Intestinal and Extraintestinal Manifestations of Crohn’s Disease- A Crosssectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Crohn's disease is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, which remained neglected till 1980s. The clinical presentation of Crohn's disease vary considerably from subtle abdominal discomfort to bleeding per rectum. Factors contributing to this variability include the location of disease within the gastrointestinal tract, the intensity of inflammation and the presence of specific intestinal and extraintestinal complications. There is a rising incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease in India, which may be associated with numerous risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included consecutive patients with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease attending Government Medical College, Thrissur, from 1 st September, 2010, to 31 st January, 2012. Patient's demographic data, physical examination, laboratory and endoscopic findings were recorded and analysed. RESULTS Fifteen patients (males 6 and females 9) were registered with Crohn's, the age ranging from 17 yrs. to 73 yrs. The mean age of onset was 36 years with the male-female ratio as 1:1.5. Among the 15 patients, 80% had insidious onset of abdominal pain, 66.7% had loose stools as a presentation with streaky blood and mucus in stool, 27% had more than 4 episodes of loose stools per day and 93% had weight loss at presentation. CONCLUSION The mean age of onset of symptoms was found to be 36 years and a male:female ratio was 1:1.5. Crohn's disease may present with subtle symptoms to acute abdomen, mucus diarrhoea, blood in stools and abdominal pain are common presentations of Crohn's disease.