By: Kathy Hubbard
An article published by the National Library of Medicine questions if Crohn’s disease is a “rightly used eponym.” It reads, “In 1932 Burrill B. Crohn, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, described, together with two surgical colleagues, a series of fourteen patients with an inflammatory condition of the terminal ileum. All patients were operated on by Dr Albert Berg, the Chief Surgeon of the hospital, whose name did not appear on the initial publication. The ‘new’ disease was called ‘regional ileitis’ but was rapidly referred to as ‘Crohn’s disease’.
“From earlier accounts and publications, it has become clear that the condition had already existed for many centuries and was ‘discovered’ several times before 1932, most notably by Giovanni Morgagni in 1769, Antoni Lesniowski in 1903 and Thomas K. Dalziel in 1913.”
I’m going to bet that the half million people who suffer this disorder couldn’t care less what its name is. They would just like relief from their symptoms which can develop slowly or come on suddenly and can be mild or severe.
“Crohn’s disease is a complex, long-lasting disorder that primarily affects the digestive system. Inflammation can occur in any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus. The inflamed tissues become thick and swollen and the inner surfaces of the digestive system may develop open sores,” www.medlineplus.gov’s website says.
Cleveland Clinic explains that symptoms include abdominal pain or cramps; chronic diarrhea; loss of appetite and weight loss; bloody stool; mouth ulcers or pain in your mouth or gums; fever and fatigue, and abscesses of infections around your anal canal.
“Crohn’s can also cause symptoms in body parts outside of your digestive tract, including arthritis or joint pain; rashes; eye inflammation, such as uveitis and episcleritis; kidney stones; osteoporosis; skin tags (usually around your anus), and inflammation in your bile ducts.”
There’s no known single cause of Crohn’s disease. Cleveland Clinic says it’s related to a dysfunctional immune response. That simply means that your body’s immune system begins to attack your body’s own healthy cells. Crohn’s can run in families making researchers think there’s a genetic component. But then there are a lot of people with the disease who have no family history. Once again, go figure.
Also under the list of risk factors is one I had never heard of. Cleveland says, “People living in developed countries and urban areas have a higher risk than those living in less developed countries and rural areas.” Interesting.
You can get Crohn’s at any age, but it’s more likely to be diagnosed in those in their late teens and early thirties. Stress may contribute to flares of the disease and smoking more than doubles your risk and leads to more severe disease. So once again I have to say, if you smoke, you should quit. Now.
“Some studies suggest that people who have had an appendix surgery may have an increased risk of Crohn’s,” Cleveland says. “The reasons are unclear, but you still shouldn’t avoid this life-saving surgery if you need it.” Amen.
You’ll want to see your primary healthcare provider if you suffer from ongoing diarrhea, belly cramping, unexplained weight loss or any of the symptoms described above. Then a series of tests will rule out other conditions before a diagnosis is made. A blood test and a stool test are most likely. These tests check a sample of fluid or tissue for microscopic signs of disease.
Your provider may order imaging tests to take pictures of your digestive tract such as a CT scan and/or MRI. A colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and capsule endoscopy may also be ordered.
“There’s currently no cure for Crohn’s disease. There are a variety of therapies but none that work for everyone. Your healthcare provider will work with you to find the right treatment so that living with Crohn’s is more manageable,” Cleveland says.
It’s important to note that most people with Crohn’s disease enjoy a full, active life. It’s not a life-threatening disease. Cleveland says that “treatments and lifestyle changes can keep the disease in remission (no signs or symptoms of the disease) and prevent complications. Most people with Crohn’s benefit from ongoing medical therapy and visits.”
If you don’t have a primary care provider, Bonner General Health Family Clinic’s phone number is 208-265-2221.
Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on October 15, 2025.
