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Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease: A guide to symptoms, abdominal pain, and treatment

Crohn's disease (Morbus Crohn)
Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect the entire digestive system – from the mouth to the rectum. Although the disease can feel overwhelming, there are now very good treatment options available, allowing patients to live a normal life.

To understand the disease, it is important to know the difference between general discomfort and the inflammatory conditions seen in the colon, as well as why a colonoscopy is necessary to make the diagnosis.

What is Crohn's disease?

Unlike ulcerative colitis, which only affects the large intestine, Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation is often "patchy," meaning that there may be healthy areas between the diseased areas. In addition, the inflammation can penetrate deep into all layers of the intestinal wall.

Typical symptoms of Crohn's disease

Symptoms can vary greatly depending on where in the intestine the inflammation is located. The most common signs are:

  • Periodic abdominal pain: Often located in the lower right side of the abdomen.

  • Diarrhea: Sometimes with bleeding from the intestine, although this is more common in ulcerative colitis.

  • Weight loss and reduced appetite: As the body has difficulty absorbing nutrients.

  • Fatigue and fever: The body uses energy to fight the inflammation.

  • Fistulas and abscesses: Small passages or pockets of inflammation, especially around the rectum.

How is the diagnosis made?

If your doctor suspects Crohn's disease, they will typically start with blood tests and a stool sample (calprotectin) to measure the degree of inflammation.

The decisive colonoscopy

To see exactly where the inflammation is located, a colonoscopy is performed. This involves inserting a small telescope through the colon and often into the last part of the small intestine (ileum), where Crohn's disease is most commonly found. The doctor takes tissue samples, which can confirm the diagnosis and rule out other diseases such as colon cancer or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Gut bacteria and the immune system

Recent research in this area suggests that Crohn's disease arises from a combination of heredity and an inappropriate response by the immune system to the body's own intestinal bacteria. Although diet is not the cause of the disease, certain foods can alleviate or aggravate symptoms during periods of flare-ups.

Scientific source: Studies confirm that early detection and medical treatment are crucial to avoiding narrowing of the intestine (strictures), which may require surgery (Source: Torres J. et al., 2017, PubMed).

PubMed-based sources:

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