Crohn's Disease Symptoms

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines and bowels, it can have both short- and long-term effects apart from affecting the digestive system it can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease range from mild to severe, long term and short term. Symptoms may come on gradually or suddenly, without warning to the sufferer. There may be also a time when you think that you don't have the disease any longer only to have the symptoms return.

There are several symptoms of Crohn's disease.

Diarrhoea - This could be persistent and contain blood, pus and mucus. Patients may experience frequent loose or watery bowel movements with thick dark blood. Diarrhoea is the most common problem for people with Crohn's.

Abdominal pain with a swelling - Patients may suffer pain and cramping with slight or moderate intestinal discomfort. The pain occurs due to inflammation and ulcers which cause the bowel to swell and affect the normal movement of contents through the digestive system. Very often, patients with Crohn's disease feel pain on the lower right side of the abdomen and below the bellybutton.

Have redness and inflammation of the eyes, joint pains. All joints can be affected. Areas such as the large joints of the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and shoulders are prone to this.

Skin lesions- including tender red nodules on the shins or calves.

Sores or ulcers in the mouth- Crohn's disease cause small sores on the surface of the intestine. They become large ulcers and penetrate and spread deep into intestinal walls. This causes ulcers in the mouth.

Blood in the stools- Food moving through the digestive system causes inflamed tissue to bleed. There would be bright red blood in the toilet with darker blood mixed with the stools.

Poor appetite and weight loss- Abdominal pain, cramping mouth ulcers and the inflamed wall of the bowel will no doubt affect the appetite and ability to digest and absorb food. The digestive process would be usually slower than of a healthy person.

Anaemia - bowel bleeding can lead to an anaemic condition.

Other symptoms include, fever, fatigue, arthritis, skin disorders, inflammation of the liver, delayed growth or ulcers on the skin, fertility problems in sexual development with an increased risk of miscarriages, tears, ulcers and/or abscesses around the anus.

If Crohn's disease is neglected is could lead to abscesses in the abdomen and increases the risk of bowel cancer.

Treatment for Crohn's disease includes, changing the quality of life by eating a healthy diet, medication and surgery. Medication and surgery is recommended if the case is severe.

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