The Oral manifestation of Crohn's disease

Introdution: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by the cyclical onset and resolution of symptoms. It is a progressive disease that leads to intestinal damage and even disability. This disease can occur in any segment of the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus. The typical symptom is segmental inflammation in the small or large intestine, which is separated by healthy sections. The inflammation usually starts in the mucosa but, over time, spreads to the entire thickness of the intestinal wall, which can lead to intestinal damage, scarring, and the subsequent formation of fistulas and strictures. Inflammatory lesions most often occur in the last segment of the ileum, followed in order by the small and large intestines and the large intestine itself. Aim of the study: The purpose of this paper is to provide a general overview of Crohn's disease, focusing on oral symptoms. Materials and methods: An analysis of scientific articles available in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases was conducted. The study used publications from recent years that were most pertinent to the topic under discussion. The search process consisted of using the following keywords: “crohn's disease”, “oral manifestations”, “oral healh”, “Crohn's disease symptoms”. Results: In addition to the classic intestinal symptomatology, Crohn's disease can also manifest in the oral cavity. Symptoms that appear in the oral cavity may be early harbingers of Crohn's disease, occur concurrently with its onset, or manifest themselves several years after the onset of the condition. They most commonly involve the lips, buccal mucosa and gums. According to Malins and colleagues, these lesions can be divided into specific and non-specific ones. Conclusions: Crohn’s disease diagnoses are increasing, and early awareness of symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and prevention of complications.