Crohn's disease is a disease that can affect a range of different areas of the digestive tract and consequently, symptoms can vary significantly. In spite of the diverse nature of Crohn's, most accept that the following symptoms occur in the vast majority of cases:
- Diarrhea (some people report blood although this is not always the case)
- Abdominal pain, discomfort or tenderness in the intestinal region. This is usually more pronounces in the right side.
- Weight loss in adults. In children this may translate into stunted growth.
- Loss of energy or tiredness
- Fever
- Tenderness or sores around the anus. These sore tend to discharge pus and can be the first sign of Crohn's in some patients (for more on symptoms visit http://www.1crohns.com)
When considering symptoms the key issue to remember is that Crohn's disease is diverse in both the location that it can appear and also the severity of the disease. (http://www.crohns247.com) Other symptoms that do not directly involve the intestines may include:
- A sore mouth that may be the result of ulcers on the tongue or on the inside of the cheek
- Pain or inflammation of the eyes, which is referred to as uveitis
- Pain, discomfort, inflammation or swelling at joints, not dissimilar to the symptoms of arthritis
- Sore, red lumps on the skin (erythema nodosum)
Crohn's disease is a particularly severe disease that can result in serious complications requiring surgery. Self diagnosis should never be undertaken and the information provided at http://www.1crohnsdisease.com is not intended to replace consultation with a medical professional. In cases of acute abdominal pain and prolonged bleeding, emergency medical treatment should be immediately sought.