Healthy Living
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Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It occurs when the tissues in your digestive tract become swollen and inflamed, causing symptoms including abdominal pain and severe diarrhea.

When not treated or managed, Crohn’s disease can increase your risk for complications, including malnutrition, blood clots, and colon cancer. Knowing the symptoms and risk factors of Crohn’s disease can help you stay informed so you can seek treatment early on if needed.

Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe and usually develop slowly over time. In some instances, symptoms can come on suddenly.

Crohn’s disease symptoms include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain and cramping
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Dark or bloody stool
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Mouth sores
  • Frequent urges to have bowel movements
  • Feeling as though bowels are not empty after bowel movements
  • Pain or drainage around the anus
  • Anemia
  • Eye pain or redness
  • Joint pain

Causes of Crohn’s Disease

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease remains unknown. Some doctors think it may be caused by genetics and having a family history of this disease. It may also be triggered by an autoimmune reaction which can cause your immune system to attack healthy cells in your gut and digestive tract.

Other potential causes and risk factors of Crohn’s disease include:

  • Smoking, which can double your risk of developing this condition
  • Using certain medications—birth control pills, antibiotics, ibuprofen, and aspirin are some of many medications that increase your risk for Crohn’s disease
  • Eating a high-fat diet

Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease

There is no single test that is used to diagnose Crohn’s disease. This inflammatory bowel condition is usually diagnosed with a series of tests that rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.

First, your doctor will review your medical history and a list of the medications you are currently using. Next, your doctor will perform a physical exam to check for bloating, pain, and tenderness in your abdominal region and abnormalities in your spleen or liver.

Lab tests and procedures your doctor may use to diagnose Crohn’s disease include the following:

  • Blood test— This is to check for anemia and inflammation.
  • Stool study—A sample of your stool is screened for harmful bacteria and organisms.
  • Colonoscopy—This procedure allows your doctor to view the inside of your colon and perform a biopsy.
  • Computerized tomography (CT)—A CT scan provides a clear view of the inside of your bowel and nearby tissues.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—An MRI uses radio waves to create detailed images of your intestine and pelvic area.
  • Capsule endoscopy—For this test, you swallow a capsule that contains a camera that takes photos of the inside of your intestine. These images can be uploaded on a computer, and the tiny camera leaves your body through your stool.

Treatments for Crohn’s Disease

Medications, dietary changes, and surgery are the most common treatments for Crohn’s disease. It’s normal to try several different treatments before you find one that works best at reducing your symptoms.

Medications

Medications for Crohn’s disease can help reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms. These include:

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs—Corticosteroids and aminosalicylates can help reduce inflammation but are typically only recommended for a short period.
  • Immunomodulators—Drugs like azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and methotrexate can decrease the activity in your immune system and reduce inflammation.
  • Antibiotics—Antibiotics may reduce some symptoms of Crohn’s disease, including drainage; they may also heal fistulas and abscesses on or around the anus.
  • Biologics—Vedolizumab, infliximab, adalimumab, and ustekinumab are some of the many biologic therapies that can block the activity of cells and proteins involved in the body’s inflammatory response.
  • Loperamide—This medication may help reduce severe diarrhea in Crohn’s disease.

Dietary Changes

Certain foods may worsen symptoms of Crohn’s disease or cause flares. Your doctor may recommend keeping a food journal, which can help you track and identify the types of foods that trigger symptoms.

Try making the following changes to your diet if you have Crohn’s disease:

  • Adjust your fiber intake. Experiment with eating more or less fiber to see if your symptoms improve. Fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are food groups that contain high amounts of fiber.
  • Eat fewer fats. Fried foods and foods high in fat can increase abdominal pain and diarrhea. Avoid eating foods like fried chicken, pizza, and donuts.
  • Reduce your dairy intake. Some dairy products can worsen Crohn’s disease symptoms like cramping, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Try switching from cow’s milk to alternatives like almond milk or coconut milk, and eat less cheese, butter, and sour cream.
  • Drink more water. Water can help your body stay hydrated, especially if you have severe diarrhea and nausea.

Surgery

Up to 75% of people with Crohn’s disease will eventually require surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery if medications and dietary changes fail to improve your condition. Surgery may be performed to remove damaged parts of the digestive tract, such as parts of the small intestine, large intestine, colon, or rectum. It may also be performed to drain abscesses, close fistulas, or repair damaged tissues.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you think you may have Crohn’s disease. Your provider can perform an exam, properly diagnose your condition, and discuss all your available treatment options.