Ileitis, Crohn
Involvement of the large intestine (colon) only is called Crohn’s colitis or granulomatous colitis, while involvement of the small intestine alone is called Crohn’s enteritis. The most common part of the small intestine to be affected by Crohn’s disease is the last portion, called the ileum. Active disease in this area is termed Crohn’s ileitis. When both the small intestine and the large intestine are involved, the condition is called Crohn’s enterocolitis (or ileocolitis). Other descriptive terms may be used as well.
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss can be symptoms. Crohn’s disease can be associated with reddish tender skin nodules, and inflammation of the joints, spine, eyes, and liver. Diagnosis is commonly made by CT enterography or colonoscopy. Treatment includes medications that are anti-inflammatories, steroids, immune modulators, antibiotics or surgery. Surgery can be necessary in severe cases.
Crohn’s disease is an area of active research around the world and new treatment approaches are being investigated which have promise to improve the lives of affected patients.
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Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine involving only the end of the small intestine (the terminal ileum). Crohn’s disease affects primarily the small and large intestines but which can occur anywhere in the digestive system between the mouth and the anus. Named after Burrill Crohn who described the disease in 1932. The […]
- Ileocolitis, Crohn
Involvement of the large intestine (colon) only is called Crohn colitis or granulomatous colitis, while involvement of the small intestine alone is called Crohn enteritis. The most common part of the small intestine to be affected by Crohn disease is the last portion, called the ileum. Active disease in this area is termed Crohn ileitis. […]
- Ileoscopy
Use of a flexible instrument (a “scope”) to examine the ileum which is the lowest part of the small intestine. Ileoscopy is usually accomplished during colonoscopy, when the instrument tip passes first through the rectum and the lower colon and eventually reaches the area where the ileum and the colon (the large bowel) connect. The […]
- Ileostomy
An opening into the ileum, part of the small intestine, from the outside of the body. An ileostomy provides a new path for waste material to leave the body after part of the intestine has been removed. An opening into the ileum, part of the small intestine, from the outside of the body. An ileostomy […]
- Ileum
Part of the small intestine beyond the jejunum and before the large intestine (colon).