Crohn's Disease (cont.)
What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?
Common symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
weight loss. Less common symptoms include poor appetite, fever, night sweats,
rectal pain, and rectal bleeding. The symptoms of Crohn's disease are dependent
on the location, the extent, and the severity of the inflammation. The different
subtypes of Crohn's disease and their symptoms are:
- Crohn's colitis is inflammation that is confined to
the colon. Abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea are the common symptoms. Anal
fistulae and peri-rectal abscesses also can occur.
- Crohn's enteritis refers to inflammation confined to
the small intestine (the first part, called the jejunum or the second part,
called the ileum). Involvement of the ileum alone is referred to as Crohn's
ileitis. Abdominal pain and diarrhea are the common symptoms. Obstruction of
the small intestine also can occur.
- Crohn's terminal ileitis is inflammation that affects
only the very end of the small intestine (terminal ileum), the part of the
small intestine closest to the colon. Abdominal pain and diarrhea are the
common symptoms. Small intestinal obstruction also can occur.
- Crohn's entero-colitis and ileo-colitis are terms to describe inflammation
that involve both the small intestine and the colon. Bloody diarrhea and
abdominal pain are the common symptoms. Small intestinal obstruction also can
occur.
Crohn's terminal ileitis and ileo-colitis are the most common types of
Crohn's disease. (Ulcerative colitis frequently involves only the rectum or
rectum and sigmoid colon at the distal end of the colon. These are called
ulcerative proctitis and procto-sigmoiditis, respectively.)
Up to one third of patients with Crohn's disease may have one or more of the
following conditions involving the anal area:
- Swelling of the tissue of the anal sphincter, the
muscle at the end of the colon that controls defecation.
- Development of ulcers and fissures (long ulcers)
within the anal sphincter. These ulcers and fissures can cause bleeding and
pain with defecation.
- Development of anal fistulae (abnormal tunnels)
between the anus or rectum and the skin surrounding the anus). Mucous and pus
may drain from the openings of the fistulae on the skin.
- Development of peri-rectal abscesses (collections of pus in the anal and
rectal area). Peri-rectal abscesses can cause fever, pain and tenderness around
the anus.
Next: What are the complications of Crohn's disease? »
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