Crohn’s disease is a condition due to inflammation anywhere in the digestive track of body. Commonly CD affects large and small intestine and regions nearby. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease resemble ulcerative colitis even though both are different types of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Complications from Crohn’s Disease
- Thickening or scar formation of tissues lining the bowel wall. This can lead to intestinal closure or blockage. Such intestinal blockages can cause bloating, constipation and other issues.
- Crohn's Disease may lead to ulcer formations inside intestine. Such ulcers will break the inner walls of intestine and create fistulas or tunnels. This can happen in the affected regions or those near to affected regions. Fistula is seen in other parts of digestive track starting from mouth to anus and associated organs. Some areas like bladder and vagina are also prone to fistulas. There will be discharge of pus, mucus or stool from fistula in most of cases.
- Nutritional deficiency is another major complication associated with Crohn’s disease. This is due to the inefficiency of intestine to absorb proteins, vitamins and minerals from food leading to under nutrition. A disease associated with under nutrition is osteoporosis (due to insufficient calcium and vitamin D for strengthening bones). Medicines like corticosteroids, given to treat Crohn's Disease can also turn thing more adverse. The risk of osteoporosis will be higher in patients following diet devoid of milk and milk products.
Diagnosis of Crohn's Disease
A detailed report on history of patient and physical examination is needed for a doctor to diagnose the disease. These are the tests to be undergone as part of diagnosis.
- Blood and stool sample test: Blood test will give an idea about inflammation and iron level. Stool sample is tested for traces of blood and bacterial/fungal infection. Culture tests of these samples will give an idea of the infected organism.
- Upper gastrointestinal series with small bowel follow through: This test is based on tracking the radioactive element barium through digestive track. The patient will be asked to drink barium containing chalky fluid. The flow will be tracked on X-ray film, which gives an idea of area affected by Crohn’s disease.
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: In this test, doctor inserts a tube with light into the digestive tract to see rectum.
- Colonoscopy: In this test, tube with light in end region will be inserted to digestive track through rectum. This allows doctor to see the infected area.
- CAT scan: Here the CAT scan is used to monitor the flow of barium and some specialized used, the scan is carried out in different angles to get an idea of inflammation and blocks in the intestine.
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