Short Bowel Syndrome and the After-Effects Of Crohn's Disease

Short bowel syndrome is often treated with nutritional supplements, changes in diet, intravenous feeding, and medicine to relieve symptoms.

When compared to Crohn’s Disease, you may notice the similarity in symptoms and wonder why someone would trade one disorder for the other, if both have the same effects. However, there is logic behind the reasoning.

Some of the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease are diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malnutrition, like short bowel syndrome; however, other side effects of the disease include bowel obstructions, fistulas, and excessive bleeding. While malnutrition and dehydration are serious concerns, they can be treated relatively easily with vitamin supplements and increased fluid intake. However, bowel obstructions, fistulas, and excessive bleeding may cause death in extreme cases and are not easily treated. Bowel obstructions often stop nutrient absorption and causes vomiting. Fistulas sometimes lead to abscesses and extreme cases of infection, which, left untreated, could lead to blood poisoning. Likewise, bleeding through the digestive tract may lead to anemia which can also be life threatening. Therefore, you are trading several life threatening effects for some that are irritating but easily treated. Not to diminish the symptoms of short bowel syndrome, but they are considerably less severe when compared to Crohn’s Disease.

Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Cohn’s Disease.

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