Crohn’s disease Is Most Commonly Diagnosed in adolescents or young adults, But it can strike at Any Age (even in children). Tough to diagnosis and Often mistaken for other Illnesses, Crohn’s disease can cause diarrhea, gut pain, and skin events, joint, and eye problems. Read more about how you can get Crohn’s disease under medication and Control with lifestyle changes.
Exams and Tests
Crohn’s disease is Diagnosed through to medical history and physical exam , imaging tests to look at the intestines, and laboratory tests.
Crohn’s disease can be Difficult to diagnose. The disease may go undiagnosed for years Because Develop gradually and Symptoms Usually the Same part of the intestine is not always Involved. Other diseases can Also Have the Same Symptoms as Crohn’s disease. But Crohn’s disease Tends to cause the intestine to Have a cobblestone appearance, can help doctors diagnose Which it. The pattern results from the Repeated formation and healing of sores (Ulcers) in the intestine.
Tests Used to diagnose Crohn’s disease include:
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy , a lighted viewing In Which instrument is Used to look at the inside of the colon. In general, colonoscopy is the preferred test can be Because It Used To examine the Entire colon. Sigmoidoscopy only the last part Reaches of the colon.
- Abdominal X-ray , Which Provides a picture of possible obstruction in the abdomen.
- Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series WITH SMALL-bowel follow-through to examine all of the small intestine. In This tests the physician examine the upper and middle part of the portions of the digestive tract. After you swallow a «shake» made of a white liquid (barium) and water, continuous X-rays ( fluoroscopy ) are taken to track the movement of the barium-through the esophagus, stomach, and the small intestine. A video monitor displays the images.
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy , Which Allows your physician to look at the inside lining of your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum With A thin, flexible imaging instrument Called an endoscope.
- Barium enema , a test That Allows the physician to examine the large intestine (colon). For a barium enema, a white liquid (barium) is inserted-through the rectum Into the colon. The barium outlines the inside of the colon so it can be more That Clearly seen on an X-ray.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan , uses X-rays Which to produce Detailed pictures of Structures inside the body. A CT enterography may be done. This type of CT scan looks specifically at your small intestine for signs of Crohn’s disease.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , magnetic field Which to use and Radio wave pulses of energy to Provide Organs and Structures pictures of inside the body.
- Standard blood tests and urine tests, Which may be Used to check foranemia , Inflammation, or malnutrition. Depending on the symptoms, anerythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate) or C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test may be done to look for Infection or Inflammation.
A biopsy of a sample of tissue from the lining of the intestine, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy DURING collected, can be Used to confirm the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. A biopsy may be done to Also find out Whether a tumor is present. Multiple biopsies for cancer screening are done in people who Often Have HAD Crohn’s disease of the colon or rectum for 8 years or more. Bowel biopsies are painless (other than the discomfort of the scope Potential procedure) and remove only a tiny piece of tissue.
A stool analysis is done Often, Depending on symptoms, to look for blood, signs of Bacterial Infection, malabsorption, parasites, or the Presence of white blood cells. This test can be Used to Distinguish from Crohn’s disease Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Which is a condition less Serious Symptoms That Sometimes you like.
Other exams and tests That may be Used to Evaluate Also Crohn’s disease include:
- Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) , in Which you swallow a tiny camera records STI That your digestive tract-through trip by sending images to a recording device on That You wear a belt. Your physician later examine the images by downloading from the recording device Them.The camera passes out of your body in stool within The 10 to 48 hours.VCE is particularly useful in examining the small intestine, to see Which is apologetic with Other endoscopic tests.
- Small bowel enteroscopy, Which use a longer, flexible, lighted tube With A tiny camera sends pictures That of the small intestine to a video screen. This helps the Doctor look at the small intestine. The doctor can take small samples Also ( biopsy ) of the tissue.
- Blood tests to find antibodies , Which can help the physician tell Sometimes if You have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. These tests include anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody with perinuclear staining (pANCA), anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), and outer membrane porin C (Omp C).
Early Detection
No screening test exists for Crohn’s disease at this time. But if you HAD Have Crohn’s disease colon or rectum Affecting the 8 years or longer for, discuss with your Doctor Whether you need screening for colon cancer.Screening Usually Involves Taking multiple-tissue biopsies DURING routine colonoscopy.
What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) . Parts of the digestive system get swollen and deep sores Have Called Ulcers . Usually Crohn’s disease is found in the last part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine. But it can anywhere in the digestive Develop tract, from the mouth to the anus.
What Causes Crohn’s disease?
Doctors do not know what you cause Crohn’s disease. You may get it when to the body’s immune system has an abnormal response to normal bacteria in your intestine. Other kinds of bacteria and viruses may play a role in Also Causing the disease.
Crohn’s disease can run in large families. Your chances of getting it are a close family Higher member if you have it. People of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish family background may Have a Higher chance of getting Crohn’s disease. Smoking puts you at a Also Higher Risk for the disease.
What are the Symptoms?
The main Symptoms of Crohn’s disease are belly pain and diarrhea (sometimes With Blood). Some people may Have diarrhea 10 to 20 times a day. Trying Losing weight is another common without sign. Less Common Symptoms include mouth sores, bowel blockages, anal tears ( fissures ), and openings ( fistulas ) Between organs.
Infections, hormonal changes file, and smoking can cause your symptoms to flare up. You may only mild Have Symptoms or go for long Periods of time without Any Symptoms. A few People Have ongoing, severe Symptoms.
It’s Important to be aware of signs That Crohn’s disease may be getting worse. Call your physician right away if you Have Any of These signs:
- You feel faint or weak Have a fast and press.
- You have severe belly pain.
- You have a fever or shaking chills.
- You are Vomiting again and again.
How is Crohn’s disease Diagnosed?
Your physician will ask you About your symptoms and do a physical exam.You may Also Have X-rays and lab tests to find out if You have Crohn’s.
That test may be done to diagnose Crohn’s disease include:
- Barium X-rays of the small intestine or colon.
- Colonoscopy or Flexible sigmoidoscopy. In These tests, the physician use a thin, lighted tube to look inside the colon.
- Biopsy . The Doctor Takes a sample of tissue and tests it to find out if You have Crohn’s disease or another s, such as cancer.
- Stool analysis. This is a test to look for blood and signs of Infection in a sample of your stool.
How is it Treated?
Treatment will depend on your type of the Symptoms You have bad and how They are.
There are steps you can A Few take to help yourself feel better. Take your medicine just as your physician tells you to. Exercise, and eat healthy meals. Do not smoke. Smoking Makes Crohn’s disease worse.
The most common Treatment for Crohn’s disease is medicine. Mild Symptoms of Crohn’s disease may be Treated with over-the-counter medicines to stop diarrhea. But talk with your physician before you take Them, Because They may cause side effects.
You may use prescription medicines Also. They help controlling Inflammation in the intestines and keep the disease from Causing Symptoms. (When you do not have symptoms, you are in remission .) These medicines help heal damaged tissue Also can postpone the need and for surgery.
Crohn’s disease Makes it hard for your body to Absorb nutrients from food. A meal plan That Focuses on high-calorie, high-protein foods can help you get the nutrients you need. Eating This Way may be Easier if You have regularly meals plus two or three snacks Each Day.
How do you Cope with Crohn’s disease?
Having Crohn’s disease can be stressful. The disease Affects every part of your life. Seek support from family and friends to help you cope. Get counseling if you need it.
People with inflammatory bowel Many diseases look to alternative treatments to Improve Their well-being. These Have Not Been PROVED treatments for Crohn’s disease Effective, But They may help you cope.They include massage, supplements vitamins D and Such As B12, and herbs like aloe and ginseng.
Medications
Usually medicines are the choice for Treatment of Crohn’s disease . They can Prevent or Control Inflammation in the intestines and help:
- Relieve Symptoms.
- Promote healing of damaged tissues.
- Put Into the disease remission and keep it from flaring up again.
- Postpone the need for surgery.
Medication Choices
The choice of medicine depends on the severity Usually of the disease, the part of the intestines That Is Affected, and Whether Complications are present. Medicines That Are Used for Crohn’s disease include:
- Aminosalicylates (mesalamine or sulfasalazine Such As).
- Antibiotics (metronidazole or ciprofloxacin Such As). Antibiotics are Used to treat fistulas.
- Corticosteroids (prednisone or budesonide Such As). Usually stop corticosteroids Symptoms and put the disease in remission. But They Are Not Used as long-term Symptoms Treatment to keep from coming back.
- Suppress the immune Medicines That system (Such as azathioprine, mercaptopurine, methotrexate and). These may be needed to help keep the disease in remission.
- Biologics (infliximab or adalimumab Such As). These may be Used for people who Develop abnormal connections Between the intestines and other Organs (fistulas) or Who Have severe Crohn’s disease does not respond to That other medicines.
- Cyclosporine and intravenous (IV) corticosteroids may be needed for severe cases.
What To Think About
Most of These medicines can be Also Used in children.
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your Doctor About Which medicines might be okay to take for Crohn’s disease.Sometimes, severe Crohn’s disease can harm your baby more than the medicines you are Taking to keep it under control. Some medicines, THOUGH, Should never be taken when to you are pregnant. Your physician can tell you Which medicines are okay for you while you are pregnant and nursing.