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What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease comes under a group of diseases called Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. It is a lifelong condition that results in inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract, anywhere from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease switches between two phases – flare-ups or relapses (usually with severe symptoms) and remissions (with mild symptoms or no symptoms).

Autoimmune diseases trigger the human body’s immune system to attack its own healthy cells. Most of them, including Crohn’s disease, cannot be entirely cured. However, there are several ways to manage the symptoms and lead a life relatively unaffected by the condition.

What are the Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is one of the conditions that are relatively difficult to diagnose. This is because the symptoms presented can be indicative of several other less critical conditions and, therefore, can be mistaken for other conditions. However, specialists can help you diagnose and treat Crohn’s Disease.

The most commonly reported symptoms of Crohn’s Disease are:

  • Abdominal (tummy) pain and cramping
  • Diarrhoea
  • Blood in the stool
  • Excessive, unexplained fatigue (tiredness) and weight loss

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can also spread to other organs, like:

  • Skin: Crohn’s disease can affect the skin, causing sores or lesions to develop. This is most common around the skin on the mouth and the legs.
  • Joints: It can also cause arthritis, with painful joints that may be swollen and stiff.
  • Eyes and Mouth: Crohn’s disease can affect eyes, causing several symptoms like pain in the eye, blurry vision, and redness. It can also cause mouth sores or ulcers.
  • Liver: It may cause complications like fatty liver.

Crohn’s disease symptoms usually present by early adulthood, even though it can occur in individuals across all age groups.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

Even though many symptoms could be the result of less serious conditions, it’s crucial to rule out Crohn’s disease. If you have been experiencing one or more of the listed symptoms frequently or for over a week, or are at a higher risk for Crohn’s disease, it is recommended that you consult your GP  at the earliest.

A timely diagnosis can help manage the symptoms effectively with suitable treatment options. It can be difficult to go through flare-ups without effective treatment methods to keep the symptoms under control.

We provide surgical management for Crohn’s disease in patients who are known to have Crohn’s disease, often together with input from a gastroenterologist.

What Causes Crohn’s Disease?

The definitive cause of Crohn’s disease has not been discovered yet. However, some known risk factors may put you at a higher risk for Crohn’s disease, including:

  • Genetics and family history: You are more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease if any of your close family members have a history of Crohn’s disease.
  • Immune system complications: Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to act against the body. Crohn’s disease might indicate that the immune system of the patient is prone to attacking their own digestive system, thus causing inflammation.
  • Smoking: Smoking tobacco has been known to worsen, if not cause, Crohn’s disease.
  • Gut microbiome abnormalities: Imbalance in gut microbiomes like gut bacteria may also have some correlation with the incidence of Crohn’s disease.

How is Crohn’s Disease Diagnosed?

Your initial appointment will be dedicated to understanding your health concerns. We’ll discuss your symptoms and medical background thoroughly. The doctor might perform a gentle abdominal exam to check for tenderness. Additional tests, like blood work and stool analysis, might be necessary to provide a more comprehensive picture and rule out any underlying bowel issues.

If your doctor suspects that you may have Crohn’s disease, further investigation is conducted and may include:

  • Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy: A colonoscope or a sigmoidoscope is used to check the large bowel lining. If any abnormality is noticed, small pieces of your bowel may be extracted for assessment. This is called a biopsy.
  • MRI or CT Scan: MRI/CT scan imaging lets the doctor look at the bowel without an internal invasive examination.

What are the Treatment Options for Crohn’s Disease?

Currently, there is no existing treatment that completely cures Crohn’s disease. However, there are treatments that can help control the symptoms.

The usual treatment option is medication, but surgery may be required or recommended in some cases. A nutrient-rich liquid diet may also be helpful, typically used to treat children.

1. Steroid Treatment

The most common treatment option for Crohn’s disease is steroids. The majority of individuals diagnosed with Crohn’s disease are prescribed steroids to manage their symptoms.

Steroids work by reducing the inflammation in the bowel. These may not be effective in the long term. Most medications are administered in pill form. However, intravenous (injection) administration or suppositories can also be used for quicker action.

Note: Starting and stopping steroid medication consumption should be done ONLY with professional medical advice.

2. Immunosuppressants

One treatment option for Crohn’s disease focuses on the immune system. Since Crohn’s is an autoimmune illness, medications called immunosuppressants can be used. These medicines suppress, or weaken, the overactive immune system. They come in pill and injection forms.

Immunosuppressants can be effective when steroids are not successful at relieving the symptoms. They can also be prescribed in addition to steroids. These take 8 to 16 weeks to start working.

3. Biological Medicines

Biological medicines are stronger variants of immunosuppressants used to treat Crohn’s disease, which has a higher severity and flare-up frequency. These are administered via injections under the skin (subcutaneous) or into the vein (intravenous).

These are prescribed when steroids and milder immunosuppressants are not effective in managing the symptoms.

4. Surgery

When you have surgery, you will be given medicine to make you sleep during the procedure. After the surgery, you should stay in the hospital for 3 to 7 days. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to recover fully.

During a small bowel resection, part of your small intestine is removed. This may be necessary if you have a blockage or severe Crohn’s disease in your small intestine. There are two types of small bowel resections:

  • Laparoscopic surgery: The surgeon makes small incisions in your abdomen and uses a camera and special tools to remove the diseased or blocked section of the small intestine.
  • Open surgery: The surgeon makes a larger incision in your abdomen to locate and remove or repair the diseased or blocked section of the small intestine.

Your doctor may recommend surgery to treat Crohn’s disease if:

  • The other treatment methods are not effective.
  • You have a perforated bowel.
  • You have bowel cancer or are at risk of developing bowel cancer.
  • Other bowel complications are present.

Know your treatment options! Your doctor will break down each option for you, explaining the potential upsides and downsides, along with what results you can expect and any potential risks. This comprehensive discussion will empower you to make the right choice for your health.

Why Choose the Leicester Bowel Clinic?

Book a consultation with us to get treatment for your condition..

At Leicester Bowel Clinic, we focus on bowel health and conditions, digestive issues, and cancer care. Our clinic offers minimally invasive procedures for bowel problems, ensuring effective results and patient comfort. We aim to provide personalised care for our patients and offer the latest treatments for hernias, bowel conditions and rectal disorders.

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Our Locations

Leicester Bowel Clinic at Spire Hospital

  • Wednesdays evenings (Mr Runau) from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm at: Spire Leicester Hospital Gartree Road Leicester LE2 2FF
  • To arrange an appointment directly with the Spire Leicester Hospital, please call the booking line on 0116 2653685

*Free on-site parking is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

01. How serious is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is not a fatal condition and usually does not affect one’s life expectancy. However, it can affect one’s day-to-day life. The aim of treatment for Crohn’s disease is to effectively manage its symptoms and reduce the frequency of flare-ups. 

02. Is Crohn’s disease hard to live with?

It can be hard to live with Crohn’s disease, especially if you have frequent flare-ups and severe symptoms. Getting appropriate treatment can greatly improve your quality of life by minimising symptoms and extending remission periods.

03. Can Crohn’s disease affect my skin?

Despite being a bowel-related illness, Crohn’s disease can also cause symptoms elsewhere in the body. This includes skin problems like sores, lumps, and lesions. They are most commonly found on the skin near the mouth and the legs. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease that are present in body parts other than the bowel are called extra-intestinal manifestations.