Crohns Disease
Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the immune system, which usually fights infection, attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing it to bleed and develop ulcers.
“Crohn’s disease is typically disruptive to people’s lives,” says Ernest DiGiovanni, DO, a gastroenterologist with Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, Florida. “It’s usually classified as mild-to-moderate or moderate-to-severe. A person can have excruciating pain or so many bowel movements a day that they can’t leave the house. It can be disruptive for sure.”
Causes and symptoms of Crohn’s disease
Infection, such as a viral or bacterial illness, or exposure to another environmental trigger could cause those with a genetically higher risk for Crohn’s to develop the condition.
The most common features of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. Depending on where in the body the Crohn’s affects, other symptoms could include:- Mouth sores
- Eye inflammation
- Problems of the anus, including tears, ulcers, fistulas, infection and narrowing
People with Crohn’s may also have joint inflammation or arthritis, particularly in their larger joints, which tends to worsen during IBD flare-ups.