Crohn’s Disease: Symptoms, Examination, and Treatment

Introduction

Crohn’s disease is the chief complaint.  A number of symptoms that include severe constipation, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, fool intolerance, bowel cancer, diverticular disease, and many others can cause abdominal pain (Penner, Fishman, & Majumdar, 2017).   It may be difficult and confusing to diagnose the true disease in this given case. Nonetheless, the presence of Crohn’s disease in this case is proven by the periodic cramping, diarrhea, and intermittent abdominal pain and further justified by the smoking of ½ PPD and the girl’s history of Crohn’s disease.  People with Crohn’s disease tend to complain of cramping, diarrhea, and intermittent abdominal pain. Even though, abdominal pain can signify the presence of other diseases, in this case it was intermittent signifying the presence of Crohn’s disease. In most cases, Crohn’s disease is detected in three locations, which are the colon, the small and intestine, and the small and the large bowel, which can explain the presence of intermittent abdominal pain. The presence of this disease is further justified by the girl’s history of Crohn’s disease and her habit of smoking. Smoking especially among females has been associated with the development of Crohn’s disease (Karczewski et al. 2015). As the most important controllable risk factor, smoking by the girl could explain why she developed the disease.

What Focused Physical Exam Findings Would Be Beneficial to Know?

As stated above, it is highly likely to confuse Crohn’s disease with other diseases with almost similar symptoms.  Further examinations are thus quite necessary and important. Apart from diarrhea, rectal bleeding, purulent discharge, and weight loss (Zoeten, 2013) can be further used to prove the presence of the disease.

What Diagnostic Testing Needs Completed if Any to Confirm Diagnosis?

Due to the possibility of confusing Croh’s disease with other diseases, it is important to perform diagnostic tests.  The most necessary diagnostic testing needs are computed axial tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, scintigraphy, and ultrasonograpy (Wilkins, Jarvis, & Patel, 2011). These tests can show the presences of the disease in different parts of the body.   Using evidence based treatment guidelines note a treatment plan.

Depending on the outcome of the study, I will prescribe treatment for the girl. There are several treatment approaches  for the disease but first, I will request  the girl to stop smoking, request for a surgery in case the condition has worsen, prescribe some medicine like the 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA) in case it is still mild.