Crohn’s Disease Symptoms
There are several symptoms caused by Crohn’s
disease, the ‘big three’
symptoms are persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease usually appears in young
adults. They can develop gradually or may appear
suddenly. Crohn’s disease is a chronic
condition, symptoms may flare up (relapse) after symptom-free periods
(remission). Symptoms can also be continuous.
Suffers of Crohn’s disease can experience mild to severe
symptoms which can vary with seasons, with the highest risk in winter,
lowest in the summer.
Diarrhea
Crohn’s patients often, sometimes far too often, experience
frequent loose or watery bowel movements. In some cases
patients pass dark thick bloody stool. This can
also be accompanied by mucus or pus, but less than experienced with
ulcerative colitis.
Pain
Abdominal discomfort can be experienced as cramps, aches, or even sharp
pains. One of the most common areas those suffering
from Crohn’s disease feel pain in is in the lower
right section
of the abdominal area. This is where the terminal
ileum is located.
When the terminal ileum is affected the pain tends to be
sharp. Crohn’s disease in the large
intestine produces a cramping type of discomfort.
Fever
Fever is very common in patients suffering from Crohn’s
disease as it is a key trait of inflammation. During a flare
up individuals may suffer a high fever. Occasionally the
fever can occur several times per day.
These symptoms can also lead to a loss of appetite, weight loss,
fatigue, dehydration and blood loss (anemia).
Fistulas
The inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease may cause the
development of fistulas. A fistula is a tunnel or channel
which can connect one loop of intestine to
another. Fistulas
can develop from the intestines to the bladder, vagina, or
more commonly the skin around the anal area. When a
fistula is active it may drain pus, mucus, or stool from the opening.
If the fistula develops between the loops for the small and large
intestines it can interfere with the absorption of nutrients.
Sometimes a fistula can develop pockets of infections or abscesses
which can become a serious risk if medical attention is not sought.
Fissures
A fissure can appear in the lining of the anal canal.
Fissures are tears or ulcers and can produce painful bowel movements,
bright red blood when wiping, and swollen skin tags.
Other Signs
There are other signs that can occur outside of the gastrointestinal
tract in Crohn’s patients. They can happen at the
same time or can be experienced up to several months before any
intestinal symptoms. The most common
‘other’ signs are: reddening or
inflammation of the eyes, joint pain, skin lesions, or sores inside the
mouth.
If that wasn’t enough there are other complications that
Crohn’s disease can lead to including kidney stones,
gallstones, urinary tract infections, and insufficient absorption of
nutrients.
A study from 2005 found that people with an IBD are one and a half
times
more likely to have asthma than those without an IBD. Asthma
appears to be the most common condition to accompany an IBD.
Delayed Growth in Children
Up to 50% of children with Crohn’s disease experience
impaired physical growth. Almost all are considered to be
underweight. Approximately 30% of children with
Crohn's disease experience a delay
in the onset of puberty, but once puberty occurs it tends to be normal.
Emotional and Psychological Symptoms
The emotional factors of Crohn’s disease should also be
considered, especially in children. With the fear
of abdominal pain from eating, meal time can be a very distressful
time. Sometimes seemingly never ending bouts of diarrhea can
be humiliating and contribute to a sense of low
self-esteem. Teens with Crohn’s disease
can suffer emotional distress from the weight gain associated
with
prednisone treatments and delayed puberty.
The ‘Good’ News
The ‘good’ news after all the rather unpleasant
symptoms is that Crohn’s disease is rarely the direct cause
of death. In most cases, people go on to live a long normal
lifespan.