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Information about Crohn’s Disease
Overview
Crohn’s illness may be a chronic inflammatory gut disease which will have an effect on any a part of your systema alimentarium, even your mouth.
The disease is typically diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood, but it is becoming more common in children. Overall, about 700,000 people in the United States may have Crohn’s disease, though some of those cases are undiagnosed. While there is no cure for Crohn’s, it can be managed with medication, although surgery is often required.
Symptoms of Crohn’s include diarrhea, sometimes at night; abdominal pain; bowel obstruction (when something partially or fully blocks the intestines); weight loss; fever; night sweats; and fatigue. The pain tends to occur in the lower right part of yourabdomen or near your belly button. The pain might improve with a bowel movement. You may also see blood in your stool.
Many people live with Crohn’s for years before receiving the correct diagnosis.
Crohn’s can affect every part of the digestive system and can affect more than one part at the same time. Specifically:
- Ileocolitis. This is the most common form of the disease. It affects the ileum (the last part of the small intestine) and some portion of the large intestine, or colon, which goes from the end of the ileum to the anus. About half of people with Crohn’s will have disease in these parts of their digestive system.
- Crohn’s disease of the small intestine. The small intestine is affected in about 80 percent of people with Crohn’s. Sometimes this coexists with colon involvement (see above) or it can be the small intestine alone. The primary symptoms are weight loss and nutritional deficiencies because your intestine doesn’t absorb nutrients from food. Other symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and sometimes nausea and vomiting.
- Colonic Crohn’s disease. This form of the disease affects about 20 percent of patients and is limited to the colon. It is often confused with ulcerative colitis, another inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea with mucus; cramping abdominal pain; and an urgent need to have a bowel movement.
- Perianal disease. About a third of individuals with Crohn’s can develop porta illness, in which the disease affects the anus and surrounding area. You may have abscesses or fistula on this part of your body, as well as skin tags, hemorrhoids, painful ulcers in the anus or rectum, and strictures, an abnormal narrowing of the rectum or anus. Symptoms embody bright red blood in your stool or hurt from your body part, and pain, redness and/or discharge in the anal area. In some women, the fistulas may affect the vagina, and they could have the sensation of air or liquid coming out of the vagina.
Other less common manifestations of Crohn’s disease include symptoms in their mouth, esophagus or other digestive areas.
A major complication of Crohn’s is an obstruction in your small intestine or colon that prevents digested material from passing through. Symptoms of an obstruction include bloating after meals, cramping pain and loud growling from your stomach.
Another common complication is development of a fistula, virtually a hole between 2 organs. Symptoms depend on where the fistula forms, but include vomiting, gas when you urinate (you’ll see bubbles in your urine), a grainy vaginal discharge and recurrenturinary tract infections. Fistulas can be managed with medication but sometimes require surgery to repair.
Sometimes the inflammation that underlies Crohn’s can affect other parts of your body, causing painful joints; ulcers in your mouth or on your skin; a tender, red rash on your shins; and eye inflammation. You also have a higher risk of blood clots, kidney stones, loss of bone density, anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency.
People with Crohn’s also have a higher risk of developing colon cancer and liver disease.
No one knows what causes Crohn’s, but experts suspect it is related to a combination of abnormalities, environmental factors, genetic causes and intestinal bacteria or viruses in the system. Researchers have identified several genes connected with the disease and know that it tends to run in families. The disease is most prevalent in people with Eastern European heritage, and there have been recently been an increased number of cases in African Americans.
The goal of treatment for Crohn’s is to prevent acute flares or exacerbations and keep you in remission. About 10 percent to 20 percent of people with Crohn’s have a remission after the initial diagnosis.
Diagnosis
To diagnose Crohn’s disease, your doctor will order a series of tests, ask you a lot of questions about your symptoms and examine you thoroughly. You should share any family history of gastrointestinal problems or inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, because Crohn’s is often hereditary.
Tests used to diagnose Crohn’s disease include:
- Blood tests. The doctor will likely order a complete blood count to check for anemia and high levels of white blood cells, which could signify infection and/or inflammation. Blood tests can also evaluate the health of your kidneys and liver and assess levels of inflammation.
- Colonoscopy. This procedure lets your doctor perform a detailed examination of the inside of your entire colon, including your rectum. A thin, lighted flexible tube with a small camera attached to the end is inserted through your anus to look for ulcerations and inflammation. If needed, the doctor will take tissue samples and proper sure issues mistreatment a similar tube. You need to fast for at least 24 hours before a colonoscopy and take a special liquid to completely empty your bowel. The procedure is typically performed under sedation or anesthesia.
- Endoscopy. This procedure enables the doctor to see the upper digestive tract, including your esophagus, stomach and upper part of the small intestine (duodenum). The doctor inserts a small, flexible tube with a light and a lens on the end through your mouth. During the procedure, the doctor can take tissue samples and pictures. The procedure is done while you are anesthetized or heavily sedated, so you shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort.
- Ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to provide an image of the inside of your abdominal area. You may have an external ultrasound or an endoscopic ultrasound, in which the ultrasound wand is inserted through the rectum, to look for any strictures. This may be used to look at the gall bladder, kidneys and pancreas.
- Imaging tests. In some instances, your doctor may order an MRI or a CT scan to look at the intestine and the complications such as abscesses or fistulas. An MRI uses magnets and a CT scan uses radiation to provide a three-dimensional image of your organs.
- Antibody tests. Because some immune system dysfunction is involved with Crohn’s, your doctor may order antibody tests to differentiate your disease from ulcerative colitis, another inflammatory bowel disease.
- Barium enema. In this procedure, a tube is inserted into your rectum and air and barium, a radio opaque liquid, are inserted into your bowel. X-rays are then taken to identify any abnormalities.
- Upper gastrointestinal series. An upper GI series requires you to drink a contrast agent. Then fluoroscopic imaging is used to examine your esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
- Small bowel follow-through. A small bowel follow looks at the distal portions of the small bowel, the jejunum and ileum. It helps evaluate abdominal pain and diarrhea. The small bowel series often is done immediately after an upper GI exam, though it may also be done separately. You will drink some distinction, and radiographs of you abdomen will be obtained every 20 or 30 minutes. The test can take several hours
- Capsule endoscopy. This procedure, also known as wireless capsule endoscopy or small bowel endoscopy, uses a tiny wireless camera to take pictures that help doctors see inside your small intestine. The camera fits within a vitamin-sized capsule that you simply swallow. As the camera travels through your digestive tract, it takes pictures that are transmitted to a recorder. These photos will reveal areas of inflammation within the gut which will facilitate your doctor Crohn’s.
After diagnosing you, your doctor will stage your disease as a way of assessing its severity. Staging provides important information for developing a treatment plan.
 Treatment
 The primary goal of Crohn’s treatment is to manage acute flares, bring you into remission and maintain remission over the long term without steroids.
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help keep the symptoms of Crohn’s in check. Work with your health care team to maintain a well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fats and high in foods containing omega-3 fatty acids. Because everybody with Crohn’s reacts to foods otherwise, there is no particular diet that has been proven effective. In general, follow a healthy, nutritious diet and avoid foods that seem to trigger symptoms or cause them to worsen.
Low-intensity workouts, such as walking, also have been shown to improve Crohn’s symptoms. Exercise reduces the strain that triggers flare-ups and might facilitate forestall depression, which can occur in people with chronic conditions like Crohn’s.
Your health care team can work with you to enhance any pain and can attempt to forestall surgery. Studies find that the disease tends to moderate after the first year of diagnosis, with about half of people with Crohn’s in remission at any given time.
Treatment depends on the severity of your disease, with four levels of severity possible:
- Asymptomatic remission, in which you have no symptoms after medical or surgical treatment. However, if you have to take steroids to remain symptom free, you’re not considered to be in remission.
- Mild-to-moderate Crohn’s, in which you can eat normally without major gastrointestinal problems or weight loss but still have some mild symptoms.
- Moderate-to-severeCrohn’s, in which you have symptoms such as fever, weight loss, abdominal pain and tenderness, nausea and vomiting and loss of appetite.
- Severe fulminant disease, in which you have significant symptoms even while on steroids or biologic drugs or when you have an abscess, obstruction or other severe symptoms.
Treatment is often given in a “step-up” manner starting with drugs like 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and antibiotics that have few side effects but also fewer beneficial effects, moving on to steroids, immune modulators and biologic drugs.
However, there’s some evidence that using a more aggressive approach earlier with immune modulators and biologic drugs leads to a faster remission, higher remission rate and improved healing of the intestinal lining than conventional therapy.
The bottom line is that you and your health care team must work together to find the right treatment approach for you, balancing the benefits of the drugs against their side effects, your preference for oral, injected or infused medications and the affects of the treatment and the disease on your quality of life.
Medications used to treat Crohn’s Disease
Aminosalicylates (5-ASA). These drugs reduce inflammation and provide some antioxidant benefits in the small bowel and colon. They are not specifically approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Crohn’s, but they can help decrease inflammation in the lining of the GI tract. Therefore, they are sometimes prescribed as maintenance therapy to maintain remission. These medication embrace oral mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), olsalazine (Dipentum) and balsalazide (Colazal). and rectal 5-ASA medications (Canasa and Rowasa). These drugs are most effective in the colon and don’t work as well if Crohn’s disease is limited to the small intestine. Side effects of those medications embrace headaches, nausea, fever, rash, hair loss and a risk of excretory organ and liver injury. Rarely they can cause Crohn’s to flare.
Biologic therapies. These drugs are typically given by IV infusion or subcutaneous injection. They work by preventing system processes that result in inflammation and area unit primarily employed in the short-run for a flare or once fistulizing sickness hasn’t improved with alternative medication. The major side effects are an increased risk of infection, lymphoma and the development of antibodies to the drug that make it ineffective. The medications used are infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab and pegol (Cimzia). Natalizumab (Tysabri) is used when none of these have worked.
Supportive medications
Antibiotics. Antibiotics area unit accustomed treat mild-to-moderate Crohn’s and fistulizing or orifice sickness. They are prescribed primarily to change the bacterial balance in your intestines, which can improve the abnormal immune response underlying Crohn’s. The most commonly used antibiotics are metronidazole (Flagyl) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro). Side effects area unit rare however embrace nausea and abdominal pain.
Antispasmodic/anticholinergic agents. These drugs are prescribed to help with abdominal cramping and pain. They should not be used if there is any possibility you have a bowel obstruction. They include propantheline (Pro-Banthine), dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine (Levsin). The major side effects are constipation, dry mouth, dry skin and reduced sweating.
Antidiarrheal agents. These medication embrace loperamide (Imodium), diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil) and tincture of opium, all designed to improve diarrhea. Side effects include blurred vision, dry mouth, sedation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. You shouldn’t take these medication throughout a flare as a result of they might cause a heavy condition referred to as nephrotoxic colon.
Probiotics. Probiotics are natural microorganisms that help maintain a favorable balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut. There is some evidence that they can help prevent inflammation and recurrences in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Corticosteroids. These drugs include prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), budesonide (Entocort EC) and hydrocortisone (Cortenema, Anusol-HC). They reduce inflammation and are used during a disease flare to return you to remission. They are not used as maintenance therapy because of the risk of serious side effects, which include osteoporosis, delayed wound healing and muscle weakness.
Immune modulators. This medication, 6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol), azathioprine (Imuran) and methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex), suppress the immune system and enable you to be weaned off corticosteroids. They are also used to treat fistulas. Side effects include an increased risk of infection with azathioprine and nausea and vomiting with 6-mercaptopurine. Side effects with immunosuppressive drugs embrace inflammation of the mouth, gums and tongue, excess uric acid in the blood, diarrhea, loss of appetite, low white blood cell counts and kidney disease.
Tacrolimus (Prograf) is another immune modulator generally employed in individuals with Crohn’s. This drug interrupts bound system processes that contribute to the sickness. Because of the risk of significant side effects, however, it is mainly used when other treatments fail. Side effects may include diarrhea, headache, insomnia, abdominal pain, tremor, high blood pressure, nausea and high blood sugar, among others.
Your health care professional will also prescribe nutritional supplements if the disease affects your weight or restricts a child’s growth. During an attack, you may need to be fed intravenously to give your intestine time to rest and heal.
Surgery
Many people with Crohn’s will need surgery at some point, usually to remove a severely damaged part of the intestine. Surgery is commonly suggested once symptoms continue despite high doses of steroids; once complications like abscesses, fistulas and obstructions occur; and when there is significant bleeding or the colon or small intestine is perforated.
The surgeon removes the part of your intestine that is damaged. The most common surgery in Crohn’s disease is removal of the top of the little bowel thanks to a stricture inflicting a blockage. The two healthy ends of the intestine are reattached. Sometimes, part of the colon needs to be removed and the remaining ends connected. If the colon is severely diseased and/or damaged, it may have to be completely removed, a procedure called a colectomy. In that instance, the surgeon creates an opening to the outside of your body near your abdomen called a stoma. Waste exits through the stoma into a pouch that you empty as needed. Very few people need this to be done.
Surgery may additionally be suggested for a condition referred to as nephrotoxic colon, when the colon widens very quickly, usually because of serious infection and/or inflammation. Symptoms embrace abdominal pain, bloating and tenderness, fever and rapid heart rate. You can enter shock and, unless the condition is treated immediately, could die.
In many instances, the surgeon may be able to operate laparoscopically through small incisions, rather than opening your entire abdomen. There is some evidence that laparoscopic surgery has a lower rate of infection and a lower risk of reoperations than abdominal surgery. Not all surgeons do this. Colorectal surgeons, who specialize in colon surgeries, are more likely to have the training and experience for laparoscopic surgeries.
The most common complication from surgery for Crohn’s is that the development of adhesions. Adhesions occur once bands of connective tissue within the abdomen get “stuck” to girdle or abdominal organs, similar to how plastic wrap clings to itself. In some instances, the surgeon may need to go back in to remove the adhesions.
Surgery is not a cure but can relieve complications such as blockage. Surgery is usually used only complications occur or your symptoms do not reply to any medications within the Crohn’s arsenal. Most people ought to be medication once surgery to forestall the sickness from returning.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent Crohn’s because the cause is not known, but there are treatments to prevent acute flares and maintain remission of Crohn’s. Medication is the best way to do this, but learning to manage stress and reduce the stress in your life may also help. Stress-management techniques include deep, slow breathing when you’re stressed, visualization exercises and meditation.
Exercise and other physical activity can help with stress management, as can simply taking care of yourself with enough sleep and a healthy diet.
Facts to Know
- Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive system.
- Crohn’s is typically diagnosed when people are adolescents or in their early 20s, although more children are being diagnosed.
- Crohn’s is a chronic disease with no cure. It is managed with medication and surgery.
- Symptoms of Crohn’s include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, night sweats, weight loss and fatigue.
- The disease affects the small intestine and colon in most people with Crohn’s.
- Complications of Crohn’s include obstructions, fistula, abscesses and perianal disease.
- The inflammation associated with Crohn’s can affect other parts of your body, causing painful joints, mouth or skin ulcers, rashes and eye inflammation.
- Diagnosing Crohn’s involves a thorough medical examination, blood tests, imaging studies such as ultrasound, MRI or CT, endoscopy, colonoscopy and barium X-rays.
- Numerous medications are used to treat Crohn’s, including aminosalicylates, biologic therapies, antibiotics, antispasmodic/anticholinergic agents, antidiarrheal agents, bile acid sequestrants, probiotics, corticosteroids and immune modulators.
- About three out of four people with Crohn’s will need surgery to remove some small intestine or a piece of colon. Surgery is not a cure.
Key Q&A
- What causes Crohn’s disease?We don’t know what causes Crohn’s, but experts suspect it is related to a combination of abnormalities, environmental factors, genetic causes and intestinal bacteria or viruses in the system. Researchers have identified several genes connected with the disease so far and know that it tends to run in families.
- What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?Symptoms of Crohn’s include diarrhea, abdominal pain; bowel obstruction (when something partially or fully blocks the intestines), weight loss, fever, night sweats and fatigue. The pain tends to occur in the lower right part of your abdomen or near your belly button. The pain might improve with a bowel movement. You may also see blood in your stool.
- How can I be sure I get the right diagnosis?To diagnose Crohn’s disease, your doctor will order a series of tests, ask you a lot of questions about your symptoms and thoroughly examine you. You should share any family history of gastrointestinal problems or irritable bowel diseases, including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, since Crohn’s is often hereditary. Tests that may be used to diagnose Crohn’s disease include blood tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, imaging tests, antibody tests and a barium enema.
- Is there a cure for Crohn’s disease?Although there is no cure for Crohn’s, it can be managed with medication and sometimes surgery.
- What medications are used to treat Crohn’s disease?Medications used to treat Crohn’s disease include aminosalicylates (5-ASA) to reduce inflammation and provide some antioxidant benefits in the small bowel; antibiotics; biologic therapies to tamp down the immune system; supportive medications like antispasmodic/anticholinergic agents to help with abdominal cramping and pain; antidiarrheal agents; bile acid sequestrants to help you absorb bile acids properly; probiotics to help maintain a favorable balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut; corticosteroids to reduce inflammation; and immune modulators to suppress the immune system.
- How will I know what medication is best for me?You and your doctor will work together to find the right medications for your disease based on your symptoms.
- How will I know when I need surgery?Many people with Crohn’s will need surgery at some point, usually to remove a severely damaged part of the intestine. Surgery is often recommended when symptoms continue despite high doses of steroids; when complications like abscesses, fistulas and obstructions occur; and when there is significant bleeding or the colon has become perforated.
- What are the risks of surgery?The most common complication from surgery for Crohn’s is the development of adhesions. Adhesions occur when bands of scar tissue in the abdominal cavity get “stuck” to pelvic or abdominal organs, similar to how plastic wrap clings to itself. In some instances, the surgeon may need to remove the adhesions.
- Is there any way to prevent recurrences?The goal of treatment is to prevent recurrences. You and your health care team can work together to find the best combination of lifestyle and medical therapies to reduce or prevent the risk of recurrence.
