Crohn’s Disease Overview: Risk Factors and Treatment

Crohn’s Disease Overview: Risk Factors and Treatment

Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness that causes ulcer-like sores in your digestive tract that our NYC Crohn’s disease specialists diagnoses and treats daily. Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease or IBD, usually affects the lining of your large or small intestine. When it strikes, it spreads deep into the tissue. This medical condition impedes your body’s ability to properly digest food and can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and malnutrition. If you have symptoms that could be consistent with Crohn’s disease or have already been diagnosed, you should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by a physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan and to exclude a more serious or urgent condition.

Where Crohn’s Disease Can Attack

Crohn’s disease can attack anywhere within your digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus, making it often difficult to find and treat. In addition, the pain associated with Crohn’s disease can be debilitating. If left untreated, it can lead to deadly complications.

Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease affects different intestinal spots in different people. Common symptoms include:

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is one of the primary symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Blood in Your Stool

Blood in the stool is another common symptom.

Cramping

Cramping in the abdominal area can occur due to inflammation.

Loss of Appetite

Loss of appetite is often associated with Crohn’s disease.

Ulcers, Even in Your Mouth

Ulcers can develop in the mouth as part of the disease.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Unexplained weight loss may happen as a result of malabsorption of nutrients.

Diarrhea, Sometimes Repeatedly

Repeated episodes of diarrhea can occur with Crohn’s disease.

Less Common Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease

Less common symptoms include:

  • Blocked bowels
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Skin problems
  • Inflamed liver
  • Even arthritis

More info: https://www.manhattangastroenterology.com/conditions/crohns-disease/