Crohn’s Disease Essays -- Nursing Essays

Introduction with Statement of Purpose Crohn’s Disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Crohn’s disease is an acute and chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal track. The disease can also affect the surrounding bowel tissues. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but it is most common in the distal ileum and the ascending colon. The disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation. The disease process begins with edema and thickening of the mucosa, and then ulcers begin to form on the inflamed mucosa. The affected areas are separated by healthy tissue. As the inflammation of the disease begins to spread into the peritoneum, abscesses, fistulas, and fissures can develop. As the disease advances, the intestinal wall begins to thicken, becomes fibrotic, and the intestinal lumen narrows. Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can vary from mild to severe. They can also develop slowly or come on suddenly, without any warning. When Crohn†™s disease is in remission, signs and symptoms may be very mild or there may be none. When the disease is in an active state signs and symptoms may include: diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, ulcers, reduced appetite, occult blood, and weight loss. There are many different test and procedures that confirm the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, these include: blood tests, fecal occult blood test, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, double balloon endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, small bowel imaging, and barium enema (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Impact on patients and patient care My father was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2010 at the age of 51 years. He currently does not smoke cigarettes, but has a hi... ...who is familiar with inflammatory bowel disease and the psychosocial difficulties that it can cause. â€Å"Although living with Crohn’s disease can be discouraging, research is ongoing and the outlook is brighter than it was a few years ago† (Mayo, p. 16, 2011). Works Cited Bare, B.G., Cheever, K.H., Hinkle, J.L., & Smeltzer, S.C. (2010). Brunner & suddarth’s textbook of medical- surgical nursing (12th ed. p. 1082-1088). Wolters Kluwer Health. Crohn's and colitis. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/ Diseases and conditions crohn's disease. (2011, August 09). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/basics/definition/con-20032061 Inflammatory bowel disease. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.gastro.org/patient-center/digestive-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease Crohn’s Disease Essays -- Nursing Essays Introduction with Statement of Purpose Crohn’s Disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Crohn’s disease is an acute and chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal track. The disease can also affect the surrounding bowel tissues. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but it is most common in the distal ileum and the ascending colon. The disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation. The disease process begins with edema and thickening of the mucosa, and then ulcers begin to form on the inflamed mucosa. The affected areas are separated by healthy tissue. As the inflammation of the disease begins to spread into the peritoneum, abscesses, fistulas, and fissures can develop. As the disease advances, the intestinal wall begins to thicken, becomes fibrotic, and the intestinal lumen narrows. Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can vary from mild to severe. They can also develop slowly or come on suddenly, without any warning. When Crohn†™s disease is in remission, signs and symptoms may be very mild or there may be none. When the disease is in an active state signs and symptoms may include: diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, ulcers, reduced appetite, occult blood, and weight loss. There are many different test and procedures that confirm the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, these include: blood tests, fecal occult blood test, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, double balloon endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, small bowel imaging, and barium enema (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Impact on patients and patient care My father was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2010 at the age of 51 years. He currently does not smoke cigarettes, but has a hi... ...who is familiar with inflammatory bowel disease and the psychosocial difficulties that it can cause. â€Å"Although living with Crohn’s disease can be discouraging, research is ongoing and the outlook is brighter than it was a few years ago† (Mayo, p. 16, 2011). Works Cited Bare, B.G., Cheever, K.H., Hinkle, J.L., & Smeltzer, S.C. (2010). Brunner & suddarth’s textbook of medical- surgical nursing (12th ed. p. 1082-1088). Wolters Kluwer Health. Crohn's and colitis. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/ Diseases and conditions crohn's disease. (2011, August 09). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/basics/definition/con-20032061 Inflammatory bowel disease. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.gastro.org/patient-center/digestive-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease