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Manifestations of Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is an autoimmune, inflammatory bowel disease that results in inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or digestive system. It can occur anywhere between the mouth and anus. There are frequently other systemic problems caused by Crohn's.

  1. Symptoms

    • The most common symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloody stools, ulcers in the intestines or mouth, decreased appetite and weight loss. You may also experience fever and chronic fatigue with Crohn's disease. Systemic problems may include arthritis, skin disorders and inflammation of the eyes, liver or bile ducts. Some people experience depression with the disease. Children with Crohn's may exhibit growth and development delays.

    Obstructions

    • Crohn's disease can result in areas of narrowing in the bowel. These are due to ulcers that cause scar tissue over time. The narrowed areas are called strictures, and they can cause a complication of bowel obstruction, where digested food is unable to move through the bowel. A partial obstruction can resolve itself, but it is very painful. In the case of total obstruction, surgery may be necessary. Surgery to remove the diseased areas of your bowel can prevent obstructions.

    Fissures/Fistulas

    • Fissure are tears, or cracks, in the skin inside or around the anus. They can result in painful bowel movements and bleeding. Fistulas can result from deep ulcerations that may form a tunnel from the bowel to other organs or from the bowel to the surface of the skin. Fistulas can result in abscesses or infections due to the leakage of the bowel contents. For example, a fistula that connects the bowel to the bladder can result in recurrent urinary tract infections.

    Malnutrition

    • Crohn's disease can result in malnutrition. Because of the pain and cramping associated with the disease, people suffering from Crohn's may not want to eat. In addition, one complication is that the intestines may be unable to absorb nutrients properly. This is particularly the case when the Crohn's is in the small bowel or if you have had small bowel surgery. Many Crohn's patients are deficient in certain vitamins, such as B-12, iron, vitamin D and calcium.

    Considerations

    • Crohn's disease is a chronic disease that can be difficult to diagnose and has no cure. Symptoms of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are similar, making the distinction between the two difficult to determine, although in ulcerative colitis, the problem exists only in the colon. A combination of test results such as endoscopy and colonoscopy, barium x-rays and pathology results can help with the diagnosis.

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