|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

Small Bowel Crohn's Disease

Crohn's is an autoimmune disease that most frequently occurs in the small bowel, the ileum. It is called ileitis. There may be sections of healthy intestine with areas of ulcerated, diseased bowel in between.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of small bowel Crohn's disease include frequent bowel movements that can be loose and watery, fever, abdominal cramping and in some cases bleeding from the rectum. Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss and chronic fatigue. In children there may be growth and development delays. Symptoms may be intermittent as the disease goes into periods of remission.

    Causes/Risk Factors

    • The cause of Crohn's disease is not yet known, however, research continues. It has been determined that it is an autoimmune disease and that it may be inherited. Certain people are at a higher risk of having Crohn's disease. If you have a relative with Crohn's, you are 10 times more likely to have it. In addition, American Jews that are of a European descent have a four or five times higher risk.

    Diagnosis

    • Crohn's disease can be difficult to diagnose. Usually a combination of diagnostic tests are performed including blood tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, pathology results from biopsies, CT scans and small bowel X-rays. Endoscopy and colonoscopy involve a flexible, lighted scope that is inserted through your throat to examine your stomach or through your anus to examine your colon. In some cases a capsule endoscopy may be used. A capsule containing a camera is swallowed and photos are taken as it moves through the digestive tract.

    Treatment

    • Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications such as sulfasalazine, mesalamine and corticosteroids and drugs that suppress the immune system such as azathioprine, mercaptopurine, infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol, methotrexate, cyclosporine and natalizumab. In some cases antibiotics may be prescribed such as metronidazole (Flagyl) or ciproflaxacin. Other medications that may be used to help control symptoms are anti-diarrheals, laxatives, iron supplements, pain relievers, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B-12.

    Complications

    • Complications can include bowel obstruction due to narrowing of your bowel; fistulas, which are ulcers that extend through different parts of your bowel or through to the surface of your skin or even between internal organs; anal fissures, which are cracks in the skin around your anus; and malnutrition. Crohn's can cause other health issues such as arthritis, kidney stones, gallstone, inflammation of your skin or eyes and in some cases inflammation in the bile ducts.

    Warnings

    • Your risk of colon cancer increases with Crohn's disease. Drugs that are used to suppress the immune system in the treatment of Crohn's may also increase your risk of cancer. Combinations of these medications may create an even higher risk.

Digestive Health - Related Articles