Home  Crohn's disease Facts and figures Course
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Course - Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition. This means that you have it for a long time, although you may have periods of months when you do not have any symptoms at all (remission).
- In mild forms of the disease, small sores (ulcers) occur in the inner surface of the gastrointestinal wall. These ulcers may bleed.
- In more serious conditions, these sores are deeper and large ulcers can form on the inner surface of the digestive system. These ulcers may form scars on healing, which will make the part of the area affected stiffer and may produce narrowing of the tract. Blockage of the digestive system may occur.
- If the wound actually makes a hole in the digestive system, the content of the gut may pass into surrounding tissues, causing infection and fever.
- Patients with Crohn’s disease may develop fistulas. This is where parts of the diseased digestive system fuse (or join with) other parts of the body, eg the vagina, skin surface or to other parts of the bowel. Substances in the gut may then pass into the other part of the body.
- Patients with serious Crohn’s disease may need surgery to remove part of the digestive system.
- People who suffer from Crohn’s disease may not get enough food into the body due to poor absorption of food.
- Other complications include arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (a disease of bone which includes back pain), kidney and liver disease, and skin and eye disorders.
- There may be an increased risk of cancer of the small and large intestines in patients with a long history of Crohn’s disease.
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