You may have heard of Crohns disease, which is a condition that affects the digestive system. Before looking at the common symptoms of Crohns disease, however, it is important that you get to know the condition a little better. In so doing, you will also understand what the implications of noticing the most common symptoms could be as well.

Understanding Crohns Disease:

Crohns disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It is a lifelong condition that cannot be cured. People with the disease have swollen elements in their digestive system, and they also develop ulcers and deep sores. Usually, the condition manifests itself at the end of the small intestine, or at the start of the large intestine. However, it can happen in any section of the overall digestive system, starting at the mouth and ending at the anus.

Crohns Disease Causes:

While the most common symptoms for Crohns disease are now better understood, the causes are not. It is believed to be linked to the immune system, whereby immune cells attack the gastrointestinal tract because of the presence of bacteria or viruses.

Crohn’s appears to be a result of an interaction of factors below, according to Crohnsandcolitis.com:

  • Heredity: You may inherit genes that make you more susceptible to developing Crohn’s (1)
  • The immune system: When triggered, it affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation that contributes to symptoms (1)
  • Environmental factors: Bacteria, a virus, or some unidentified factor in the environment that triggers an abnormal immune response (1)

Foreign substances (antigens) in the environment may also be a cause of inflammation, or they may stimulate the body’s defenses to produce inflammation that continues without control. (1)

Crohns Disease Diagnosis:

If you believe you have the condition, a physician will ask you a number of questions and conduct various examinations. These include lab tests and x-rays. Some of the tests performed to diagnose Crohns disease are:

  • Colonoscopy, whereby an internal examination of the colon is performed
  • Barium x-ray, whereby the colon or small intestine is investigated
  • Biopsy, whereby a small part of the affected tissue is removed and tested
  • Stool analysis, looking for blood and infections
  • Imaging tests like the MRI or CT scan

The Common Symptoms of Crohns Disease to Look For:

Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe. They usually develop gradually, but sometimes will come on suddenly, without warning. You may also have periods of time when you have no signs or symptoms (remission). (2)

The symptoms to look out for in particular include:

  1. Belly pain. Often, it is a type of intermittent cramping and the stomach may also feel sore too the touch. As the condition worsens, the pain may be become a more constant, dull ache.
  2. Persistent diarrhea, sometimes as often as 20 times per day. People often wake up at night to open their bowels. Stools may also have signs of blood in them, although this isn’t always the case.
  3. Loss of appetite.
  4. In more severe or advanced cases, people may also develop a fever. This tends to happen when the entire body is affected by the disease. If the fever is very high and/or persistent, there may be an abscess or other infection present.
  5. Weight loss, which is mainly caused by the various other symptoms of Crohns disease.
  6. Anemia, which happens when people do not have enough red blood cells. This can happen because iron levels decline, because there is blood in the stools, or because of inflammation.
  7. Anal fissures, which are small tears that often go away, only to return again

Additionally, there are likely to be some symptoms that don’t relate directly to the digestive tract, including eye problems, joint pain, liver disease, and skin rashes.

Sources:

1.) https://www.crohnsandcolitis.com/crohns/causes

2.) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304