Crohn’s is an illness that affects the digestive system. From the mouth to the anus. It dramatically affects a patient’s life. It can stop growth in children and cause adults malnutrition and hunger.
It can also harm other organs of the body. It is an illness that could also spread to the eyes, joints, liver, skin, and even the brain.
The effects look like what would happen during an allergic reaction but for the bowels. Unlike an allergy attack (such as asthma), this does not go away quickly but can last for a long time. (Even for the rest of a patient’s life). This could start from the mouth, throat, stomach, go down to the gut and anus. But the most common form of this disease affects the lower parts of the small intestine and large intestine.
The most common form of this disease affects the lower parts of the small intestine and large intestine. The most common areas affected by Crohn’s disease are the last part of the small intestine and the colon. It is the last part of the small intestine, called the ileum, which is the most affected part of some patients. For others, it is the colon of the large intestine.
We can see Crohn’s disease when it is in a visible part of the body. In our case, the mouth. (When it is located in the mouth, it is diagnosed as Oral “lichen planus“).
Similar issues exist in our intestines with the same “look and feel.” There will be signs of inflammation like swelling. These affected parts will be darker in appearance because of higher amounts of blood being congested into them.
The inflammation often spreads into the deeper layers of the infected bowel parts. It can spread through the whole thickness of the bowel walls. In serious cases, the inflammation penetrates the bowel walls and spreads to other organs “touching” the affected areas. This causes ‘adhesions’, or the surfaces which touch begin to stick to one another. If this worsens, the inflammation can eventually puncture the affected bowels. This allows the contents of the bowel to leak outside to other parts of the bowel to other organs. An infection can happen and develop into an abscess. This is life-threatening.
Crohn’s disease can be both painful and debilitating, this may lead to dangerous complications. There will be symptoms like diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, pain, irregular toilet habits. The affliction can spread to other parts like sores in the mouth. As it worsens, blood will begin to appear in your stool (feces) due to ulcers in the bowels. Very painful sores develop near or around the anus. This is because the inflammation tunneled and formed drainage into the skin. All of these complications will result in reduced appetite and weight loss for you. So you will always feel tired, stressed, and depressed.
In addition to wreaking havoc on your digestive system, other issues caused includes:
- Arthritis
- Problems to the skin like bumps, redness, and blisters. These are the second most common type of complication.
- Eye problems including pain and inflammation.
- Hepatitis (liver inflammation).
- Long-term Impaired brain function because of complications from poor nutrition because of digestive problems.
- In children, it will stop their growth.
It will not be a good way to live your life and do your daily activities with a poorly managed Crohn’s. Unfortunately, many who suffer the illness end up this way.
