Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune condition. It occurs when a person’s immune system wrongly targets the gut, causing inflammation in the region. This leads to several symptoms, such as rectal bleeding and painful bowels, the severity of which ranges from mild to severe. While Crohn’s disease has no cure, doctors recommend treatments to manage it to a great extent. Those who develop the symptoms should visit a healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease results in abdominal pain and diarrhea, but these are not the only symptoms. One might also develop the following:

Fever
Fatigue
Watery, loose, or frequent bowels
Loss of appetite
Rectal bleeding
Mucus in stools
Feeling that one’s bowels are not empty after a bowel movement
Need to urinate frequently
Leakage around the anus

Women may experience some additional symptoms or have different symptoms. A few examples include anemia, declined fertility, weakened bones, irregular periods, osteoporosis, and painful periods. Similarly, children with the condition may experience delayed growth.

Symptoms in other body parts
Crohn’s disease can also affect other body areas and lead to the following signs:

Itching and redness in the eyes
Soreness in the mouth
Pain and swelling in the joints
Hepatitis affecting the liver
Kidney stones
Osteoporosis or bone problems
Lesions and bumps on the skin

One may start experiencing these symptoms before the disease flares up or before the bowel symptoms start. These signs may also sometimes arise because of the treatments used to manage the condition. 

As the condition aggravates, one may experience symptoms like a weak pulse, vomiting, faintness, severe belly ache, and shaking chills. That’s why consulting a doctor as early as possible is important.

Treatments for Crohn’s disease
As mentioned, this health condition has no cure. Still, it can be managed with several treatment strategies, such as food changes, lifestyle adjustments, and prescription remedies. In severe cases, doctors may also recommend surgery. Doctors develop a management plan depending on one’s response to previous treatments, existing complications, the condition’s severity, and the inflammation’s location.

The idea behind treatment is to relieve the symptoms and help the patient lead a better quality of life. Treatment can also help reduce remission. Some people go on for years or months sans any symptoms. These are the remission periods. But symptoms mostly flare up again.

Lifestyle changes
Crohn’s disease often leaves one feeling helpless. In such a situation, changes in what one eats and lifestyle modifications can help with symptom management. Experts ask patients to maintain a food journal to know their triggers and avoid certain foods, like dairy. They also recommend eating smaller portions, opting for probiotics to boost good gut bacteria, and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid strain on the GI tract. Besides these measures, patients must avoid stress (as it can trigger flare-ups), indulge in physical activity, try breathing and relaxation techniques, and practice meditation.

Alternative therapies
Biofeedback, acupuncture, and hypnosis are some alternative treatments that can bring relief. Patients can consult a healthcare professional to know whether these will work for them.

Other measures
In some cases, doctors may recommend external sources of iron and other nutrients, especially if a large part of the gut is affected. The expert may administer these directly into the body if needed.

Surgery
If the treatments and lifestyle changes do not help, one’s gastroenterologist may recommend surgery. The patient will only be advised of this option if the benefits outweigh the risks. Surgery can help manage the symptoms and prevent the condition from returning. In one particular type of surgery, the doctor removes the severely affected gut section. They make incisions above and below the affected part to remove it. Depending on one’s condition, the doctor may recommend surgical procedures like proctocolectomy, ileostomy, subtotal colectomy, or small bowel resection. These can help treat complications like abscesses, strictures, and fistulas.

When to see a doctor?
One should speak to a healthcare professional if they experience prolonged changes in bowel movements. A doctor’s consultation is also important if individuals have:

Fever without a cause
Fever that continues for over a few days
Chronic diarrhea that does not heal
Nausea
Vomiting
Blood in the stool

One can manage the symptoms of Crohn’s disease with the right care strategies and treatments and prevent them from affecting their quality of life. But it is important to note that the life expectancy of people with this disease may be slightly lower because it increases the risk of biliary tract problems, liver issues, genitourinary tract infections, and other complications.