The Early Diagnosis of Chronic Crohn's Disease

Abstract

Crohn's disease is increasing in frequency, mainly in urban areas. Small bowel disease is 4 times more common than transmural inflammation of the large bowel. A history of colicky abdominal pain, diarrhoea and weight loss should always arouse the suspicion of Crohn's disease, especially when the patient is a young woman. In more than half the patients no mass can be felt. Large bowel disease is relatively commoner in older patients. Crohn's disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis of gynaecological complaints, and may cause symptoms referrable to the spine and hip joints. Barium enema is the most useful confirmatory investigation provided reflux into the terminal ileum is obtained.