To determine if a patient has Crohn’s disease, the physician may, in addition to a physical and examination, request a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy. In the case of a colonoscopy, a small camera mounted with a light is inserted into the anus to exam the colon. In the case of an upper endoscopy, the camera is inserted through the mouth, and through the esophagus, stomach and first parts of the small intestine. A biopsy of the infected area may also be taken to confirm or determine whether the tissue is diseased. In cases where the disease occurs in places that cannot be visualized through endoscopy, the small intestine may be viewed by performing a CT scan or MRI of the intestine. To visualize the tissue, the patient drinks a contrasting solution that improves viewing of the tissue temporarily. Other techniques involve swallowing a pill-sized camera that takes pictures as it progresses through the intestines.

Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is the term for chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine. There are two types of IBD: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. What is Crohn’s Disease? As mentioned above, Crohn’s Disease is a type of IBD that can cause inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract. Symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Inflammation typically occurs in the deep layers of bowel tissue. What are the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease? Common symptoms of Crohn’s Disease include: Severe diarrhea Fever Fatigue Abdominal pain Bloody stool Mouth sores Weight loss Reduced appetite Anal pain Anal drainage Severe cases may result in: Inflammation of the skin, eyes and joins Inflammation of the liver or bile ducts Delayed growth Delayed sexual development Crohn’s disease is typically experienced as short periods of inflammation or exacerbation of inflammation, interspersed between periods of remission or more healthy states. While initially the disease may not significantly affect the individual’s life, in up to 20% of patients, it may eventually lead to some form of disability. What is the difference between Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease? While Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis share several symptoms, how and where they induce inflammation is very different.