Crohn's disease symptoms and causes

Symptoms and potential complications of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease symptoms may range from mild to severe and can vary widely from person to person.¹ Most people experience periods when they have flare ups, followed by episodes of remission when the symptoms decrease or even disappear.¹ Commonly reported symptoms include the following:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• Fever
• Fatigue

Rectal bleeding and loss of appetite may also occur. In addition to the effects on the gastrointestinal tract, Crohn's disease can also affect other areas of the body such as the joints, eyes, skin, and liver.¹

Along with painful symptoms, Crohn's disease can lead to complications, including an obstruction of the intestine due to swelling and the formation of scar tissue.²

Other potential complications of Crohn's disease include the development of fissures (small cuts or tears in the anal canal), abscesses (localized infection or collection of pus), and fistulas (an abnormal tunnel that forms between two structures of the body).¹^,²

Causes and risk factors of Crohn's disease

Not much is known about what causes Crohn's disease. What is known is that it is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract that appears to be a result of a complex interaction of factors including:³

• Inherited genes
• The immune system
• Environmental factors

Researchers believe that once a person's immune system is "turned on" it doesn't know how to "turn off" at the right time causing inflammation that damages the intestines. This results in the pain and other symptoms of Crohn's disease.¹

Though it can occur at any age, most people are diagnosed with Crohn's disease between the ages of 15 and 35.² Roughly 20% of people with Crohn's disease have a sibling, parent or child with some form of IBD.² Men and women are at equal risk, while people of European heritage are more likely to develop the disease.²