Crohn's disease

Alternative Names

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on what part of the gastrointestinal tract is affected. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can come and go with periods of flare-ups.

The main symptoms of Crohn's disease are:

• Crampy abdominal (belly area) pain
• Persistent, watery diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue

Other symptoms may include:

• Rectal bleeding and bloody stools
• Loss of appetite
• Unintentional weight loss
• Constipation
• Abdominal fullness and gas
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Foul-smelling stools
• Tenesmus (pain with passing stool)
• Fistulas (usually around the rectal area, may cause draining of pus, mucus, or stools)
• Liver inflammation
• Joint pain
• Skin rash
• Swollen gums
• Eye inflammation
• Kidney stones
• Clotting problems (deep vein thrombosis)

Exams and Tests

A physical examination may reveal an abdominal mass or tenderness, skin rash, swollen joints or mouth ulcers. The doctor may use a stethoscope to listen to the belly area. Abdominal sounds (borborygmus, a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine) may be heard.

Tests to diagnose Crohn's disease include:

• Endoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy with small bowel biopsy
• Small bowel x-ray series
• Barium enema
• Upper GI series
• Stool guaiac test

A stool culture may be done to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Fecal fat
• Liver function tests
• Albumin

References

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Treatment For Crohn's Disease. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; February 27, 2007: Report P07-30.

Sandborn WJ, Hanauer SB, Rutgeerts PJ, et al. Adalimumab for Maintenance Treatment of Crohn's Disease: Results of the CLASSIC II Trial. Gut. 2007 Feb 13 [Epub ahead of print].

Hawk ET, Levin B. Colorectal cancer prevention. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:378-388.