What Are The Five Types of Crohn's Disease?

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can differ depending on the type of Crohn’s and what part of the digestive tract is affected. 

Symptoms of ileocolitis may include:

• Diarrhea 
• Cramping
• Pain in the middle or lower right part of the abdomen
• Substantial weight loss
• Symptoms of ileitis may include:
• Same as ileocolitis
• Fistulas or inflammatory abscess in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen (in severe cases)

Symptoms of gastroduodenal Crohn's disease may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Symptoms of jejunoileitis may include:

• Mild to intense abdominal pain and cramps after eating
• Diarrhea
• Fistulas (in severe cases)

Symptoms of Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis may include:

• Diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Disease around the anus, including abscesses, fistulas, and ulcers
• Skin lesions and joint pain occur more often in this form of Crohn's 

The cause of Crohn’s disease is not completely understood. A number of factors may contribute to the development of the condition, including:

• Genetic factors
  • Crohn’s disease tends to run in families
  • Between 5% and 20% of people with IBD have a first-degree relative, such as a parent, child, or sibling, who has IBD
  • The risk is markedly higher when both parents have IBD
  • Crohn’s disease is most common among people of eastern European descent
• Environmental factors
  • Crohn’s disease is more common in:
    • Developed countries
    • Urban cities and towns
    • Northern climates

Crohn’s disease is diagnosed with a patient history and physical examination, along with tests to look for signs of Crohn’s disease and rule out other medical conditions. Tests may include: 

• Laboratory tests of blood and stool
• X-rays of the upper and lower GI tract
• Endoscopy
  • Colonoscopy
    • Chromoendoscopy: may be performed during a colonoscopy to check for polyps or precancerous changes.
  • Upper endoscopy
• Small intestine imaging
  • Fluoroscopic X-ray
  • Computed tomography (CT) scan 
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Biopsy 

Crohn’s disease is usually treated with a combination of medication, diet changes, and sometimes surgery.

Medications used to treat Crohn’s disease include:

• Aminosalicylates (5-ASA)
• Sulfasalazine
• Corticosteroids
• Immunomodulators
• Azathioprine
• Antibiotics
• Biologic/biosimilar therapies

Diet changes used to treat Crohn’s disease include:

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Consuming soft, bland foods during flares
• Avoiding spicy or high-fiber foods during flares
• Restricting dairy intake in patients who are lactose-intolerant

Surgery used to treat Crohn’s disease includes:

• Strictureplasty: repairs a narrowing (stricture) by widening the narrowed area without removing any portion of the intestine
• Proctocolectomy: removal of the colon and rectum
• Fistula removal
• Colectomy: removal of the colon
• Bowel resection: removes a portion of the small or large intestine damaged by Crohn’s disease
• Abscess drainage