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The first symptoms of Crohn's disease can take months or years to appear, because it depends on the extent of the inflammation. In addition, some people may experience one or more symptoms and are not suspicious of Crohn's disease, as the symptoms can be confused with other diseases.
One of the most characteristic symptoms of Crohn's disease is the urgent need to defecate, with severe diarrhea that may contain mucus or blood, and is usually accompanied by headache and fever below 38º C. If you think you may have this disease , select your symptoms and find out what the chances are:
- 1. Periods of severe diarrhea with mucus or blood No Yes
- 2. Urgent desire to defecate, especially after eating No Yes
- 3. Frequent abdominal cramps No Yes
- 4. Nausea or vomiting No Yes
- 5. Loss of appetite and weight loss No Yes
- 6. Persistent low fever (between 37.5º and 38º) No Yes
- 7. Lesions in the anal area, such as hemorrhoids or fissures No Yes
- 8. Frequent tiredness or muscle pain No Yes
In addition, in some cases, this disease can also affect the eyes, leaving them inflamed, red and sensitive to light, and may also increase the risk of colon cancer.
Crohn's disease is a chronic disorder of the digestive system characterized by chronic inflammation of the lining of the intestine, which leads to the appearance of the characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease. This disorder has no cure, but it has treatment, which aims to relieve symptoms, and should be done according to the guidance of the gastroenterologist and nutritionist. Learn more about Crohn's disease.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The initial diagnosis of Crohn's disease should be made by the gastroenterologist or general practitioner by analyzing the signs and symptoms presented by the person, in addition to assessing the family and health history. In addition, during the consultation, physical examination may also be performed and laboratory tests may be requested.
To confirm the diagnosis of verifying the severity of the disease, imaging tests may be requested, with colonoscopy being mainly indicated, which is an examination that allows the observation of the intestinal walls, identifying signs of inflammation. During colonoscopy, it is common for the doctor to take a small sample from the intestinal wall in order to have a biopsy and the diagnosis can be confirmed. Understand how colonoscopy is performed.
In addition to colonoscopy, high endoscopy can also be performed, when there are signs and symptoms that indicate inflammation of the upper intestine, X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, MRI and CT scan, being mainly indicated to help identify fistulas and other intestinal changes.
How the treatment is done
Crohn's disease has no cure, so changes in eating habits are very important in order to reduce symptoms, since certain foods can cause or worsen the crises of the disease. Thus, it is recommended to control the amount of fiber ingested, reduce the amount of fat and limit the consumption of milk products. In addition, it is very important to bet on daily hydration in order to avoid dehydration. See how to adapt your diet to relieve symptoms.
During crises, the doctor may also recommend taking some anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as medicines that help control diarrhea. In the most severe cases of the disease, surgical intervention may be indicated in order to remove affected and damaged portions of the intestine that may be causing the symptoms.