VIDA LAB by Rowan Albritton
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gastrointestinal

Crohn's Disease

A chronic inflammatory bowel disease causing inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract, leading to pain, diarrhea, and complications.

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In this report
  1. Overview
  2. Symptoms
  3. Diagnosis
  4. Treatments
  5. Medical Resources
  6. Your Care Plan

Overview

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Unlike ulcerative colitis, which affects only the colon, Crohn's can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus, though it most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (terminal ileum) and the beginning of the colon.

The inflammation in Crohn's disease is transmural — it can extend through all layers of the bowel wall, which can lead to complications like strictures (narrowing), fistulas (abnormal connections between organs), and abscesses. The disease is characterized by periods of active inflammation (flares) and periods of remission.

Crohn's affects about 780,000 people in the United States. It can develop at any age but most commonly starts between ages 15 and 35. It is more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, smokers, and those with a family history. While there is no cure, modern treatments — particularly biologics — can achieve and maintain remission for many patients.

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain and cramping, often in the lower right area
  • Chronic diarrhea, sometimes with blood or mucus
  • Weight loss and reduced appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Fever during flares
  • Mouth sores
  • Perianal disease — fistulas, abscesses, or skin tags around the anus
  • Joint pain and skin rashes (extraintestinal manifestations)
  • Eye inflammation
  • Delayed growth in children

Diagnosis

  1. Blood tests — CBC (anemia, elevated white cells), CRP and ESR (inflammation)
  2. Stool tests — to rule out infection and check for fecal calprotectin (inflammation marker)
  3. Colonoscopy with biopsy — the gold standard; shows characteristic inflammation patterns and allows tissue sampling
  4. Flexible sigmoidoscopy — if colonoscopy isn't possible
  5. CT or MRI enterography — to assess extent of disease and complications
  6. Capsule endoscopy — to evaluate small intestine involvement

A gastroenterologist makes the diagnosis.

Treatments

  • Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) — mesalamine, sulfasalazine; for mild disease
  • Corticosteroids — prednisone, budesonide; for flares; not for long-term use
  • Immunomodulators — azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate
  • Biologic agents — anti-TNF (infliximab, adalimumab), anti-integrin (vedolizumab), anti-IL-12/23 (ustekinumab); for moderate to severe disease
  • JAK inhibitors — tofacitinib, upadacitinib
  • Antibiotics — for perianal disease and infections
  • Nutrition therapy — exclusive enteral nutrition (especially in children), or dietary modifications
  • Surgery — to remove damaged sections, treat strictures or fistulas; not a cure, as disease can recur
  • Lifestyle — smoking cessation (critical in Crohn's), stress management, nutrition
  • Regular monitoring — colonoscopy for dysplasia and cancer screening

Your Care Plan

A step-by-step guide to navigating your condition, from finding the right doctors to advocating for the care you deserve.

Step 1: Doctors to See

Start with: Your primary care physician for initial blood and stool tests.

Then seek: A gastroenterologist for colonoscopy and treatment.

Build your team:

  • Gastroenterologist — for disease management
  • Colorectal surgeon — if surgery is needed
  • Registered dietitian — for nutrition guidance
  • Mental health professional — for anxiety and depression
  • Rheumatologist — for joint symptoms
  • Dermatologist — for skin manifestations

Step 2: Advocate for Yourself

If you have chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss, ask about IBD testing including a colonoscopy. Don't let symptoms be attributed to IBS without proper testing — IBS doesn't cause bleeding, weight loss, or inflammation. If you're diagnosed with Crohn's, ask about biologics early — they can prevent complications and surgery. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most impactful things you can do for Crohn's. Don't ignore perianal symptoms — fistulas and abscesses need prompt treatment.

Step 3: Your Action Plan

  1. See your primary doctor for blood and stool tests.
  2. Get a colonoscopy with biopsies.
  3. See a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment.
  4. Start medication as prescribed — mesalamine, steroids, or biologics.
  5. Identify and manage dietary triggers.
  6. Get screened for osteoporosis if on long-term steroids.
  7. Discuss maintenance therapy to prevent flares.
  8. Establish a plan for managing flares — know when to seek urgent care.

Important: This report is educational information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment decisions.

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