Crohn's Disease Symptoms
Crohn's disease most commonly causes inflammation deep in the lining of the walls of the large intestine (colon) and/or the small intestine, but also can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Sometimes Crohn's disease can affect other parts of the upper digestive tract with ulcers forming in the stomach, upper small intestine, or the esophagus. About one-third of cases of Crohn's disease affect the small bowel, usually involving the ileum (the last portion of the small intestine that connects to the large intestine or colon). Nearly half of all cases involve both small and large bowel. About 20 percent of cases are in the colon alone. Lesions near the anus occur in about one-quarter to one-third of persons with Crohn's disease but are rarely the only sole site of Crohn's disease. Like Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease also is an illness that brings periods of remission and relapse.
Symptoms of Crohn's Disease
The earliest most common symptoms are pain in the abdomen, especially the lower right side, tenderness, and often diarrhea. Constipation, weight loss, rectal bleeding, and low-grade fever also may occur. Bleeding may be bad enough to cause anemia or an unhealthy, low level of iron in the blood. Children with Crohn's disease may have slowed growth and delayed sexual development in some cases.
Symptoms of Crohn's Disease may range from mild to severe. If you have a mild case, you'll likely have some abdominal discomfort and your stools may be loose or more frequent than usual. But if your case is severe, you may have incapacitating abdominal discomfort and you may have bowel movements so frequently that it interrupts your daytime activities and your sleep. You may also experience weight loss, fever and other complications.
Although this disease usually isn't fatal, it is a serious disease and may require surgery. In some cases, it may cause life-threatening complications. Crohn's
Disease Symptoms to C
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