Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation inside the digestive tract. That inflammation can show up anywhere from the mouth to the lower intestine, and over time it can lead to pain, ongoing digestive trouble, and difficulty getting enough nutrition from food.
For some people, symptoms come on gradually over months. For others, they arrive suddenly. Either way, Crohn’s tends to flare and then quiet down, so getting an accurate diagnosis and a steady plan makes a real difference.
Our board-certified gastroenterologists in Akron and Massillon care for people with Crohn’s disease every day. The goal is to calm the inflammation, ease your symptoms, and keep you feeling like yourself between flares.
Symptoms
Crohn’s affects everyone a little differently, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Common ones include:
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood in the stool
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Mouth sores
- Reduced appetite
- Unintended weight loss
Because the disease can interfere with how your body absorbs nutrients, weight loss and low energy are common when it is active.
What raises your risk
Crohn’s disease can affect anyone, but a few things make it more likely:
- Being under 30, when it is most often diagnosed
- A family history of inflammatory bowel disease
- Ashkenazi Jewish descent
- Smoking, which is one of the most important risk factors you can control
- Regular use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen
Crohn’s is closely related to ulcerative colitis, and both fall under the larger category of inflammatory bowel disease.
How we diagnose it
There is no single test for Crohn’s, so we put the picture together from a few sources. We start with your history and a physical exam, then use blood tests and stool tests to look for signs of inflammation and rule out other causes.
To confirm the diagnosis, we usually recommend a colonoscopy, which lets us look directly at the lining of the intestine and take small tissue samples, called biopsies, to examine under a microscope.
How we treat it
Treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammation, controlling flares, and helping you stay well over the long term. Depending on your situation, your plan may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Immunosuppressants that calm an overactive immune response
- Biologic therapies that target specific parts of the inflammation
- Antibiotics when they are needed
- Diet and lifestyle changes that support your nutrition and reduce triggers
For severe cases that do not respond to medication, surgery may be an option. We will walk you through every step and adjust the plan as your symptoms change.
When to see us
If you have ongoing diarrhea, belly pain, blood in your stool, or unexplained weight loss, it is worth being evaluated. Catching Crohn’s early and keeping it well managed helps protect your digestive health and your quality of life.
To request an appointment with The Gastroenterology Group in Akron or Massillon, call us at (330) 869-0954. We welcome new patients, and no referral is needed for a screening colonoscopy.