OVERVIEW
Crohn's disease is characterized by intermittent inflammation, which means it flares up without warning and then goes into remission over time. Predicting when the condition will flare, its duration, and recurrence is impossible. Most individuals feel well when the disease is inactive.
The primary symptoms of Crohn's disease are related to inflammatory damage to the digestive tract.
Diarrhea - Fluctuates; stool may contain mucus, blood, or pus.
Pain in the abdominal area - Either crampy or steady; located in the right lower part of the abdomen or around the belly button; often temporarily relieved by a bowel movement.
Bloating after eating - Less common, typically seen in cases of bowel obstruction.
Constipation - Usually observed in cases of bowel obstruction.
Pain or bleeding during bowel movements.
Infection of the urinary tract or vagina - Suggests a fistula originating from the intestinal tract.
General symptoms may occur in some cases but not all.
Other symptoms of Crohn's disease may be attributed to related medical conditions affecting the skin, joints, mouth, eyes, liver, and bile ducts.
FOLLOW-UP
Regular visits to your healthcare provider are essential for monitoring your condition, assessing the effectiveness of your treatment, and checking for relapse and symptom recurrence.
OUTLOOK
Intestinal complications associated with Crohn's disease include the following:
- Intestinal obstruction
- Fistulas
- Abscess
- Hemorrhage (Bleeding) - Uncommon in Crohn's disease
- Malabsorption - Leads to diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies
- Acute regional enteritis
- Carcinoma - Colonic disease increases the risk of colon cancer
Despite being a chronic condition with periods of remission and relapse, appropriate medical and surgical treatments enable affected individuals to maintain a reasonable quality of life.
Crohn's disease typically follows a chronic, gradual course regardless of the affected site.
Over time, medical therapy becomes less effective. Nearly two-thirds of people with Crohn's disease require surgery for complications at some point in their condition.
The longer one has Crohn's disease, the higher the likelihood of developing complications that can be life-threatening. Cancer of the digestive tract is the primary cause of death for individuals with Crohn's disease.
Crohn's disease often recurs after surgery.