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Crohn’s disease inflames the intestines, causing pain, mucus production, and bloody or pus-filled stools. It can go into remission but often requires surgery to remove diseased tissue. People with Crohn’s disease may also experience skin inflammation, allergies, and a suppressed immune system. Surgery may worsen the disease’s course.
Crohn’s disease is a condition that inflames the intestines. It is sometimes called inflammatory colitis or ulcerative colitis. It tends to first appear in people between the ages of 16 and 21, although some children may also show early symptoms of Crohn’s disease. As the disease progresses, a number of symptoms emerge. The main symptom is the deterioration and death of intestinal tissue, often requiring surgery to resect the intestine.
People may notice pain in the intestinal region and mucus production, bloody or pus-filled stools. These symptoms usually indicate that Crohn’s disease affects the small intestine. Areas of diseased bowel may be present and may alternate with healthy areas of bowel. Severe enough disease indicates surgery to remove diseased tissue.
Crohn’s disease can go into remission for periods of time. People may be symptom-free for a while, and then start experiencing intestinal tissue deterioration again. Medications can help prolong periods of remission, but ultimately they can’t guarantee that Crohn’s disease won’t relapse. Virtually all people with Crohn’s disease undergo at least one surgery, and many have multiple surgeries to address the disease in their lifetime.
When Crohn’s disease is active, you may also notice some less common symptoms.
The skin around the anus can become inflamed, irritated and prone to developing hemorrhoids. Also, people may develop red to blue or purple skin tags around the anus. These can cause irritation and discomfort.
Many people with Crohn’s disease also seem more prone to food and pollen allergies and may also have asthma. Before Crohn’s disease is active, people with it may have a history of mouth injuries, arthritis, and eye infections. Additionally, they may exhibit slight finger clubbing, which causes the fingertips to appear disproportionately larger than the size of the finger.
The blood test may also show that the liver doesn’t function the same way as in those without Crohn’s disease. Additionally, many have an inferior immune response to common viruses. They are more susceptible to infections due to their suppressed immune systems. Those with Crohn’s disease are also more likely to develop cancer in the bowel, a relatively rare cancer for those without the condition.
Some studies suggest that surgery may actually exacerbate and cause a more complicated course of Crohn’s disease. Many find that they actually experience worse symptoms after their first bowel surgery. It is difficult to say whether this is due to the disease itself getting worse, necessitating surgery, or whether the surgery itself complicates the disease.
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