Crohn's Disease
Alternate Names : Regional Enteritis
How is the disease diagnosed?
Crohn's disease is diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and
laboratory tests. There is no one test or feature of the disease that confirms
the diagnosis. Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure to examine the rectum
and part of the large intestine. It involves passing a small telescope through
the anus so that the rectum and large intestine can be seen directly. This
procedure is very important if a person has long-term diarrhea or bloody diarrhea.
A blood test called a complete blood count, or CBC, may show
anemia, a low level of red blood cells. Lab studies may also show
abnormal liver function and low levels of certain vitamins and minerals. There
may also be evidence of poor food absorption.
Another common test is the barium enema. In this test, a contrast agent
called barium is injected into the intestine and X-rays are taken. Sometimes
the diagnosis is made during surgery that is performed to find the cause of
severe abdominal pain.
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