What is Crohn's Disease? Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | MedStar Health
Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic disease of unknown origin that often causes several flare-ups within the intestines several times over a lifetime. No medical cure exists for Crohn's, and those with the disease should have routine check-ups for the rest of their lives, as they have an increased risk of cancer.
A patient may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Changes in bowel habits (usually diarrhea, but occasionally constipation)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fissures, abscesses, and fistulas of the anorectum
A series of tests can help confirm a diagnosis of this disease. These include:
- Blood tests
- Stool culture
- Upper endoscopy to examine the esophagus, stomach, and upper gastrointestinal tract
- Upper GI series, also known as a barium swallow, which uses X-rays to show outlines of different parts of the bowel
- Colonoscopy to examine the anus, rectum, and colon
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