Be on Alert for These Lesser Known Crohn's and Colitis Symptoms

For these conditions, many symptoms can range from moderate to severe.

If your severity would be considered "moderate," you probably have frequent diarrhea, but no signs of dehydration, high fever, painful mass, intestinal obstruction, abdominal tenderness, or a weight loss of over ten percent. You may have abdominal pain, but if your symptoms are moderate then they do not prohibit you from walking and eating as normal.

If your symptoms are moderate to severe, you still exhibit frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain or tenderness, but now it is compounded with fever, significant weight loss, and significant anemia. Significant anemia causes fatigue, dizziness, headache, and shortness of breath.

For symptoms to be considered very severe, you have sought treatment for moderate to severe symptoms but still experience the same pains and problems. You also must have a high fever, persistent vomiting, more severe weight loss, and evidences of intestinal obstruction or abscess. Such evidence includes blockage and localized infection or collection of pus. These may involve abdominal pain that persists over lengthy periods of time or even worsens, swelling of the abdomen, nausea or vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea.