What is Crohn’s Disease (CD)?

CD is a long term inflammatory bowel disease that affects any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. It typically occurs between the ages of 15 and 40 years old.

The exact cause and mechanism of CD is not fully understood, but it is thought to be triggered by a bacterial or viral infection that activates the immune system in the intestine. The immune system remains activated, resulting in inflammation, even after the infection subsides.

One of the complications in severe CD is fistula which is an abnormal connection between different parts of the digestive tract.

Other parts of the body that may be affected less commonly include the eyes and joints.

What are the symptoms of CD?

There may be periods of time with no symptoms. However, during a flare up, some of the symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Diarrhea that may be bloody
• Anal sores
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Stunned growth in children
• Vision changes
• Drainage of pus from the anal area

How is CD diagnosed?

1. Blood tests:
   • Elevation in white blood due to inflammation
   • Reduction in vitamin B12 and red blood cell count due to poor absorption of B12.
2. Auto-antibody tests
3. Stool tests
4. Upper gastrointestinal X-ray
5. Colonoscopy to view the insides of large intestine
6. MR enterography to obtain pictures of the entire intestine
7. Biopsy

How to prevent CD?

There is no way to prevent CD. However, some recommendations include:

• Maintaining a well-balanced diet helps reduce complications as anemia and weight loss that occur during flare-ups.
• Avoid smoking
• Have your colon examined regularly due to increased risk of colon cancer

What are treatment options for CD?

1. Anti-inflammatory medications
2. Antibiotics
3. Antidiarrheal medications
4. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors
5. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a substance produced by the immune system and is responsible for inflammation and much of the gastrointestinal tract damage. TNF-α inhibitors work by inhibiting this substance; however, infection risk is increased in the process due to suppression of the immune system.

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