw food diet of organic fruits and vegetables. Doctors do admit that certain foods act as triggers to attacks of Crohn's and that by eliminating these various foods from the diet, a sufferer can control outbreaks.
Researchers think Crohn's is initially triggered genetically in combination with environmental factors. They speculate that genetically susceptible persons undergo an abnormal immune response setting off the disease. In other words, something will trigger the immune system to turn on, however it won't turn off, continuing to cause inflammation.
Crohn's Disease apparently runs in families with 15-20% of those diagnosed also have a family member who similarly suffers. To date, several genes have been linked to the disease, but there is apparently no clear pattern as to how these genes may interact to cause the disease. Each episode of symptoms depends on where the inflammation occurs. More than half of these young people also suffer inflammation in segments of their colon.
A child with a chronic condition like Crohn's Disease affects the lifestyle and living arrangements of the whole family. Depending on the age of the child, all others in the household become care givers for the one, which can cause stress, as well as buildups of resentments and feelings that life must revolve around the one. If this begins to manifest then it is wise for the entire family to seek counseling for any of several support groups, readily available to help families through crisis of this kind.
Day 42-44 Part 2- IBS Diet Crohns Colitis Disease Symptoms
