2023-10-06 01:00:50
This condition affects the colon, small intestine and even the perianal area, esophagus, stomach and mouth.
Crohn’s disease can occur at any age, although the group most at risk is people between 15 and 35 years old.
The ideal specialist to accurately identify this pathology is the gastroenterologist.
The list of health problems is almost infinite, although there are some that are little talked about even though they have a high incidence. Such is the case of the Crohn’s disease, which is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is necessary to identify some of its first manifestations to know when to seek professional help.
According to the Dra. Kerri Glassnerwho is a gastroenterologist at Hospital Houston Methodistthis condition affects the colon, the small intestine and even the perianal area, the esophagus, the stomach and the mouth.
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Chronic inflammation in the Crohn’s disease It can cause strictures, a narrowing or blockage in the intestines called stricturing disease. It can also cause abnormal connections of the intestine to another area, such as the skin, bladder, vagina, or another portion of the intestine, called fistulas or fistulizing disease.
Main symptoms
A person with Crohn’s disease You don’t experience the same symptoms all the time. There will be periods without discomfort (remission) and others with discomfort called outbreaks. Patients can go weeks, months, or even years without experiencing one. It is difficult to predict when a person will experience symptoms or why.
The most common are the following:
Diarrhea Abdominal pain Fever Blood in stool Fatigue Feeling bloated Loss of appetite Mouth ulcers Vomiting Urgency to defecate Weight loss
Symptoms also vary depending on the type. For example, with the Crohn’s disease stricture obstruction may occur such as abdominal pain and bloating, nausea and vomiting after eating. People with inflammatory disease that affects the rectum and colon may have bloody stools, urgency, and diarrhea.
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For people living with this condition, they may have symptoms or conditions that occur outside the gastrointestinal tract, called extraintestinal manifestations. Dr. Glassner says the most common include skin conditions, joint pain caused by inflammation, and mouth ulcers.
Types of Crohn’s disease
This condition has several subtypes named after the affected areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Ileocolitis, which affects both the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine (colon), is the most common.
Other types include:
Ileal: Swelling and inflammation develops in the small intestine. Upper gastrointestinal: Inflammation affects the stomach and upper small intestine. Colonic: inflammation affects only the large intestine.
Tests for diagnosing Crohn’s disease
Patients usually make an appointment with a gastroenterologist when they have symptoms such as diarrhea, urgent need to go to the bathroom, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
To obtain an accurate diagnosis, the gastroenterologist must perform tests such as a colonoscopy or an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy. Other tests that may also be useful in diagnosing Crohn’s disease are:
Fecal calprotectin, a stool test that assesses inflammation MR/CT enterography Intestinal ultrasound and video capsule endoscopy
Treatments for Crohn’s disease
Current treatments can range from periods of bowel rest to surgery and may include the following:
Immune modulators, such as azathioprine or 6-MP, medications that can reduce inflammation by suppressing an overactive immune system. Biologic medications, such as infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, and rizankizumab, medications that use monoclonal antibodies to suppress the immune response. Promising new treatments continue to enter the market to treat Crohn’s disease.
Also read:
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