Over three-quarters of a million people in the US have Crohn’s disease, and doctors diagnose over 30,000 new cases each year. If your child suffers from inflammation and irritation of the digestive tract, call or make an appointment online today at one of the seven locations of The Center for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition throughout Illinois.
request an appointmentWhat is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. It is a chronic condition that affects parts of the gastrointestinal tract to become red and swollen. Although Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the bowel, it’s most commonly found at the end of your child’s small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine.
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
The most common symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease are diarrhea and intense abdominal pain. Other manifestations include:
- Bloody stool
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Exhaustion
- Sores and drainage
- Weight loss
How is Crohn’s disease diagnosed?
No single test diagnoses Crohn’s disease. Therefore, when you bring your child to The Center for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the doctor reviews his or her medical history and symptoms and performs a combination of tests that rule out other disorders and help confirm a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. These include:
Blood tests
Blood tests help rule out anemia and check for signs of infection.
Fecal occult blood test
Your child’s stool sample gets tested for hidden blood.
Colonoscopy
A thin, flexible, lighted tube with a camera gets used by one of the doctors at The Center for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition looks at your child’s entire colon and takes small samples of tissue to help confirm a diagnosis.
Computerized tomography (CT)
CT scans are special X-rays that offer more detail and better images than a standard X-ray. The doctor looks at your child’s entire bowel and tissues outside of it.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI is a type of scan that uses both a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images, which are useful for evaluating the anal area and small intestine.
How is Crohn’s disease treated?
Since there’s no cure for Crohn’s disease, the goal of treatment is to reduce and relieve symptoms, prevent additional problems, and stop future flare-ups. The doctors at The Center for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition treat Crohn’s disease with:
Medications
The medicines that the doctors prescribe include anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as both immunosuppressive and biologic agents.
Diet changes
Nutrition therapy helps give your child’s bowel a chance to heal.
Surgery
The doctor will suggest surgery if your child’s bowel gets a hole or becomes blocked, as well as if a fistula forms, your child’s bleeding that doesn’t stop, or his or her symptoms don’t respond to other treatments.
Call or make an appointment online today at one of the seven locations of The Center for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition in the Southern and Western Chicago suburbs.