Crohn’s Disease Signs and Symptoms

There are a small number of well documented Crohn’s Disease signs and symptoms that accompany this condition. They will always vary in severity from person to person although are usually chronic in nature. This basically means that they will go into remission for a time and to return at a later date. In this article we will take a closer look at some of the more common Crohn’s Disease signs and symptoms.

Rectal bleeding

One of the most common Crohn’s Disease signs and symptoms is blood in the stool. This condition shows up as inflammation in the large or small intestines. The blood that shows up in your stool is a result of food moving through the digestive tract and coming into contact with the area that is inflamed. This blood can either show up in your stool, or in the toilet bowl itself.

Diarrhea

This is another of the common Crohn’s Disease signs and symptoms. When the area becomes inflamed, it causes the cells around it to produce large amounts of water and salt. The diarrhea is the result of this excess fluid. It can also result from abdominal cramping, which causes the stool to be loose. Depending on the severity of the condition, this symptom can drastically affect a person’s lifestyle. Some people have reported dozens of bowel movements in the course of one day.

Other symptoms

There are several other Crohn’s Disease signs and symptoms that you should be aware of. Abdominal pain and cramping usually accompany this condition as well. This is due to the inflammation in the walls of the intestines. This inflammation can also make it’s way to other nearby organs, and even through the surface of the skin in that area. Ulcers may also form in the intestines, as well as other parts of the body.

Due to the abdominal pain and cramping in the digestive tract, loss of appetite is often associated with this disease. This will inevitably lead to weight loss, as well as other problems if left untreated. The body may also be unable to absorb the nutrients it requires due to the condition of the intestines. This is why malnutrition is also a common symptom. Supplements are often required to give the body the nutrients it needs.

Crohn’s Disease signs and symptoms are understandably and quite often confused with ulcerative colitis symptoms, which is why making an accurate diagnosis is sometimes difficult. Once your doctor has correctly identified the condition, he can then direct you to possible and appropriate options for treatment.