What’s Crohn’s Disease? Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which involves ongoing, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis. It can be both painful and debilitating. Crohn’s-related inflammation usually affects the intestines, but may occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It normally affects both men and women equally. Children with Crohn’s disease may have delayed growth or sexual development. It tends to run in families. About 20% of those with Crohn’s have a relative with it also.
Signs & Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
The following is a list of signs and symptoms related to Crohn’s Disease. The course of Crohn’s disease varies greatly. You may have long periods without signs and symptoms, or you may have recurrent episodes of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes fever or bleeding.
- Crampy abdominal pain
- Persistent, watery diarrhea
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Rectal bleeding and bloody stools
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Constipation
- Abdominal fullness and gas
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Foul-smelling stools
- Tenesmus (pain with passing stool)
- Fistulas
- Liver inflammation
- Joint pain
- Skin rash
- Swollen gums
- Eye inflammation
- Kidney stones
- Clotting problems (deep vein thrombosis)
Crohn’s Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Tests to diagnose Crohn’s Disease include an endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy with small bowel biopsy, small bowel x-ray series, barium enema, upper GI series, or a stool guaiac test.
Treatment is only needed for those who are experiencing symptoms. Treatment initially involves the use of medications to treat any infection and to reduce inflammation. These medications may include:
Anti-inflammatory Drugs: Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), Mesalamine (Asacol, Rowasa), and Corticosteroids
Immune system suppressors: Azathioprine (Imuran) and mercaptopurine (Purinethol), Infliximab (Remicade), Adalimumab (Humira), Methotrexate (Rheumatrex), and Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Other medication(s): Anti-diarrheals, Laxatives, Pain relievers, Iron supplements, Nutrition, Vitamin B-12 shots, Calcium and vitamin D supplements
Surgery may be required for complications such as obstructions, fistulas and/or abscesses, or if the disease does not respond to drugs within a reasonable time.
Do I Have a Crohn’s Disease Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Crohn’s Disease cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know have developed Crohn’s Disease and have used one of the drugs listed below in the “Related Pages on our Website”, you should contact our firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Dangerous Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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