Crohn’s Disease
Crohn's disease is a severe, chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding in the digestive tract.
It often affects the end portion of the small intestine, called the ileum. However, Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.
The cause of Crohn's disease is not known, but, like other inflammatory bowel diseases, it seems to run in some families.
Some research links Crohn’s disease to an overactive and inappropriate immune response to the bacteria that normally reside in the intestine, causing damage to the intestines.
Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
Common symptoms of Crohn's disease include:
- diarrhea
- abdominal cramps and pain
- rectal bleeding
- anemia
- weight loss
- fatigue, weakness
- nausea
- fever
- mouth sores
- sores, abscesses in the anal area