Crohn’s Disease- Signs, Causes and Diagnosis

Crohn’s disease is a rare, inflammatory bowel disease characterized by severe, chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall or any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is a group of organs that are connected by tubes that run from the mouth to the anus. The organs that make up the gastrointestinal tract are the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. Paediatric Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the gastrointestinal tract.

Signs and Symptoms:

Best Paediatrician in Jaipur cites common symptoms of Crohn’s disease as cramping, abdominal pain, and chronic episodes of watery diarrhoea; blood may at times be seen in the diarrhoea. Some children may feel tired a lot and experience fever, nausea, or loss of appetite. Loss of appetite may cause some children to fail to gain weight and grow as compared to children of their age. Children may exhibit malnutrition because of reduced intake of calories, and some may have difficulty absorbing nutrients in the intestines (malabsorption). As a result, they may be behind their peers in growth.

Some children may experience a delay in reaching puberty. Some affected children may develop bleeding within the gastrointestinal system. This bleeding can occur without being noticed. Sometimes, anaemia may develop. Anaemia is a condition in which there are low levels of circulating red blood cells. About 30% of children develop perianal disease, which affects the area around the anus. This can make it painful for children at the time of releasing motion.

Some affected children develop narrowing of the affected area of the gastrointestinal tract. Over time scar tissue can form in the area of the narrowing, resulting in a stricture. This can hinder or block the passage of food through the large or small intestine and cause obstruction.

Causes:

In paediatric Crohn’s disease, the immune system responds to a stimulus, often an infection, but the response is abnormal. The immune system does not shut off as it is supposed to and instead mistakenly targets the gastrointestinal system, and the large and small intestines in particular. This sustained and abnormal immune system activity causes chronic inflammation and irritation of the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the signs and symptoms of paediatric Crohn’s disease.Genetic factors play a role in paediatric Crohn’s disease. According to the best paediatrician in Jaipur, if a family member has Crohn’s disease, then a related child has a greater chance of developing the disorder than people in the general population.

Diagnosis:

Children suffering from Crohn’s disease are asked to have complete blood count. Another test that can be run on a blood sample is a C-reactive protein test. C-reactive protein is released into the blood stream from the liver in response to inflammation within the body, including the inflammation that characterizes paediatric Crohn’s disease. Paediatric doctors in Jaipur can ask for a stool sample. This sample can be tested to see if gastrointestinal symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection or parasite.