Relapse of Crohn’s disease

Introduction: What is a relapse in Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that usually affects young adults and children. Its cause is not entirely clear, although various factors are discussed in relation to the development of Crohn’s disease. The life expectancy of patients with Crohn’s disease is not significantly reduced with individually optimized therapy.

Crohn’s disease occurs in relapses, between which patients also experience periods in which they do not suffer from symptoms of the disease. But how exactly is a relapse defined and what constitutes such a relapse? A relapse in Crohn’s disease manifests itself through the occurrence of various symptoms such as diarrhea or pain in the abdominal region.

Symptoms that do not affect the gastrointestinal tract, so-called extraintestinal symptoms, are also typical of a relapse of Crohn’s disease. These include, for example, joint pain in the context of arthritis or eye complaints, for example due to inflammation. Changes in the blood can also be detected during a relapse.

An increased inflammatory activity can be observed. The severity of the symptoms and the inflammatory activity varies from patient to patient. The duration of an episode also varies greatly.

It can last from several days to several weeks. If the symptoms persist for more than half a year, the disease is called chronic active. It is not possible to predict when an episode will occur and how long it will last. During their lifetime, affected persons experience intervals in which they are free of symptoms and relapses that can be very restrictive in everyday life.

Indications of a relapse in Crohn’s disease

A strict definition of the signs of a relapse is not possible because the disease has a very individual course. There are no fixed signs that can predict that a relapse will occur. Those affected usually recognize signs of a relapse by changes in their stool habits such as diarrhea.

Abdominal pain, which is mainly located in the right lower abdomen, can also be a sign of a relapse. Weakness, fatigue and exhaustion are also possible signs of a relapse. In addition to the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract, other symptoms can also occur.

These include joint pain and inflammation around the eyes. These include, for example, inflammation of the middle skin of the eye, so-called uveitis. Fever or a slightly increased temperature are also typical. In addition, skin changes, aphthae in the oral mucosa and fistulas in the anal region may occur. Loss of appetite and weight loss are also possible signs of a relapse of Crohn’s disease.