22-year-old woman has had recurrent episodes of diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain,

Question

22-year-old woman has had recurrent episodes of diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, and slight fever over the last 2 years. At first the episodes, which usually last 1 or 2 weeks, were several months apart, but recently they have occurred more frequently. Other symptoms have included mild joint pain and sometimes red skin lesions. On at least one occasion, her stool has been guaiac-positive, indicating the presence of occult blood.Colonoscopy reveals several sharply delineated areas with thickening of the bowel wall and mucosal ulceration. Areas adjacent to these lesions appear normal. Biopsies of the affected areas show full-thickness inflammation of the bowel wall and several non-caseating granulomas. What is the most likely diagnosis? What are the common complications of this disease?

Explanation / Answer

Recurrent diarrhea and chronic abdominal pain with slight fever and joint pains can be diagnosed as Crohn's disease. The diarrhea and abdominal pain persistently are symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Joint pains, red skin lesions and colonoscopy revealing thickening of intestinal walls and biopsy showing non-caseating granulomas can be characterized as Crohn's disease. The gastrointestinal immune actions are aggravated and hence, severe abdominal cramps and skin lesions might have appeared and pathogenesis of this condition can be referred to autoimmune disorders.

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