Crohn's Disease (IBD)

Causes, symptoms & treatment

What is Crohn's Disease?

Crohn's disease is one of two main conditions that falls under the umbrella term "inflammatory bowel disease" (IBD); the other is ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease is a disease in which the lining of the gastrointestinal tract (typically the lower small bowel and/or upper colon) becomes inflamed and hinders the body's ability to digest food, absorb nutrition, and eliminate waste. The tissue that connects the abdomen to the small bowel (the mesentery) can also be affected by Crohn's. More than 300,000 Canadians have Crohn's disease.

What Causes Crohn's Disease?

Common causes of Crohn's disease include:

  • Genetics
  • Jewish Ashkenazi descent
  • South Asian descent
  • Changes in the gut microbiome
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Enteric infection
  • Inflammatory foods
  • Air pollution
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) use
  • Birth control
  • Lack of Vitamin D
  • History of infectious gastroenteritis

Crohn's Disease Symptoms & Complications

Common symptoms of Crohn's disease include:

  • Douleur abdominale
  • Crampes
  • Diarrhée
  • Perte de poids
  • Perte d'appétit
  • Mouth sores
  • Anémie
  • Fatigue
  • Fièvre

Some complications associated with Crohn's disease include:

  • Bowel obstruction
  • Abscess
  • Anal fissures
  • Arthrite
  • Uveitis
  • Kidney stones
  • Gallbladder issues
  • Colorectal cancer

When to See a Doctor

Crohn's disease patients should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms: significant abdominal pain, blood clots in stool, vomiting with inability to eat, fever, significant weight loss, or uncontrolled diarrhea.

How to Diagnose Crohn's Disease

A combination of tests will be required to confirm a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. These might include blood tests, stool studies, colonoscopies, computerized tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), capsule endoscopies, or balloon-assisted enteroscopies.

Crohn's Disease Treatment

In most cases, Crohn's disease can be managed with a combination of lifestyle modifications and medication. However, in severe cases, surgery of the small or large intestine may be needed.

Top Prescribed Crohn's Disease Medications

There are five types of drugs that are commonly used for the treatment of Crohn's disease, each with their own set of pros and cons. Patients should discuss their unique symptoms with their doctor to get appropriate guidance as to which medication (and dosage) is most likely to work for them.

  • Anti-Inflammatories (Sulfasalazine/5-ASA)
  • Corticosteroids (Prednisone, Budesonide)
  • Immunosuppressives (Methotrexate, Azathioprine)
  • Immunomodulatory Agents (Infliximab)
  • Antibiotics