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vomiting, or weight loss. Crohn's disease can also cause complications
outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis,
and inflammation of the eye. The
precise cause of Crohn's disease is not known. The disease
occurs when the immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract; for
this reason, Crohn's disease is considered an autoimmune disease.
This autoimmune activity
produces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. For
this reason, Crohn's disease is classified as an
inflammatory bowel disease.
Like many
other autoimmune diseases, Crohn's disease is believed to be
genetically linked. The highest risk occurs individuals with
siblings who have the disease. Males and females are equally
affected. Smokers are three times more likely to develop
Crohn's disease
Symptoms:
Endoscopy image of colon
showing serpiginous ulcer, a classic finding in Crohn's
disease.
Many people with Crohn's disease have symptoms for years
prior to the diagnosis. The usual onset is between 15 and 30
years of age but can occur at any age. Because of the patchy
nature of the gastrointestinal disease and the depth of
tissue involvement, initial symptoms can be more vague than
with ulcerative colitis. People with Crohn's disease will go
through periods of flare-ups and remission
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Abdominal pain may be the initial symptom of Crohn's
disease. The pain is commonly cramp-like and may be relieved
by defecation. It is often accompanied by diarrhea, which
may or may not be bloody, though diarrhea is not uncommon
especially in those who have had surgery. People who have
had surgery or multiple surgeries often end up with short
bowel syndrome of the gastrointestinal tract. The nature of
the diarrhea in Crohn's disease depends on the part of the
small intestine or colon that is involved. Ileitis typically
results in large-volume watery feces. Colitis may result in
a smaller volume of feces of higher frequency.
Fecal consistency may range from solid to watery. In severe
cases, an individual may have more than 20 bowel movements
per day and may need to awaken at night to defecate. Visible
bleeding in the feces is less common in Crohn's disease than
in ulcerative colitis, but may be seen in the setting of
Crohn's colitis. Bloody bowel movements are typically
intermittent, and may be bright or dark red in colour. In
the setting of severe Crohn's colitis, bleeding may be
copious. Flatulence and bloating may also add to the
intestinal discomfort.
Symptoms caused by intestinal stenosis are also common in
Crohn's disease. Abdominal pain is often most severe in
areas of the bowel with stenoses. In the setting of severe
stenosis, vomiting and nausea may indicate the beginnings of
small bowel obstruction. Crohn's disease may also be
associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a type of
inflammation of the bile ducts.
Perianal discomfort may also be prominent in Crohn's
disease. Itchiness or pain around the anus may be suggestive
of inflammation, fistulization or abscess around the anal
area or anal fissure. Perianal skin tags are also common in
Crohn's disease. Fecal incontinence may accompany peri-anal
Crohn's disease. At the opposite end of the gastrointestinal
tract, the mouth may be affected by non-healing sores (aphthous
ulcers). Rarely, the esophagus, and stomach may be involved
in Crohn's disease. These can cause symptoms including
difficulty swallowing (odynophagia), upper abdominal pain,
and vomiting.
Systemic symptomss
Crohn's disease, like many other chronic, inflammatory
diseases, can cause a variety of systemic symptoms. Among
children, growth failure is common. Many children are first
diagnosed with Crohn's disease based on inability to
maintain growth. As Crohn's disease may manifest at the time
of the growth spurt in puberty, up to 30% of children with
Crohn's disease may have retardation of growth. Fever may
also be present, though fevers greater than 38.5 ˚C (101.3
˚F) are uncommon unless there is a complication such as an
abscess.Among older individuals, Crohn's disease may
manifest as weight loss. This is usually related to
decreased food intake, since individuals with intestinal
symptoms from Crohn's disease often feel better when they do
not eat and might lose their appetite. People with extensive
small intestine disease may also have malabsorption of
carbohydrates or lipids, which can further exacerbate weight
loss.
Complications
Crohn's disease can lead to several mechanical complications
within the intestines, including obstruction, fistulae, and
abscesses. Obstruction typically occurs from strictures or
adhesions which narrow the lumen, blocking the passage of
the intestinal contents. Crohn's disease also increases the
risk of cancer in the area of inflammation. For example,
individuals with Crohn's disease involving the small bowel
are at higher risk for small intestinal cancer. Similarly,
people with Crohn's colitis have a relative risk of 5.6 for
developing colon cancer. Screening for colon cancer with
colonoscopy is recommended for anyone who has had Crohn's
colitis for eight years, or more.
Homoeopathic approach:
The Homoeopathic system offers excellent results in crohns
disease. It at
Brings About Considerable Relief of Symptoms:
Homoeopathic medicines produce relief in symptomatology like
diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, loss of appetite, fistulae
and abscess.
Controlling and Curing the underlying disease process:
Carefully selected deep acting constitutional homoeopathic
medicines help in controlling the disease process whereby no
further deterioration can occur. In short it helps by
halting the disease process and curing the
Homoeopathic treatment is strongly suggested. As timely
administration of homoeopathic medicines prevents further
progression of disease.
Our Team of doctors at DRSS provides special consultation
services in such cases. Patients are advised to go in for
consultation so as there disease state can be reviewed and
the mode of treatment can be decided.
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