Crohn's disease worsens without treatment. When left untreated, Crohn's spreads throughout the intestinal tract, causing severe symptoms and a bleaker outlook to treatment. The disease itself is not classified as a terminal illness, but the complications that arise from it can sometimes be life-threatening. Colon cancer is more likely to develop in people with untreated Crohn’s in their large intestine. The other complications may include
- Abscess or painful pockets of infection filled with pus
- Acid reflux, which can occur in people whose disease affects the esophagus
- Anal fissures, which are painful tears in the anus that cause bleeding and itching
- Bowel obstruction, which is caused by the thickening of intestinal walls, can block stool or food from moving through the digestive tract
- Eye inflammation
- Fistulas
- Gallstones and gallbladder disease, which are more likely to occur in people with Crohn’s
- Higher risk of premature labor or low birth weight if mothers have flare-ups of disease during pregnancy
- Joint inflammation
- Malnutrition, including anemia from low iron and vitamin B12
- Skin problems
- Ulcers may occur in the intestines, mouth or anus
- Kidney stones
Other complications of Crohn's
- Despite patients’ and their doctor's best efforts, the disease can stop responding to medication.
- When that happens, surgery becomes the last resort.
- According to the research, about 70 percent of Crohn's sufferers eventually require surgery. Also, about 30 percent of patients who have surgery for Crohn's disease experience a recurrence of their symptoms within three years and up to 60 percent will have a recurrence within 10 years.
The two most common surgeries for Crohn's disease are
- Bowel resection surgery: This involves the removal of the deteriorated portion of the intestine.
- Fistula repair surgery
- Fistulas can result from Crohn's disease permeating the intestinal wall, leaving an opening or "hole" in the intestinal tract.
- This is one of the most serious complications of Crohn's.
- Developing infection during the healing process is not uncommon and often leads to temporary ostomies and lengthy periods of intravenous feeding.
What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn's disease is a disease involving any location of the gastrointestinal tract. It frequently affects the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. In Crohn's disease, all layers of the intestine may also be involved, and there is redness and swelling in the affected parts. Other characteristics of Crohn’s disease are
- In a healthy body, the immune system creates an infection-fighting protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
- When Crohn's disease is present, TNF is produced in excess because the immune system mistakenly identifies healthy bacteria as a foreign presence.
- This causes the body to launch an attack and begin fighting the excess TNF, which leads to more inflammation and results in more TNF.
- As this internal battle takes place, it causes severe pain, abdominal swelling, cramping, bleeding, diarrhea and deterioration of the affected portion of the intestinal tract.
- Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune condition.
Symptoms of Crohn’s
- People with Crohn's disease sometimes go for long periods without symptoms or with very mild symptoms.
- This is known as remission. Remission can be followed by periods where symptoms flare up and become particularly troublesome.
- In the early stages, the most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are frequent diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and loss of appetite. Because the disease can cause internal bleeding, the stools may be black or tinged with blood.
- Children with Crohn's disease may have inflamed joints, fever, anemia or slow growth.
- Crohn's disease tends to be an on-again and off-again condition. After a bout of symptoms, you may go for weeks, months or even years without any more trouble. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict when the symptoms will return.
Causes and risk factors of Crohn’s
Although the exact cause of Crohn’s disease is not yet known, some doctors suspect that it might happen due to a bacterial swelling, mostly due to Mycobacterium. Other causative and risk factors may include
- Diet and lifestyle
- Immune system
- Genetic factor
- Environment
- People who are about 30 years old
- Family history of the disease
- Addiction to smoking
- Consuming medications, such as NSAIDs
Treatment of Crohn’s
There is no absolute cure for Crohn’s disease. Doctors usually prescribe medications to reduce the inflammation that triggers the signs and symptoms and provide relief from the intense pain. These medications include
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Antibiotics
- Immunosuppressors
- Anti-diarrheal medicines
- Pain-relieving medications
- Vitamin B12 shots
- Supplements, including vitamin D, iron and calcium
- The doctor may also suggest making some dietary changes to reduce inflammation caused by food
Sometimes treatment options, lifestyle modifications and dietary changes don’t provide relief from the pain and inflammation caused by this disease. Then, as a last resort, the doctor usually performs a surgical procedure to remove the infected part of the gut.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Top What Happens if Crohn’s Is Left Untreated Related Articles
Avsola (infliximab-axxq)
Avsola (infliximab-axxq) is a prescription medicine that is approved for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis. Serious side effects of Avsola include serious infections, lymphoma and other malignancies, heart failure and other heart problems, liver injury, blood problems, nervous system disorders, allergic reactions, and others.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms and signs.
Crohn's Disease Quiz
What causes Crohn's disease? What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease? How is Crohn's treated? Take this quiz to get the facts about Crohn's.
Crohn's Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diet
What is Crohn's disease? Get more information on this digestive disorder and how Crohn's can affect your diet. Learn more about tests to diagnose Crohn's disease, as well as treatments for Crohn's.
Crohn's Disease vs. Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are diseases that cause inflammation of part of or the entire digestive tract (GI). Crohn's affects the entire GI tract (from the mouth to the anus), while ulcerative colitis or ulcerative colitis only affects the large and small intestine and ilium. Researchers do not know the exact cause of either disease. About 20% of people with Crohn's disease also have a family member with the disease. Researchers believe that certain factors may play a role in causing UC. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are a type of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis both have similar symptoms and signs, for example, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, episodic and/or persistent diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and cramping, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, joint pain and soreness, eye redness, or pain. Symptoms unique to Crohn’s disease include anemia and skin changes. Symptoms of unique to ulcerative colitis include certain rashes, and an urgency to defecate (have a bowel movement). Doctors diagnose both diseases with similar tests and procedures. While there is no cure for either disease, doctors and other health care professionals can help you treat disease flares, and manage your Crohn's or ulcerative colitis with medication, diet, nutritional supplements, and/or surgery.
What Eye Problems Are Associated With Crohn's Disease?
Eye problems due to Crohn's disease are common and dangerous. Eye problems associated with Crohn's disease include uveitis, episcleritis, scleritis, dry eyes, and orbital myositis.hydrocortisone rectal
Hydrocortisone rectal is a prescription cream or suppository used to treat and reduce inflammation of the colon and rectum caused by ulcerative colitis (UC). Common side effects of hydrocortisone rectal include burning, dryness, follicle inflammation (folliculitis), reduced pigmentation (hypopigmentation), itching, pain, rectal bleeding, and secondary infection. Do not take if you have systemic fungal infections because symptoms can be exacerbated. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
IBS vs. IBD: Differences and Similarities
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) are both problems with the digestive tract (gastrointestinal or GI tract), but they are not the same disease. Check out the center below for more medical references on IBS and IBD, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Diet Plan
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a name for a group of diseases in which there is inflammation of the digestive tract (gastrointestinal tract). Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) are the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease. While there is no specific recommended diet for a person with IBD, doctors and specialists recommend a low-residue (low fiber) diet for people with inflammatory bowel disease. Nutritionists, registered dieticians, and other health-care professionals can recommend specific foods, create meal plans, and recommend vitamins and other nutritional supplements.
Foods to avoid with IBD- Examples of foods to avoid that may trigger symptoms include if you have IBD include products alcohol, diary products, fatty, fried, and spicy foods, beans, and creamy sauces.
Foods to eat with IBD- Examples of a low-residue (low-fiber) diet that may help relieve symptoms after a flares of the disease are plain cereals, canned fruit, rice, oatmeal, and bananas.
IBD Slideshow
What is inflammatory bowel disease? IBD can include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Learn more about testing, treatments, and the home care needed to manage inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal complications of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis differ because of the characteristically dissimilar behaviors of the intestinal inflammation in these two diseases.
Is Crohn's Disease Contagious?
Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is characterized by symptoms and signs that include diarrhea, fever, weight loss, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Though Crohn's disease is not contagious it can spread throughout a person's gastrointestinal tract. An increase in the above symptoms and signs warrants a visit to a doctor's office.
What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone with Crohn's Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the gut (digestive tract).Crohn’s disease belongs to a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With appropriate management, patients with Crohn’s disease may expect a normal life expectancy and a good quality of life.
What Are the Five Types of Crohn's Disease?
The five types of Crohn's disease are ileocolitis, ileitis, gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease, jejunoileitis, Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis. Each have different characteristic symptoms and signs.
What Is the Difference Between IBD and IBS?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are diseases of the intestine. Both the diseases share common symptoms such as fatigue, distressing bowel movements, tummy pain, and the need to pass motions right away.