Crohn’s disease diagnosis and treatment

How is Crohn’s disease diagnosed?

Crohn’s disease cannot be identified by any single test. The physician will start identifying the condition by eliminating possible causes for the symptoms.

Your doctor can use various tests in order to establish an assessment:

The results of blood tests can aid your doctor in looking for specific indicators of possible problems, including inflammation and anemia.

A stool test can help your doctor to identify blood in your GI tract.

The doctor might recommend an endoscopy in order to obtain more detailed images of the internal lining of your digestive tract.

Your doctor might suggest an examination of the colon to determine your large bowel.

Imaging tests such as CT scans as well as MRI scans provide your doctor with more information than the standard X-ray. Both of these tests enable your doctor to examine particular areas of your tissue and organs.

The doctor is likely to take the tissue sample, also known as a biopsy that is taken during an endoscopy or colonoscopy to get an examination of the tissue of your intestinal tract.

After your doctor has finished taking all the tests required and has ruled out any other causes for the symptoms, they might determine that you suffer from Crohn’s disease.

Your physician may decide to have these tests a few times to search for any affected tissues and figure out how fast the disease is spreading.

What is the treatment for Crohn’s disease?

The cure for Crohn’s disease isn’t yet available, however, the condition can be controlled. Many treatments are available to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory medicines

The two most common types of anti-inflammatory medications doctors prescribe for treating Crohn’s include corticosteroids and oral 5-aminosalicylates. Anti-inflammatory medications are typically the first medication you will take for the treatment of Crohn’s disease.

These drugs are typically taken for mild symptoms but do not often flare. Corticosteroids can be used to treat more severe symptoms but should be used only for a brief period of time.

Antibiotics

Doctors believe that antibiotics could assist in reducing certain symptoms of Crohn’s disease and also certain factors that trigger it.

As an example, antibiotics are able to reduce drainage and treat fistulas which are the abnormal connections between tissue that Crohn’s disease may result in.

Medicines

A variety of medications are offered to help treat the condition of Crohn’s. Anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal drugs are most often used. The most advanced choices are biologics, which rely on the body’s immune system to treat the condition.

The medication or the combination of drugs you take is based on the symptoms you have as well as your medical history and how severe your disease and your response to treatment.

Immunomodulators

A weakened immune system can trigger inflammation, which can cause Crohn’s-like symptoms. Certain medications that impact the immune system, known as immunomodulators, can decrease the inflammatory response, and also reduce the immune system’s response.

Biologic treatments

If you suffer from severe Crohn’s the doctor can suggest one of the biological treatments to manage the complications and inflammation that may result from the illness. Biologic medicines can block certain proteins that can cause inflammation.

Surgery

If non-invasive treatments and lifestyle changes do not help your symptoms, surgery could be the best option. The bottom line is that about 75 percent of patients with Crohn’s disease require surgery at some point in their lives, as per the CCFA.

The various types of surgeries for Crohn’s involve removing affected parts of the digestive tract and reconnecting healthy sections. Other procedures fix damaged tissues, treat scar tissue, or treat infections.

Diet

Food does not cause Crohn’s disease but it can trigger the condition.

If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, your doctor might recommend an appointment with a Registered Dietitian (RD). An RD will assist you in understanding the way food choices can impact your symptoms as well as what your diet can do to help you.

At first, they might request that you record a food journal. The food diary will record the foods you have eaten and how you feel.

With this information, your RD will assist you in creating an eating plan. These changes to your diet should aid in absorbing more nutrients from your food and also limit any adverse side effects that the food you consume may cause.