Get the 411 on chronic illnesses that often affect young people:

Crohn's Disease

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Crohn’s Disease is a chronic form of inflammatory bowel disease. The beginning of Crohn’s disease normally occurs between the ages 13 and 30, however more often cases are being reported in children. The attacks can happen from every few months to every few years.

Crohn’s disease causes severe irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. It usually affects the lower intestine (called the ileum) or the colon, but it can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. It leads to pain, diarrhea, and infection. This disease is not contagious.

The cause of the disease is still unknown. A history of food allergies is known to increase the risk of getting the disease. Deficiencies in vitamins C and E are also a problem. The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are appetite loss, energy loss, abdominal, weight loss, and fever may also occur.

Children with Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. A thorough physical exam and a series of tests may be required to diagnose Crohn’s disease.

Treatment for Crohn's disease depends on the location and severity of disease, complications, and response to previous treatment. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. At this time, treatment can help control the disease, but there is no cure. Some people have long periods of remission, sometimes years, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person's lifetime.

For more info:
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
www.ccfa.org
(800) 932-2423

Diabetes

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Diabetes is a disease of the endocrine system. This is the system in your body, which regulates your hormones. The hormone affected in diabetes is insulin. Insulin regulates your body’s blood sugar. In most young people with diabetes their bodies are not able to produce insulin so their blood sugars get very high. They need to take insulin in order to keep their blood sugars under control.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2. A major difference in the characteristics of individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the age of onset. Typically, type 1 diabetes develops in individuals under the age of 40. Half of all people diagnosed with type 1 are under the age of 20. In contrast, nearly all people diagnosed with type 2 are over the age of 30.

Type 1 diabetes is more common among whites than among members of other racial groups. In contrast, members of Native American, African American, and Hispanic ethnic groups are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Although the causes are not entirely known, scientists believe the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It is not caused by obesity or by eating excessive sugar, which are two common myths about type 1.

To stay alive, those with type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily and test their sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times per day. People with type 1 diabetes must constantly be prepared for potential hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, which can be life threatening.

For more info:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
www.jdrf.org
(800) 533-CURE (2873)

Sickle Cell Anemia

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The sickle cell disease is an inheritable blood disease which occurs when a person inherits two abnormal genes, one from each parent, that cause their red blood cells to change shape. Instead of being flexible and round, these cells are more rigid and curved like a banana, a holly leaf or a sickle. This impairs their passage through the small blood vessels. Since red blood cells are very important in delivering oxygen to all the body, many organs can be affected along with their growth.

Moreover, sickling causes a decrease of oxygenation and blood flow. As a result this could generate painful crisis such as headaches or pain and growth defects. In the severe form, these crises can cause damage to the lungs, kidneys, liver and bones and bring about leg ulcers and blindness.

There is no cure for sickle cell disease. Basic treatment includes heavy pain-killing drugs and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain. Blood transfusions are used to treat some complications. There are things that have shown to provide a cure for severe patients; this includes bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy.

For more info:
American Sickle Cell Anemia Association
www.ascaa.org
(216) 229-8600

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
www.sicklecelldisease.org
(800) 421-8453