Crohn's disease: a case presentation

Crohn's disease is one of the two major types of idiopathic, chronic intestinal inflammation known as inflammatory bowel disease. It is a significant disease process, especially in populations of Northern European ancestry, of chronic relapsing disease along with an increased risk of mortality in long-standing and extensive cases. The clinical presentation of Crohn's disease depends on the anatomical regions affected and the type of inflammation present. The diverse presenting symptoms overlap several disease processes, which necessitates a high degree of suspicion to make the diagnosis. In this case study, a 26-year-old Caucasian male with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting provides an excellent example of a challenging initial clinical presentation and workup of Crohn's disease. A number of therapies are useful for induction and maintenance of remission, along with an enhancement in quality of life. Obtaining the diagnosis of Crohn's disease in a quick, efficient manner and a rapid application of therapy can potentially reduce the associated morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is imperative that physicians maintain a high degree of suspicion for Crohn's disease in the appropriate settings, and that they stay current with screening and treatment guidelines.