Symptoms & Complications of Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease affects the lining of the digestive tract. It is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain and ulcers. Many complications can occur, from bowel obstruction to cancer.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of Crohn's disease can be mild or severe. They may happen suddenly or come on gradually. Typically, they include fever, abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, ulcers, reduced appetite and weight loss.

Additional Symptoms

• Patients with Crohn's disease may have additional symptoms, including disorders of the skin, joints, eyes and liver. Children with Crohn's disease can experience delayed growth and/or delayed sexual development.

Complications

• Crohn's disease complications include colon distention, intestine rupture, bowel obstruction, small-intestine perforation, abscesses and intestinal bleeding. Some of these complications can be life-threatening.

Cancer Risk

• Patients with Crohn's disease are at greater risk for colon and small-intestine cancer. This risk increases the longer a patient has the disease and the larger the area affected.

Risk Factors

• The risk of contracting Crohn's disease increases depending on environment, lifestyle, age and family history. People in urban areas are more prone to the disease, as are patients who smoke or have a family history of the disease.