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Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease. CD can affect any portion of the intestine from the mouth to the anus. It can cause inflammation inside the intestine, but can also cause problems in other parts of the body.
The joints are often affected. A form of arthritis develops called enteropathic arthritis. Polyarthritis (involving more than one joint) or sacroiliitis (arthritis of the lower spine and pelvis) occurs in about 25 per cent of patients with CD. In rare cases, these conditions can lead to ankylosing spondylitis of the spine.
Whether one or more joint is affected, the enteropathic arthritis seems to come and go with the disease process. Symptoms of joint pain and swelling may occur 1 to 2 weeks before bowel symptoms start. With proper medical treatment of the CD, there is no permanent joint deformity.
Pain in the low back and hip are also possible with CD. The pain is referred from inflammation of the intestines. The exact mechanism isn't clear but it appears that complex interactions between the nervous system and the immune system may be the trigger.
Your daughter should contact the physician who is treating her CD and let him or know of these new symptoms. Early identification of the problem and early treatment can make a difference.
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