Crohn’s Disease
Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This chronic disease affects both men and women and is most often diagnosed in patients between 15 and 35 years old.
Crohn’s Disease Symptoms
Common symptoms include abdominal pain and cramps, constipation, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, weight loss, fatigue, change in appetite, fever, and night sweats. Because Crohn’s disease affects any part of the GI tract between a patient’s mouth and anus, symptoms can vary from person to person and can range in severity.
Crohn’s disease causes your immune system to work harder, which can cause inflammation to other parts of your body including eyes, skin, and joints.
Some patients experience Crohn’s disease with perianal involvement, which may also include tumors that develop around the anus, inflammation of the perianal skin, and swelling of the anal sphincter.
Did you Know:
The disease can occur at any age, but Crohn’s disease is most often diagnosed in adolescents and adults between the ages of 20 and 30.
Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is typically diagnosed with a physical exam and a series of lab tests including:
- Stool sample analysis to look for infectious microbes
- Bloodwork to check for inflammation, infection, and anemia
- Endoscopy to look for inflammation, bleeding, and ulcers
- Imaging procedures
Ulcerative Colitis also causes inflammation of the GI tract, so these tests can help your medical provider determine exactly which inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) the patient is experiencing.
Crohn’s disease affects any part of the GI tract, while Ulcerative Colitis only affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Other differences between these two chronic diseases are related to where the inflammation is located and how it spreads.
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your medical team will discuss your treatment plan with you.
Crohn’s Disease Treatment Options
Treatment for Crohn’s disease will include medications to reduce the inflammation in your body to alleviate symptoms.
Treatment may be enhanced by nutritional supplements and an exclusion diet to remove foods that can encourage symptoms. In some cases, surgery may also be part of the treatment plan.
The goal of your Crohn’s disease treatment plan is to find the right combination of solutions to get you on a path to remission. Though Crohn’s disease doesn’t currently have a cure, remission enables patients to feel normal and have a good quality of life free from symptoms and inflammation.
Getting Started With Infusion Therapy
FlexCare Infusion Center offers a variety of infusion therapies for patients with Crohn’s disease, including the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive options listed below.
We work with our patients throughout every step of your journey to make sure you understand the treatment you will receive from FlexCare Infusion Center.
Your doctor can easily send us a referral for you. If you have any questions, you can also contact us directly. We look forward to helping you soon.
Crohn’s disease medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers.
Remicade • Entyvio • Stelara • Skyrizi
How To Switch
Physician referral & paperwork
The first step is always a referral from your physician for infusion therapy services, including the specific medication and dosage for your condition.
Insurance approval & scheduling
We’ll work with your insurance company and your physician’s office to verify insurance approval for infusions and schedule your first appointment, typically with one week.
Experience infusion therapy re-imagined
We designed our stand-alone infusion centers with patient comfort in mind, including heated massage chairs, streaming services, and a well-stocked snack bar.