Crohn’s Disease

While the cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune system, which usually fights diseases, attacks healthy cells in the GI tract. When this happens, the cell lining becomes swollen and painful.

Experts believe bacteria in your digestive tract can mistakenly trigger your immune system. In people with Crohn’s disease, these normally harmless bacteria are mistaken for dangerous invaders and the immune system mounts a response.

Crohn’s disease also tends to be hereditary, meaning that if someone in your family has it, you have a higher risk for developing the condition.

In addition, researchers believe that other factors such as smoking, a high-fat diet, the environment, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, or oral contraceptives may contribute to the disease.

Crohn’s disease is a slowly progressing lifelong condition. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease may come and go over time. These periods of remission can last for weeks or years. Most people feel good in between episodes of Crohn’s disease, but there is no way to predict when inflammation may occur and how long it will last.

Symptoms may vary depending on the location and severity of your inflammation. The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain/cramping
• Constipation
• Blood in the stool
• Weight loss

Other symptoms may include:

• Anemia
• Bowel incontinence
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Delayed growth and development in children

Chronic intestinal inflammation can cause numerous complications, which is why it’s important to maintain regular visits with your gastroenterologist. Your doctor will monitor your condition and help you manage Crohn’s disease to avoid or minimize complications.

Common complications include:

• Eye redness or pain
• Skin rashes
• Joint pain/arthritis
• Bowel obstruction
• Fistula
• Ulcers in the mouth, intestines, anus, or perineum
• Anal fissures
• Abscesses
• Malnutrition
• Swollen gums
• Liver inflammation
• Gallstones
• Kidney stones
• Colon cancer (leading cause of death for people with Crohn’s disease)

Your doctor can diagnose Crohn’s disease by reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical examination. Be sure to tell your doctor about your symptoms, risk factors, family history, diet, and lifestyle.

The doctor will likely order one or more diagnostic tests. These may include:

• Blood tests
• Stool test
• Imaging tests

Imaging tests may include:

• Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series (barium X-rays of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine)
• Lower gastrointestinal (GI) series (barium X-rays of your large intestine)
• Upper endoscopy/EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
• Capsule endoscopy (PillCam™)
• Colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• CT scan
• MRI

The goal of treating Crohn’s disease is to reduce inflammation. Doing so helps to decrease symptoms, prevent complications, and maintain adequate nutrition.

Your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following medications: anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antidiarrheal, corticosteroid, immunosuppressant, or biologic therapy such as Remicade® infusions. However, medications tend to become less effective over time. Many people with Crohn’s disease eventually require surgery.

The most common surgery for Crohn’s disease removes the diseased section of the intestine. This can improve or even eliminate symptoms of Crohn’s disease for years, but it does not cure the condition. Crohn’s disease commonly comes back after surgery, frequently at the site where the incision is made.

You may also need surgery to treat complications such as intestinal blockages, abscesses, and fistulas.

Any complications that arise from Crohn’s disease need to be treated, as well. It is important to make and keep regular appointments with your doctor to monitor and manage your condition. Although Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition, treatment and monitoring can help you maintain good quality of life.