What is Crohn’s disease – symptoms and causes

What is Crohn’s disease? How common is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Crohn’s disease typically occurs within the small intestinal tract as well as the colon. This condition can affect any area of your digestive (GI) tract that extends from the mouth to the anus. It may affect certain parts that comprise the GI tract, and also skip different parts.

The severity of Crohn’s disease ranges from moderate to severe. The symptoms may vary and alter with time. In the most severe cases, the illness may cause life-threatening symptoms and even complications.

Gastrointestinal Tract | Image Courtesy: Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Crohn’s disease symptoms

In Crohn’s Disease, symptoms usually begin to appear slowly. Certain symptoms may become worse with time. While it’s possible, it’s not common for symptoms to appear quickly and abruptly. The first signs of Crohn’s disease could be:

• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps
• the blood that is in your stool
• fever
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• feeling as if your bowels aren’t empty after a bowel movement
• feeling a frequent need for bowel movement

It is sometimes possible to confuse these symptoms as a sign of other illnesses with symptoms of food poisoning or an upset stomach and even an allergic reaction. Consult your physician when any of these symptoms persist.

The symptoms can get more severe as the condition progresses. The severe symptoms could include:

• A perianal fistula that causes pain and swelling near your anus
• ulcers that could appear everywhere from the mouth to the anus
• inflammation of joints and skin
• shortness of breath or a decreased capacity to exercise due to anemia

Early detection and treatment could aid in avoiding serious problems and let you start treatment as early as possible.

What causes Crohn’s disease?

The cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. However, the following factors could influence your risk of getting it:

immune system
genes
environment

As high as 20% of those suffering from Crohn’s disease also have an adult, parent, or sibling who suffers from the condition.

Certain factors can impact the intensity of the symptoms that you experience which includes:

Smoking habit
Your age
depending on whether the rectum is affected
the length of time you’ve been suffering from the illness

Patients with Crohn’s disease are more susceptible to develop intestinal infections caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria, and fungi. This could alter the intensity of symptoms and lead to complications.

Crohn’s disease as well as its treatment can affect the immune system. It can cause these kinds of infections more severe.

The presence of yeast infections is prevalent in Crohn’s disease and can affect the lungs as well as the intestinal tract. It is essential that these infections are treated properly and diagnosed by taking antifungal medication to avoid the onset of complications.