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Crohn’s Disease Treatment
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can gradually develop or worsen quickly, including unexplained abdominal pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea or altered bowel habits, blood in the stool, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and frequent bowel movements. These symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, food allergies, or gastrointestinal infections.
If symptoms persist for more than two weeks or worsen despite treatment, further workup is recommended. As the disease progresses, symptoms may worsen, leading to severe diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, dehydration, anemia, low blood pressure, or severe fatigue. Inflammation around the skin or joints may also occur. Early disease characterization and treatment initiation can help avoid short and long-term complications.
What Causes Crohn’s Disease?
The exact cause is not yet fully understood, but genetic predisposition, environmental factors, dietary habits, psychosocial factors, and individual health backgrounds may contribute to its development. Approximately 20% of Crohn’s disease patients have a family history of the condition. Disease severity may be influenced by factors like age of onset, smoking, obesity, and distribution of the disease in the GI tract.
Complications from Crohn’s disease may arise due to a weakened immune system and altered gut structure, leading to infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Additional complications can include painful ulcers in the digestive tract, anal fissures or abscesses, bowel obstructions, and malnutrition.
When Should I Seek Medical Help?
Seek medical help if you experience persistent symptoms of altered bowel habits, malabsorption, bleeding, or diarrhea. You should also schedule an appointment if you have unexplained fever, blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain, or unexplained diarrhea.