Crohn’s Disease – Signs & Symptoms

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition of the digestive tract, especially in the small intestine.  People with Crohn’s have regular episodes of inflammation and bleeding.  While there is no cure, Crohn’s can be controlled with proper treatment.  That’s why it’s important to see your health care provider if you think you might be affected.

Crohn’s is considered more severe than many other inflammatory bowel disorders, because the problems are less superficial and can affect areas outside the bowel.  After several reoccurrences of Crohn’s, many people develop ulcers, intestinal blockage and even death of portions of the intestine.

There are several main symptoms that characterize Crohn’s disease.  These may be more or less severe in each patient. 

* Diarrhea.  Crohn’s patients generally have frequent, persistent diarrhea during flare-ups.  This may include blood (from hemorrhoids), mucus, or pus.  If you have large amounts of mucous and pus, you pay actually be suffering from a different disorder called ulcerative colitis.

* Abdominal pain.  This pain can range from a dull ache to a severe, sharp pain.  It usually occurs in the lower, right portion of the abdomen, but can occur in other areas of the abdomen.

* Fever.  Some patients experience a high fever during the worst part of their flare up, while others have a low fever that persists most of the time.

* Mouth sores.  These are less common than the other symptoms

* Loss of appetite and weight loss.  This is generally due to abdominal discomfort and the fact that some sufferers can eat very few foods that don’t make them sick.

In addition to these common symptoms, you may also experience other symptoms not related to the digestive tract, including: irritability and fatigue (especially when your fever is high), joint pain, eye inflammation, and skin lesions.  Doctor’s don’t know why some symptoms of Crohn’s are in areas other then the digestive tract, but these symptoms do appear at the same time as flare-ups.

If you suspect you have Crohn’s disease, it is important that you visit the doctor.  There are other diseases that may have similar symptoms, but require a different course of treatment.  While there is no one test to confirm that you have Crohn’s, there are tests to rule out other possibilities.

Once a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease is made, your doctor will recommend a course of treatment.  It may include prescription medications, dietary changes, alternative therapies, and possibly even surgery.

While these treatments should provide relief from your symptoms and help prevent reoccurrences, there is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease.  You will have to continue treatment and regular doctor’s visits for the rest of your life. 

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