Crohn's Disease Treatment in Sharjah

What is Crohn's disease management?

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease in which the immune system keeps the lining of the gut inflamed. It can appear anywhere from the mouth to the anus, and it often affects patches of bowel with healthy stretches in between. The end of the small intestine, where it joins the large bowel, is the most commonly involved area. Inflammation can also run deep through the bowel wall, which is why Crohn's can lead to narrowing, abscesses or small tunnels called fistulas.

Management is a plan built around three goals: bring inflammation under control, allow the lining of the gut to heal, and prevent complications over the years ahead. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, that plan is led by the gastroenterologist and reviewed regularly as your condition changes. Crohn's usually comes and goes in cycles of flares and quieter periods, so the plan covers both.

Who needs it

This service is for adults with a confirmed diagnosis of Crohn's disease and for people whose symptoms suggest it. Typical signs include diarrhoea lasting several weeks, cramping pain often in the lower right side of the abdomen, tiredness, weight loss, mouth ulcers, and sore or leaking areas around the back passage. Some people also notice joint pain, red eyes or skin changes, because Crohn's can affect the body beyond the gut.

It also suits people moving to the UAE who already have Crohn's and need a local specialist to continue their treatment. Bring your previous reports and a list of the medicines you have tried and how well each worked, so care can carry on smoothly.

Crohn's disease is a separate condition from ulcerative colitis, which is confined to the large bowel and its lining. Our ulcerative colitis page covers that condition.

What happens

Diagnosis brings together several pieces of evidence. Blood tests check for anaemia, inflammation and nutrition levels. A stool test measures a marker of inflammation in the bowel and helps separate Crohn's from irritable bowel syndrome, and stool samples also look for infection. A colonoscopy lets the gastroenterologist see the large bowel and the end of the small intestine and take small tissue samples, which are sent to the laboratory. Because Crohn's often affects parts of the small bowel a scope may reach only partly, an MRI scan of the small bowel is often used to show the full extent of the disease, and capsule endoscopy may help in selected cases.

Treatment is then matched to where the Crohn's is, how active it is and how it has behaved over time. Medicines are grouped by what they do:

• Short courses of steroids to settle a flare quickly, then reduced step by step
• Immune-modifying tablets taken long term to keep inflammation quiet
• Biologic medicines, given as injections or infusions, that block specific signals driving the inflammation
• Supportive treatments for anaemia, low vitamin levels and bone health

Some people develop a narrowed section of bowel, a fistula or an abscess that is best treated with surgery. Where this applies, the gastroenterologist arranges referral to General and Laparoscopic Surgery and continues your medical care alongside the surgeons.

Preparing for it

Keep a short symptom diary for two weeks before your first visit: how often you open your bowels, any blood, pain, fevers and weight changes. Bring all previous colonoscopy, scan and pathology reports, and every medicine or supplement you take.

Smoking makes Crohn's disease worse. People with Crohn's who smoke tend to have more flares and a greater need for surgery, and stopping is one of the most effective steps you can take. This includes shisha and vaping. Support is available through smoking cessation.

If a colonoscopy is planned, bowel preparation instructions are given to you in advance, and sedation is described on the anaesthesia for endoscopy and sedation for procedures pages.

Afterwards

Crohn's care continues for years, with closer review during flares and while medicines are being adjusted, and longer gaps once things are settled. Some medicines need regular blood tests to check the blood count and liver. Vaccinations are reviewed before immune-modifying treatment starts. People who have had Crohn's affecting the large bowel for several years are offered regular surveillance colonoscopy.

Food matters. The gastroenterologist gives general nutrition advice, and a specialist dietetic plan can be arranged by referral, particularly during flares or if the bowel is narrowed. In the UAE heat, diarrhoea quickly leads to dehydration, so drink plenty and take extra fluids in summer. If you plan to fast during Ramadan or travel, discuss medicine timings well in advance.

Contact the clinic if your symptoms return or change, if you see blood, or if you have new pain around the back passage. Go to the emergency department straight away if you have severe abdominal pain, a high fever, or signs of a bowel blockage: repeated vomiting, a swollen tummy, and no stool or wind passing.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover consultations, blood and stool tests, and diagnostic colonoscopy for suspected or known Crohn's disease. Colonoscopy, MRI and biologic medicines usually need pre-approval, and biologics are often limited to a formulary. The team at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.