Symptoms of Crohn's disease
Symptoms of Crohn's disease: Introduction
Symptoms of Crohn's disease can run the gamut from mild to severe. Symptoms are due to the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. They can include abdominal pain, cramps, and recurring bouts of diarrhea that may have blood or pus in it. Symptoms may also include bloody stool (melena), weight loss, poor appetite, malabsorption, malnutrition, fatigue, dehydration, and fever.
Chronic inflammation can lead to the formation of gastrointestinal ulcers. This can result in the formation of scar tissue that thickens and narrows the intestinal tract. Gastrointestinal ulcers can also become so deep that they result in the development of fistulas. Fistulas are abnormal holes between the gastrointestinal tract and other areas of the body such as the vagina, bladder and skin.
Fistulas can easily become seriously infected, resulting in critical complications, such as peritonitis and shock. Other serious complications include, rectal bleeding, anemia, deteriorating bowel function, bowel obstruction, malnutrition and problems with growth in children. Crohn's disease can also increase the risk of getting colorectal cancer....more about Crohn's disease »
Crohn's disease symptoms:
The severity and types of symptoms of Crohn's disease vary from person to person. Typical symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal pain, often in the lower right section of the abdomen. Rectal bleeding due to severe GI tract inflammation or the development of ulcers may also occur. People with Crohn's disease may also experience skin problems, weight loss, arthritis, and fever.
Not all of the above symptoms are always related to Crohn's disease. Although abdominal pain and diarrhea are typical of Crohn's disease, they and other symptoms can be related to many other potentially serious conditions, including food poisoning, appendicitis, and pancreatitis. Any episodes of rectal bleeding, vomiting of blood, persistent diarrhea, or moderate to severe abdominal pain should be reported to your health care provider. Only a thorough evaluation by a qualified health care professional can determine what is causing your particular symptoms and make a diagnosis of Crohn's disease....more about Crohn's disease »
Symptoms of Crohn's disease
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Crohn's disease includes the 27
symptoms listed below:
- Digestive problems - The classic symptoms are severe digestive problems such as:
- Early phases of the diseases may have milder symptoms:
- Low-grade fever, prolonged diarrhea with abdominal pain, weight loss, and generalized fatigability
- Postprandial bloating, cramping pains, and loud borborygmi
- Perianal fissures or fistulae
- Cologastric fistulae may manifest as feculent vomiting, enterovesical fistulae as recurrent urinary tract infections and pneumaturia, enterovaginal fistulae as feculent vaginal discharge, and enterocutaneous fistulae as feculent soiling of the skin.
- Pain in the abdomen
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Skin problems
- more information...»
Research symptoms & diagnosis of Crohn's disease:
Crohn's disease: Symptom Checkers
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Crohn's disease: Symptom Assessment Questionnaires
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Crohn's disease: Complications
Review medical complications possibly associated with Crohn's disease:
Diagnostic testing of medical conditions related to Crohn's disease:
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Do I have Crohn's disease?
Crohn's disease: Medical Mistakes
Crohn's disease: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Crohn's disease:
- Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
- Food Allergies & Intolerances: Home Testing:
- Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
- Digestive-Related Home Testing:
- more home tests...»
Wrongly Diagnosed with Crohn's disease?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Crohn's disease includes:
See the full list of 76
Crohn's disease: Research Doctors & Specialists
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More information about symptoms of Crohn's disease and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Crohn's disease:
The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are
abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal
bleeding, weight loss, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious
and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn's disease may
suffer delayed development and stunted growth.
(Source: excerpt from Crohn's Disease: NIDDK)
Crohn's disease as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Crohn's disease, it is also important to consider Crohn's disease as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Crohn's disease may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Crohn's disease: Onset and Incubation
Onset of Crohn's disease: Crohn's disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30.
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease.
This signs and symptoms information for Crohn's disease has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Crohn's disease signs or Crohn's disease symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Crohn's disease symptoms.