Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease-causing inflammation in the digestive tract. The symptoms of this disease include abdominal pain, lesions, bleeding, fever, and diarrhoea. Crohn’s disease is a lifetime condition that cannot be cured. However, the consumption of some medications can help in controlling the disease.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is also known as regional enteritis or ileitis. It is characterized as an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Usually, the small intestine and the large intestine are affected by this disease. The condition is quite common in the North and South American regions in children and adults.

Types of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease can affect different parts of the small intestine and large intestine. The types of Crohn’s disease are as under:

• Gastroduodenal

Irritation and inflammation of duodenum. Duodenum is the anterior part of the small intestine. In some cases, swelling is observed in the duodenum of the small intestine.

• Ileitis

The type of Crohn’s disease associated with the swelling and development of the ileum of the small intestine is called ileitis.

• Ileocolitis

The inflammation in certain parts of the small and large intestine colon is known as Ileocolitis. Also, this is one of the most common types of Crohn’s disease.

• Jejunoileitis

The swelling and inflammation of the jejunum of the small intestine are called Jejunoileitis. The jejunum is the middle segment of the small intestine.

Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease

Abdominal diseases affect overall health. Chrohn’s disease leads the patient to malnutrition and rapid weight loss. It is known to cause harm to the small and the large intestine. It is a common gastrointestinal disorder with the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain

As the disease is associated with the gastrointestinal tract, the patient experiences severe pain in the abdomen.

• Fever

Increasing body temperature is one of the most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

• Chronic Diarrhea

It is characterized by abnormally watery stool. It can range from mild to severe. Sometimes it may prove to be a life-threatening situation for the patient.

• Loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is one of the most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease. The patient’s desire to consume food on time fades away. It is one of the initial symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

• Loss of weight

Loss of weight results from losing appetite as the patient quits eating and loses weight. Sometimes, rapid weight loss is due to chronic diarrhoea, where the excretion rate is more than the rate of food intake. In many cases, it may lead to dehydration.

• Anal fissures –

Anal fissures destroy the lining of the anal canal, which results in severe abdominal pain.

• Anal fistulas

Anal fistulas are the layer around the anus. During Crohn’s disease, swelling is observed around the anus.

Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease

There are different techniques for diagnosing Crohn’s disease. The diagnosis makes treatment of Crohn’s disease easier. Here are some of the ways to diagnose this disorder:

• Lab test 

Blood tests and stool tests are included in the lab tests. Both of these tests help in the diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease. The blood test includes the number of white and red blood cells. Fewer red blood cells indicate the anemic condition of the patient.

Furthermore, a higher white blood count leads to the indication of disease in the body. However, it does not specify which type of disease.

• Bowel Imaging 

Bowel obstruction and abnormalities are easily determined by bowel imaging. It helps in determining the activity of the bowel. In recent, we have come across several less invasive inventions. These inventions help doctors in the diagnosis of many chronic and acute diseases.

Doctors can examine the internal and vital organs of the patients without any major surgery. Imaging plays various roles in diagnosing and treating Crohn’s disease. Some of them are:

• Examine the bowel activity

A precise diagnosis is necessary before starting the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Imaging enables noninvasive diagnosis of the disease. The assessment of the disease activity will help in the modification of the patient’s treatment plans.

• Determination of disease complications

It is impossible to determine any disease’s complications without a test. Abdominal imaging plays a pivotal role in determining disease intensity and how much damage it has already caused to the body. It is important to note the penetration level of the disease to estimate the systemic loss. It also contributes to determining a suitable medical treatment for the patient.

• Distinguish from tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is one of the fatal diseases of the human body. The bacteria of tuberculosis is observed to imitate many diseases. This makes diagnosing and selecting appropriate medical therapy challenging for the doctors.

However, imaging is proven to show a clear picture of human internal organs making differentiation of tuberculosis easier.

• Determining disease intensity 

Before selecting an adequate medical therapy, it is important to define the extent of Crohn’s disease. In mild Crohn’s disease, the swelling is observed on the anterior part of the small intestine. However, swelling and inflammation are chronic Chron’s disease symptoms.

Conclusion

Crohn’s disease is one of the most serious abdominal disorders. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It is characterized by the inflammation of the different parts of the small and large intestine. The most common symptoms of the disease include fever, severe abdominal pain, large and small intestine inflammation, abnormal weight loss, loss of appetite and chronic diarrhoea.

Various imaging techniques are used to diagnose Crohn’s disease. One of the most common ones is abdominal x-rays. The examination of bowel activity assists the doctors in treating the patient.

The disease is quite common in children and adults. There is no specific treatment for Crohn’s disease. However, certain medications can help in controlling the disease to some extent. In chronic cases, the doctor recommends abdominal surgery.

Author’s Bio:

Hello, I’m Alisson Roy. I’m a health content writer and I love helping others improve their lives through education and information. I have a background in health and diagnostic imaging, and I enjoy using my knowledge to help others learn about how they can improve their own health. My goal is always to provide valuable information that will help people and also write more about specialized diagnostic center for women.

Collins Nwokolo

Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.