Crohn's disease: definition, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 27, 2023

An increasingly common disease today: formerly known as Crohn’s disease, Crohn’s disease is one of the most common chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is a disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the intestine, which can affect the wall of the entire gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus.

In most cases, the disease mainly affects the ileum, the last part of the small intestine, and the colon.

What are the causes of Crohn’s disease?

The exact causes of Crohn’s disease are still being studied, as we are dealing with a multifactorial disease with only partially known causes.

It is believed that this disease is caused by an incorrect immune response of the intestine to certain antigens, such as bacteria or their components that are usually found in the intestine.

It is common to find this disease in people who have a genetic background or predisposition, however, this does not necessarily mean that it is hereditary.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is typically characterised by symptoms such as:

persistent diarrhoea lasting more than four weeks
abdominal pain
cramps, sometimes accompanied by bleeding
fever
joint pain
weight loss
in some cases fistulas or abscesses may develop around the anus

It is possible that certain joint, skin, eye and liver problems are related to Crohn’s disease.

These are immune-mediated conditions that go beyond the digestive system and can, in some cases, develop even before the typical symptoms of the disease appear.

Timing is crucial for people with Crohn’s disease

Early diagnosis can allow personalised treatment plans to be established, increasing the likelihood of successful management of the disease.

Crohn’s disease is often diagnosed late, as it can be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (also because 30% of patients have both).

Patients may then get used to living with a reduced quality of life and therefore postpone a check-up even if they experience symptoms such as multiple episodes of diarrhoea per day.

Crohn’s disease: How is it treated?

To accurately assess the presence of Crohn’s disease, the gastroenterologist will combine the physical examination with a series of instrumental tests, including ileocolonoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, MRI and blood tests.

After the disease has been diagnosed, the doctor will determine the best course of treatment depending on the severity and stage of the disease.

Conventional or advanced therapies may be recommended to maintain control of the disease and stop further damage to the intestine.

Today, a ‘treat to target’ strategy is used, i.e. a form of treatment that focuses on improving symptoms, test results and restoring the integrity of the intestinal mucosa.

This approach is adapted as needed during follow-up and may also require changes to the treatment plan.

In some situations, medication alone is not sufficient and surgery is necessary.

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