Crohn's Disease Center - Methuen, MA
Methuen Gastroenterologist Doctors for Crohn's DiseaseType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Methuen * Pentucket Medical at RiverWalk  Pentucket Medical at RiverWalk  Mark C Nitzberg MD  Richard F Sawyer Jr MD  Pentucket Medical Associates Haverhill Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology  Merrimack Valley GI PC  North Reading Medical Associates  Gastroenterology Consultants of Greater Lowell  Gastroenterology Consultants of Greater Lowell  Gastroenterology Consultants of Greater Lowell  Gastroenterology Consultants of Greater Lowell  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  David Siegenberg MD  Lahey Burlington Gastroenterology  Lahey Burlington Gastroenterology  Lahey Burlington Gastroenterology  Lahey Burlington Gastroenterology  Lahey Burlington Gastroenterology  Lahey Burlington Gastroenterology  Lahey Clinic Gastroenterology  Lahey Clinic Gastroenterology  Eric D Goldberg MD  Lahey Clinic Gastroenterology  Lahey Clinic Gastroenterology  Lahey Clinic Gastroenterology  Fehmida Chipty MD  Digestive Health Associates  Enrico Souto MD  Daniel M Friedlander MD  Digestive Health Associates  Digestive Health Associates  Digestive Health Associates  Digestive Health Associates  Digestive Health Associates  Carlo Cecchetti MD  Melrose Medical Associates  Melrose Internal Medicine  Bay State Gastroenterology PC  Michael J Aaronson MD  Newburyport Gastroenterology  Newburyport Gastroenterology  Lahey Medical Center Lexington Internal Medicine  The North Shore Medical Group  The North Shore Medical Group  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Internal Medicine Medford  Lahey Clinic Arlington Internal Medicine  Lahey Clinic Arlington Internal Medicine  Mark P Epstein MD  Andrea Fribush MD  Kinnari R Kher MD  The Medical Group Inc  The Medical Group Inc  Drs Newman Lopes Hahn Smith & Shieh  Drs Newman Lopes Hahn Smith & Shieh  Drs Newman Lopes Hahn Smith & Shieh  Drs Newman Lopes Hahn Smith & Shieh  Drs Newman Lopes Hahn Smith & Shieh  Gastrointestinal Physicians  Gastrointestinal Physicians  Gastrointestinal Physicians  Gastrointestinal Physicians  Gastrointestinal Physicians  Gastrointestinal Physicians  John Chobanian MD  Mt Auburn Gastroenterology Associates  Mt Auburn Gastroenterology Associates  Cambridge Gastroenterology Associates  Torre Morgan MD  Harvard Vanguard Medical Specialties Cambridge  Harvard Vanguard Medical Specialties Cambridge  Middlesex Gastroenterology  Middlesex Gastroenterology  Mount Auburn Healthcare at Waltham  Cambridge Hospital Medical Specialists  Ira Michaelson MD  Michael T Foley MD  Caritas Surgical Group  St Elizabeth Medical Center Gastroenterology  Manish Tandon MD PC  St Elizabeth Medical Center Gastroenterology  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates Methuen, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
2012-05-28
2012-05-28
2012-06-10
2012-06-10
2012-06-16
2012-07-28
2012-08-25
2012-09-22
2012-09-30
Crohn's DiseaseRead the Crohn's Disease article » What is Crohn's disease?Crohn's disease (also spelled Crohn disease) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in 1932. It also is called granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis. Crohn's disease is related closely to another chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon called ulcerative colitis. Together, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have no medical cure. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). Inflammatory bowel disease affects approximately 500,000 to two million people in the United States. Men and women are affected equally. Americans of Jewish European descent are 4 to 5 times more likely to develop IBD than the general population. IBD has historically been considered predominately disease of Caucasians, but there has been an increase in reported cases in African Americans suffering from IBD. The prevalence appears to be lower among Hispanic and Asian populations. IBD most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood (usually between the ages of 15 and 35). There is a small second peak of newly-diagnosed cases after age 50. The number of new cases (incidence) and number of cases (prevalence) of Crohn's disease in the United States are rising, although the reason for this is not completely understood. Crohn's disease tends to be more common in relatives of patients with Crohn's disease. If a person has a relative with the disease, his/her risk of developing the disease is estimated to be at least 10 times that of the ... Recommended Reading Related to Crohn's DiseaseBowel Diversion Surgery: Ileostomy, Colostomy, Ileoanal Reservoir, and Continent Ileostomy » What Is Bowel Diversion Surgery?Bowel diversion surgery allows stool to safely leave the body when (because of disease or injury) the large intestine is removed or needs time to heal. Bowel is a general term for any part of the small or large intestine. Some bowel diversion surgeries (those called ostomy surgery)divert the bowel to an opening in the abdomen where a stoma is created. A surgeon forms a stoma by rolling the bowel's end back on itself, like a shirt cuff, and stitching it to the abdominal wall. An ostomy pouch is attached to the stoma and worn outside the body to collect stool. Other bowel diversion surgeries reconfigure the intestines after damaged portions are removed. For example, after removing the colon, a surgeon can create a colon like pouch out of the last part of the small intestine, avoiding the need for an ostomy pouch. Cancer, trauma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), bowel obstruction, and diverticulitis are all possi... Other Related Crohn's Disease ArticlesEmergency Contact for Methuen
Nearby Methuen Hospitals *Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Lawrence General Hospital Northeast Rehabilitation Health Network Isham Health Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Haverhill Merrimack Valley Hospital Saints Medical Center Tewksbury Hospital Baldpate Hospital Hampstead Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Parkland Medical Center Southern New Hampshire Medical Center St Joseph Hospital Anna Jaques Hospital Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Lahey Clinic Medical Center Winchester Hospital HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore North Shore Medical Center Beverly Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Emerson Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital Elliot Hospital Exeter Hospital Nashoba Valley Medical Center McLean Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Catholic Medical Center Manchester VA Medical Center Somerville Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital Cambridge Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital M I T Medical Massachusetts General Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Arbour HRI Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston Addison Gilbert Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Boston Medical Center New England Baptist Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Arbour Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Faulkner Hospital Bournewood Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center Portsmouth Regional Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Caritas Carney Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Crohn's Disease by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
23 articles-
Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
-
Anemia
- Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, malaise, hair loss, palpitations, and more. Treatment for anemia includes treating the underlying cause for the condition. Iron supplements, vitamin B12 injections, and certain medications may also be necessary.
-
Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
-
Gallstones
- Gallstones are stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones (formed in the gallbladder) can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination. The majority of gallstones do not cause symptoms.
-
Pink Eye
- Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is redness or irritation of the conjunctivae, the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids and the membranes covering the whites of the eyes. These membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.
-
Anal Itching
- Anal itching is the irritation of the skin at the exit of the rectum, known as the anus, accompanied by the desire to scratch. Causes include everything from irritating foods we eat, to certain disease and infections. Treatment options include local anesthetics, vasoconstrictors, protectants, astringents, antiseptics, keratolytics, analgesics, and corticosteroids. If condition persists, a doctor examination may be needed to identify an underlying cause.
-
Colon Cancer
- Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
-
Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis)
- Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium, and is one of the most common causes of infection of the colon. C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. They can be found on bedpans, furniture, toilet seats, linens, telephones, stethoscopes, fingernails, rings, floors, infants' rooms, and diaper pails. They even can be carried by pets. Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. Treatment for C. difficile colitis hydration, replenishment of electrolyte deficiencies, discontinuing the antibiotic that caused the colitis, and using antibiotics to eradicate the C. difficile bacterium.
-
Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
-
Colitis
- Inflammation of the inner lining of the colon is referred to as colitis. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis.
-
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria (at least 100,000 bacteria per ml of fluid) are present in the small intestine and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestine. There are many conditions associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, to include: diabetes, scleroderma, Crohn's disease, and others. There is a striking similarity between the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and SIBO. It has been theorized that SIBO may be responsible for the symptoms of at least some patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of SIBO include: excess gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
-
Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine. The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is genetically inherited.
-
Canker Sores
- Canker sore is a small ulcer crater in the lining of the mouth. Canker sores are one of the most common problems that occur in the mouth. Canker sores typically last for 10-14 days and they heal without leaving a scar.
-
Psoriatic Arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that causes skin and joint inflammation. Symptoms include painful, stiff, and swollen joints, tendinitis, and organ inflammation. Treatment involves antiinflammatory medications and exercise.
-
Gastritis
- Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin, H. pylori infection, severe infections, burns, anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Gastritis is diagnosed with endoscopy, blood tests, or stool tests. Treatment depends upon the cause of gastritis.
-
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Intestinal Problems of IBD)
- The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal complications of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis differ because of the characteristically dissimilar behaviors of the intestinal inflammation in these two diseases.
-
Erythema Nodosum
- Erythema nodosum is a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. Erythema nodosum can resolve on its own in three to six weeks, leaving a bruised area. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone by mouth or injection.
-
Chronic Pain
- Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
-
Vitamin D Deficiency
- Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with rickets, cancer, cardiovascular disease, severe asthma in children and cognitive impairment in older adults. Causes include not ingesting enough of the vitamin over time, having limited exposure to sunlight, having dark skin, and obesity. Symptoms include bone pain and muscle weakness. Treatment for vitamin D deficiency involves obtaining more vitamin D through supplements, diet, or exposure to sunlight.
-
Steroid Drug Withdrawal
- Corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone and prednisolone are commonly used to treat asthma, allergic reactions, RA, and IBD. Steroids such as these do have serious drawbacks such as steroid withdrawal symptoms such as: fatigue, weakness, decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Speak with your healthcare provider prior to tapering off steroid medications.
-
Bronchiectasis
- Bronchiectasis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes of the lung become damaged. Inflammation from infection or other causes destroys the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. Bronchiectasis is a form of COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). There are three primary types of bronchiectasis: 1) cylindrical bronchiectasis; 2) saccular bronchiectasis; and 3) cystic bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis may also be acquired or congenital. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis are recurrent cough and sputum production. There is no cure for bronchiectasis. Treatment is often geared toward controlling the symptoms of bronchiectasis.
-
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive disease of the bile ducts that channel bile from the liver into the intestines. There is an association between primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis include abnormal liver blood tests, itching, fatigue, and jaundice. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is treated with medications and in some cases, liver transplant.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Abdominal Pain
-
Medications
17 articles -
Procedures & Tests
15 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
7 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
13 articles -
Health News
24 articles -
Health Features
1 articles
