Crohn Disease (cont.)

1. Crohn's Disease Slideshow
2. Irritable Bowel Disease Slideshow
3. Crohn's Disease Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ

Crohn's disease is intermittent. This means that the inflammation occurs (flares) without warning and then goes away (goes into remission) over time. It is impossible to predict when the condition will flare, how long the flare will last, and when it will flare again. Most people feel pretty well when their disease is not active.

The most common symptoms in Crohn's disease are those related to the inflammatory damage to the digestive tract.

1. Diarrhea: Waxes and wanes; stool may contain mucus, blood, or pus
2. Pain in the abdomen: Crampy or steady; in the right lower part of the abdomen or around the belly button; often relieved temporarily by having a bowel movement
3. Bloating after eating: Less common, usually seen in cases of bowel obstruction
4. Constipation Usually seen in cases of bowel obstruction
5. Pain or bleeding with bowel movement
6. Infection of the urinary tract or vagina: Suggests a fistula from the intestinal tract

General symptoms occur in some but not all cases.

• Low-grade fevers
• Weight loss
• Fatigue

Other symptoms of Crohn's disease may be attributable to related medical conditions affecting the skin, joints, mouth, eyes, liver, and bile ducts.

The exact cause of Crohn's disease remains unknown.

• Current theories suggest that genetics, environment, diet, blood vessel abnormalities, and/or even psychosocial factors cause Crohn's disease.
• Probably the most popular theory is that Crohn's disease is caused by the immune system overreacting to infection by a virus or bacterium.
• Crohn's disease apparently is not caused by emotional distress.
• Crohn's disease definitely runs in families. People who have Crohn's disease may have an inherited predisposition to abnormal immunologic response to one or more provoking factors.

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