Complications of Crohn’s Disease
Crohn's Disease
Crohn’s disease is a disorder that can change the lifestyle of anybody inflicted by it. It causes an inflammation of the digestive tract, anywhere from the mouth to the anus, and usually affects the lower part of the small intestine. It is still unknown about what causes Crohn’s disease, but there have been several theories. One theory is that the body’s immune system is out of whack, labeling healthy things as foreign and dangerous. Unfortunately, scientists still can not determine whether the abnormal immune system is a cause or result of Crohn’s disease infections.
Swelling can cause pain and diarrhea, as it is an inflammatory bowel disease infection. These disease infections cause swelling in the intestines. Crohn’s disease is very similar to other inflammatory bowel disease infections and, therefore, can be tough to diagnose.
While Crohn’s disease affects the genders equally, it is not uncommon to see it run through the family, especially if the family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease infections. It is estimated that 20 percent of those with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with an inflammatory bowel disease infection, often a sibling or member of the nuclear family. It is often diagnosed in people who are between the ages of 20 to 30. Jewish people are also more at risk for developing Crohn’s disease, while African Americans are at decreased risk.
Common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain in the lower right area and diarrhea. Subsequent symptoms include weight loss, arthritis, skin problems, fever, and rectal bleeding. There are additional symptoms that are depending on the individual and severity of the disease infections.
There are a few complications that are often associated with Crohn’s disease. Each of these complications can be detrimental to the overall health and comfort of the infected. These complications are listed below:
1. Common Complications
There are many complications associated with Crohn’s disease, the most common of which is the blockage of the intestine. This blockage happens due to the thickening of the intestinal wall with swelling.
In addition, Crohn’s disease may cause sores that affect areas in surrounding tissues in areas around the sexual organs and rectum. If these sores, or fistulas, become infected, they may require medication or even surgery. The disease infection may also cause fissures, or small tears in the lining of the mucous membrane of the anus.
2. Nutritional Complications
As Crohn’s disease affects the intestines, is it common to experience nutritional complications. The individual may experience protein, calorie, and vitamin deficiencies. This may be due to the inadequate dietary intake that an individual may experience due to the disease infection’s association with food. Mal-absorption may also be a problem, as well as intestinal loss of protein.
3. Other complications
The disease infection may also create other complications. Such complications include arthritis, skins problems, or inflammation in the eyes or mouth. Kidney stones or gallstones may also appear due to disease infections. These other complications may be resolved through the treatment of the digestive system, but may require separate treatment as well.