Crohn's Disease Symptoms: How Inflammatory Bowel Disease Manifests

Crohn’s Disease Explained: Digestive Symptoms & Health Risks

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of tissue within the digestive tract. This can lead to belly pain, diarrhoea, tiredness, weight loss, and malnutrition. In this medical condition, inflammation can lead to various regions of the gastrointestinal tract. It most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (colon), but it can occur anywhere in the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. 

The inflammation typically progresses to the deeper layers of the bowel, is painful, and can lead to life-threatening or severe complications. Although there's currently no cure for Crohn's disease, several therapies are available that can significantly ease symptoms and promote long-term remission. 

Thus, it is crucial to know the Crohn's disease symptoms in order to facilitate early diagnosis and better treatment outcomes. 

Keep reading for detailed insight!

What are the Crohn's Disease Symptoms?

The signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease vary widely depending on the area of the gastrointestinal tract affected. Although the disease may appear anywhere in the digestive system, it tends to cause inflammation of the small intestine and colon. 

Additionally, the symptoms may range from benign to severe and even life-threatening. You may experience flare-ups as well as periods when you feel fine—this is known as remission.

Common Crohn's Disease Symptoms

The type of symptoms can vary depending on the location of inflammation. For example, colonic disease may cause more obvious bloody diarrhea and urgency, while small intestine disease may cause more significant cramping, malnutrition, and weight loss. The severity of disease is independent of location and is measured by the impact on the patient, objective inflammatory markers, and complications. Here are the symptoms to look out for:

• Cramping and pain in the belly
• Bloody stool
• Diarrhoea
• Discharge from an inflamed, sore bump around the anus
• Bowel urgency
• Squeaky bowels (he feeling of incomplete emptying after a bowel movement)
• Loss of appetite and weight loss (if this happens very quickly, talk to your doctor)
• Constipation, which can cause intestinal blockage

Silent Crohn's Disease Symptoms

Some individuals may have 'silent' or subclinical Crohn's disease, where inflammation is present but causes minimal or no noticeable symptoms. This can sometimes lead to a delayed diagnosis until a complication like an obstruction or fistula occurs. If silent symptoms occur first, you could have serious problems later, including:

• Intestinal blockage
• Infections or abscesses
• Repeated fever or pain
• Fistulas (abnormal connections between intestines or organs)
• Small bowel or colon cancer
• Hospitalisation or surgery risks

Other Physical Symptoms of Crohn's Disease

Beyond digestive issues, Crohn’s can also affect overall health. These Crohn’s disease symptoms in females and males may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever (less frequent, but worth talking to your doctor about)
• Aphthous ulcers (canker sores) or other oral lesions 
• Night sweats
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Anaemia
• Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)

Depending on your situation, you may only have one of these or several of them. Symptoms of Crohn's disease can range from very mild to severely disabling.

What are the Complications of Crohn's Disease?

Complications of Crohn's may result in more vigorous therapy or surgery. They include:

• Abscesses: Infected, pus-filled pools in the abdomen or the intestinal lining.
• Anal Fissures: Small tears inside the anus, causing itching, bleeding, and pain.
• Fistulas: Tunnel-like openings that connect body parts that shouldn’t be connected—such as between the rectum and the skin outside the anus.
• Intestinal Obstructions: Full or partial closure caused by scarring or narrowing.
• Malnutrition: Failure to digest nutrients effectively, compounded by poor dieting at flare-ups.
• Anaemia: Low red cell counts in the blood. Approximately one in every three individuals with Crohn's suffers from anaemia.

Crohn's disease also increases the risk of cancer in the affected areas of the intestine (e.g., colorectal cancer if the colon is involved). Furthermore, it significantly increases the risk of blood clots, particularly during periods of active disease. 

What are the Causes of Crohn's Disease?

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease remains unclear. Some researchers believe it stems from an abnormal immune system response, though it’s not certain whether this is the cause or a result of the disease.

Several factors increase the likelihood of Crohn’s disease inflammation, including:

• Genetic predisposition
• One's immune response
• Environmental factors such as smoking
• Infections with bacteria or viruses

How is Crohn's Disease Diagnosed?

Here is an overview of the diagnosis process for Crohn's disease:

• The majority of individuals who end up with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease first see a physician for ongoing diarrhoea, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss. 
• To diagnose the condition, your physician may refer you to a gastroenterologist—a doctor specialising in treating gastrointestinal tract diseases.
• The physician will ask you about your medical and family history, especially about any Crohn's disease symptoms that you may have. 
• A physical examination will assess tenderness, swelling, or redness in the abdomen. 
• Your physician will also perform some tests to exclude other causes before making an unequivocal diagnosis.

Lab Tests

Lab tests detect microscopic signs of Crohn's disease in body fluids or tissues. They generally include:

1.Blood Tests: Blood work is performed to measure cell counts and chemical markers. An elevated white blood cell count can indicate infection or inflammation, and decreased red blood cell counts can indicate anaemia—a common condition in Crohn's disease. High levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood can also be a sign of active inflammation.

2.Stool Test: It is performed to exclude parasite or toxic bacterial infections. A test like the calprotectin faecal test indicates the level of gut inflammation.

Imaging Procedures

Your doctor may order imaging procedures to visually examine the condition of your digestive system:

1.CT Scan: This X-ray imaging test produces cross-sectional images of your intestines and sections where there is inflammation. A CT enterography can be recommended, which uses an injection of a special fluid to further outline the small intestine on images.

2.MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging forms images with high definition through magnets and radio waves. It is particularly effective in detecting fistulas close to the anus or the small intestine. MRI enterography sometimes involves having the individual drink a contrast fluid for better imaging.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy procedures involve a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera to examine the digestive tract and record a real-time video of any inflammation.

Procedures are often performed under sedation. They can be of the following types:

1. Colonoscopy

A flexible tube is put through the rectum to examine the entire colon and terminal ileum (lower small intestine). While undergoing this test, physicians can take tissue samples (biopsies) to see if there are white blood cells, which are prevalent in Crohn's disease symptoms.

2. Upper Endoscopy

This involves guiding the endoscope through your mouth, throat, and oesophagus to examine the upper gastrointestinal tract up to the start of the small intestine.

3. Capsule Endoscopy

You’ll swallow a small capsule containing a miniature camera and light source. As it passes through your digestive tract, it takes thousands of pictures for review by your healthcare team.

Crohn's disease symptoms can appear abruptly and may have a significant effect on daily functioning. Discuss with your physician the activities you can undertake in advance to manage the disease most optimally. With proper medication and dietary modification, many can keep symptoms at bay, prevent complications, and enjoy an active life.