Crohn’s Disease Treatment by Experts Specializing in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s disease, one of the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, can be painful and debilitating. Patients from across the Mid-Atlantic region seek the expertise of Dr. Mary Harris and Dr. Matilda Hagan at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Mercy in Baltimore for the management and treatment of Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease causes patches of inflammation throughout the digestive tract. Most often, Crohn’s disease affects the small intestine or colon. The inflammation can cause scarring on the bowel wall resulting in an obstruction of the digestive process. Sometimes, the inflammation goes deep through the layers of the bowel wall.
Crohn’s disease can develop at any age, but most often it begins prior to age 30. While there is no known cause for Crohn’s disease, it is thought to be either hereditary or a malfunction of the immune system trying to fight a bacteria or virus but attacks the digestive tract cells instead. There is not a cure for Crohn’s disease, but the disease can be managed through various treatment options.
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Severe diarrhea
- Blood in stool
- Ulcers
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
To diagnose Crohn’s disease, various tests may be conducted, including:
- Blood tests
- Colonoscopy
- Small bowel imaging
- CT scan
- MRI
- Capsule endoscopy
- Double balloon endoscopy
- Chromoendoscopy
Once Crohn’s disease is diagnosed, treatment options include:
- Drug therapy – such as infliximab, also known as Remicade, biologic agents, immunomodulators, antibiotics, steroids, and mesalamine products
- Surgery – necessary when there are bowel obstructions or fistulas