How do I know if I have Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that spreads and goes deep into the wall of the digestive tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus, causing ulcers and bleeding. The disease affects both the small and large intestines, causing pain, weakness, and sometimes life-threatening illness.

Patients with Crohn's disease can have mild to severe symptoms that develop gradually or come on suddenly. Manifestations of suspected Crohn's disease include:
Abdominal pain: due to intestinal wall damage and spasm, especially in the right iliac fossa, it is easily confused with appendicitis or colitis, ureteral stones. Pain usually occurs after eating, accompanied by the urge to defecate, and subsides after defecation. High fever: in some cases fever (39-40°C) Watery or bloody stools Diarrhea: the most common sign in people with Crohn's Disease Some cases progress slowly and last about more than 2 years with signs of dull pain, blue skin, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, and depression, usually chronic Crohn's disease

>> See more: Treatment of high-risk Crohn's patients - Article by Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

A doctor is likely to diagnose Crohn's disease only after ruling out other possible causes of a patient's signs and symptoms, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, or colon cancer . To confirm the diagnosis, the following Crohn's disease tests may be needed:
Blood tests: to check for anemia in a patient where the patient does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues or to Check for signs of infection. Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): to determine if a patient has bloody stools. Colonoscopy: is a test that allows the entire colon to be viewed using a light tube with an attached camera. The performing physician may take a biopsy sample for analysis to help confirm the diagnosis. Some patients have clusters of inflammatory cells called granulomas used in the definitive diagnosis of Crohn's disease because ulcerative colitis does not have this group of cells. Sigmoidoscopy: helps to examine the last part of the large intestine

Barium enema: diagnostic evaluation of the large intestine with X-ray, before the test, the patient is given an enema with a contrast dye containing barium to create an image of the rectum and large intestine on X-rays- X-ray Small intestine imaging: after drinking a solution containing barium, collect X-ray, CT or MRI images of the small intestine that cannot be seen by endoscopy. This test helps locate areas of narrowing or inflammation in the small intestine found in Crohn's disease, otherwise it also helps rule out inflammatory bowel disease. Computed tomography (CT) scan: helps to see the entire intestine and outside intestinal tissue that cannot be seen with other tests. Capsule endoscopy: if the patient has symptoms of Crohn's disease but the test results are negative, the doctor may prescribe capsule endoscopy to check. This capsule contains a camera in it that helps transfer images to the screen and check for signs of Crohn's disease Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern facilities, medical equipment and a team of experts. Experts and doctors with many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, patients can rest assured that they will be examined and treated at the Hospital.