What is Crohn’s Disease?
Gastroenterologist, Manipal Patiala, 8 years of experience
What is the meaning of Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can cause problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, malnutrition, and fatigue. The main cause for Crohn’s disease is not known yet, but a weak immune system and genetics are usually responsible. Crohn’s disease usually occurs between the age of 13 to 30 years. Children with Crohn’s disease have delayed growth and development.
In cases where symptoms remain constant or appear within months, Crohn’s disease can cause severe, debilitating, and life-threatening complications like intestinal blockages and difficulty in getting adequate nutrition. Such people should do daily exercise and yoga, apart from taking anti-inflammatory and diarrhea medicines.
In this article, we will tell you in detail about Crohn’s disease.
- What are the causes of Crohn’s Disease?
- What are the risk factors for Crohn’s Disease?
- What are the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?
- What are the complications of Crohn’s disease?
- How to diagnose Crohn’s disease?
- What are the treatments for Crohn’s Disease?
- How to prevent Crohn’s Disease?
What are the causes of Crohn’s Disease?
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. Some of the factors that can lead to the development of Crohn’s disease include:
- Autoimmune disease: The bacteria present in the digestive tract can lead to the immune system of the body attacking the healthy cells causing Crohn’s disease.
- Genes: There is an increased chance of developing Crohn’s disease if someone in the immediate family like a parent or sibling suffers from the same.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoking increases the chances of developing Crohn’s disease.
What are the risk factors for Crohn’s Disease?
Some of the risk factors for Crohn’s disease are:
- Age: Crohn’s disease can develop at any age, but is more likely to develop before 30 years of age.
- Race: Crohn’s disease is more commonly seen in the Jewish race and black people residing in North America and the U.K.
- Family history: Approximately 1 in every 5 people with Crohn’s disease have an immediate family member affected by the same condition.
- Cigarette smoking: Smoking can increase the chances of developing a severe case of Crohn’s disease.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines: The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not cause Crohn’s disease, but can cause inflammation of the bowel leading to the aggravation of Crohn’s disease.
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease are as follows:
- Intestinal pain and swelling
- Ulcer in the intestines ( Know more about- What is Peptic Ulcer? Causes, Types, Symptoms, Treatment )
- Ulcers in the mouth
- Diarrhea
- Blood in stools ( Know more about- What is Blood in Stool? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment )
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Anemia (iron deficiency)
- Skin rashes
- Gout
- Drainage and pain at the anus region
- Lack of growth and development in children
- Inflammation of the liver or the bile ducts
- Inflammation of the eyes, joints, and skin
- Kidney stones
What are the complications of Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease can cause some serious complications like:
- Abscess: Abscess is an infected pocket filled with pus. It can form in the abdomen (stomach) or the digestive tract.
- Anal fissures: The small tears in the anus region are known as anal fissures. They can cause bleeding, pain, and itching.
- Bowel obstructions: The scar tissue formed due to fistulas, inflammation, or a narrowed intestine can block the bowel either partially or completely. This leads to the build-up of gases and waste matter and may require surgery.
- Colon cancer: Crohn’s disease in the large intestine increases the chance of colon cancer.
- Malnutrition: Chronic (long-term) diarrhea can make it difficult for the body to absorb the various nutrients. An individual with Crohn’s disease can have a lack of iron in the body that can lead to anemia.
- Fistulas: Abnormal tunnel-like openings that are formed in the intestinal walls are known as fistulas. These fistulas may get infected sometimes.
- Ulcers: Ulcers or open sores can form in the stomach, mouth, or rectum. ( Know more about- What are Tongue ulcers? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments )
- Complications during pregnancy: Crohn’s disease occurring in pregnant women could lead to complications like premature labor, miscarriage, or low birth weight of the baby.
How to diagnose Crohn’s Disease?
The doctor will first physically examine the patient and take the complete medical and family history of the patient.
Multiple tests are required to confirm the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. The doctor may advise the following diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease:
- Blood tests: Blood tests can detect the presence of an infection or conditions like anemia.
- Stool test: This test helps in the detection of blood in the stools.
- Endoscopy: A thin, long tube with a camera on one end called an endoscope is passed through the mouth into the throat in an endoscopy procedure. This is done to obtain a good image of the inside of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
- Colonoscopy: The endoscope is used to examine the large bowel by colonoscopy. ( Know more about- What is Colonoscopy? Causes, Procedure and Results )
- X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan: These are imaging tests done to obtain the images of specific areas of the organs and the tissues.
- Biopsy: A small part of tissue growth is excised during endoscopy or colonoscopy and sent to the laboratory for the correct diagnosis in case of a biopsy.
- Upper gastrointestinal exam: The X-ray images that are used during this examination will help the doctor to view a swallowed barium liquid moving through the digestive tract.
What are the treatments for Crohn’s Disease?
The treatment for Crohn’s disease varies depending on the cause and severity of the disease.
One or more of the following types of treatment is provided by the doctor to treat Crohn’s disease:
1. Medications: Medicines can be given to treat infections and to reduce the symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease. The following medicines can be given for the same:
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics are medications given for the prevention and treatment of infections. These infections can lead to the formation of an abscess (pus accumulation) or fistulas (an opening that connects two organs).
- Antidiarrheal medications: Medicines like loperamide stop severe diarrhea.
- Biologics: These medications consist of monoclonal antibodies for suppressing the immune response of the patient.
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids like prednisone and cortisone help in decreasing the inflammation that occurs due to an autoimmune disease.
- Immunomodulators: These drugs suppress the overactive immune system and reduce inflammation. Examples of immunomodulators are azathioprine and cyclosporine.
2. Surgery: Surgery may be needed to correct complications associated with Crohn’s disease such as bleeding, blockages, and intestinal holes (or perforations).
3. Bowel rest: The doctor may ask a patient to not eat or drink anything for many days together. This is done to allow the intestine to heal. During this period, the doctor will provide the required nutrition to the patient intravenously (through a vein), feeding tube, or prescribe a drink that can be consumed.
Ileostomy is a surgical procedure, where hole in the abdominal wall is made. This procedure is done in conditions like – Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, stomach cancer. ( Know more about – What is Ileostomy? Purpose, Procedure, Cost )
How to prevent Crohn’s Disease?
There are a few things you can adopt to prevent Crohn’s disease.
- If you feel hungry, you should eat immediately.
- Chew your food properly before ingesting it.
- Prepare a list of healthy foods and include them in your daily diet.
- It is better to eat food in small amounts than to overeat.
- Stop smoking.
- Exercise regularly.
- Manage your stress by yoga, meditation, or any other method.
We hope we could answer all your questions about Crohn’s disease through this article.
If you want to get more information and treatment for Crohn’s disease, you can contact a Gastroenterologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and treatment plan.
