Crohn’s Disease Also called: Regional enteritis, Regional ileitis Summary Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn’s can affect any area from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum. The cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. It may be due to an abnormal reaction by the body’s immune system. It also seems to run in some families. It most commonly starts between the ages of 13 and 30. The most common symptoms are pain in the abdomen and diarrhea. Other symptoms include Bleeding from the rectum Weight loss Fever Your doctor will diagnose Crohn’s disease with a physical exam, lab tests, imaging tests, and a colonoscopy. Crohn’s can cause complications, such as intestinal blockages, ulcers in the intestine, and problems getting enough nutrients. People with Crohn’s can also have joint pain and skin problems. Children with the disease may have growth problems. There is no cure for Crohn’s. Treatment can help control symptoms, and may include medicines, nutrition supplements, and/or surgery. Some people have long periods of remission, when they are free of symptoms. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Encyclopedia Albumin – blood (serum) test Barium enema Blind loop syndrome Bloody or tarry stools D-xylose absorption Enteroclysis ESR Fecal fat Inflammatory bowel disease – slideshow Phosphorus blood test Total colectomy or proctocolectomy – discharge Total proctocolectomy with ileostomy Toxic megacolon Virtual colonoscopy Find an Expert American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Find a Gastroenterologist American College of Gastroenterology National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Living With Arthritis and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Bone Loss in IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Emotional Factors Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Diet and Nutrition Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Extraintestinal Complications: Kidney Disorders Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Eye Complications in IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America General Healthcare Maintenance of IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Nutrition North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Intestinal Complications of IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Intimate Relationship of Sex and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Is Fatigue a Common Crohn’s Disease Symptom? What Can Be Done about It? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Liver Disease and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Maintenance Therapy in IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Skin Complications of IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Specific Carbohydrate Diet: Does It Work? Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Treatments and Therapies Best Drugs to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consumers Union of U.S. IBD and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Oral Probiotics National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Sulfasalazine and the 5-Aminosalicylates (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Surgery for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Treatment Options in IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Understanding IBD Medications and Side Effects Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Diagnosis and Tests Bleeding in the Digestive Tract National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Crohn’s Disease Array Diagnosing and Managing IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases MedlinePlus: Colonoscopy National Library of Medicine Stool Culture American Association for Clinical Chemistry Upper GI Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Crohn Disease National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases National Institutes of Health Array Colonoscopy Colostomy – slideshow Crohn’s disease Crohn’s disease – discharge Facts about Crohn’s Disease Food and Drug Administration Low-fiber diet Start Here Crohn’s Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases What I Need to Know about Crohn’s Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases What Is Crohn’s Disease? Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Children Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Guide for Parents Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Guide for Teachers and Other School Personnel Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Inflammatory Bowel Disease (For Children) Nemours Foundation Treating Children and Adolescents Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Statistics and Research Current Research Studies Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Related Issues Enteropathic Arthritis Spondylitis Association of America Frequently Asked Questions about Colorectal Cancer and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America IBS and IBD: Two Very Different Disorders Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Influenza and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Proctitis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Short Bowel Syndrome National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Traveling with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America What People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Need to Know about Osteoporosis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Crohn disease National Library of Medicine Learning about Crohn’s Disease National Human Genome Research Institute Health Check Tools I’ll Be Determined Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Women Inflammatory Bowel Disease Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Pregnancy and IBD Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Teenagers Inflammatory Bowel Disease (For Teens) Nemours Foundation Teen Guide: Dealing with Crohn’s & Colitis Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Living with Crohn’s Disease Meeting the Challenge of Crohn’s Disease What Is Crohn’s Disease Patient Handouts Lower GI Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Adults Managing Inflammatory Bowel Diseases as a Young Adult Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Journal Articles Crohn’s Disease
