Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. It can result in inflammation of any part of the gut, from the mouth to the anus. The most
common area affected is the end small bowel/small intestine. Often the gut becomes inflamed in patches of varying sizes and severity, with healthy parts of gut in-between these sections.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition. This means that it is ongoing and life-long, although you may have periods of good health (remission), as well as times when symptoms are more active (relapses or flare-ups).
Causes of Crohn's disease
The causes for Crohn’s disease are not fully understood at present. Recent research has pointed to several possible causes for Crohn’s disease including;
- An underlying genetic cause
- Bacteria in the gut causing issues with the immune system resulting in increased inflammation
-Triggers such as bacteria, viruses, diet, smoking and stress.
Signs and symptoms of Crohn's Disease
Symptoms vary from person to person. The severity of the symptoms depends on disease activity, the location of the inflammation, the body’s own
response to the disease and the influence of medications to fight the disease.These may include:
- diarrhoea or loose stools
- fever (sometimes in the form of night sweats)
- fatigue,
- tiredness
- anaemia (low blood count)
- nausea,
- vomiting
- cramps, abdominal pain
- fistulae, particularly perianal fistulae (connections or short cuts between the bowel and the skin or the bowel and other organs)
- skin tags
- weight loss
- mouth ulcers
- deep ulcers in the bowel or stomach
- growth can be affected with children.
Complications of Crohn's Disease
There are complications both inside and outside the gut. Within the gut complications include structural changes such as fistulae detailed above. Complications outside the gut are less ommon but include:
Joints - inflammation of the large and small joints of the arms, legs, pelvis and spine. This can cause pain, swelling and restriction of normal movements in the joints affected.
Skin - painful, red skin especially on the shins
Eyes - painful, red, gritty watery eyes (iritis, conjunctivitis)
Liver - abnormalities due to involvement of the cells (chronic active hepatitis) or bile ducts
Anaemia - (low blood count)