Major Symptoms Of Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Gastrointestinal Bleeding

During the eosinophilic (second) stage of Churg-Strauss syndrome, the patient may develop gastrointestinal bleeding. The amount of bleeding may range from mild to severe, and patients could experience rectal bleeding and black or tar-colored stools. Some patients could have blood in the urine, and vomiting blood has also been observed. Along with these outward signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, patients might have lightheadedness, chest pain, or shortness of breath, and some individuals experience coughing and severe abdominal pain. Doctors generally evaluate gastrointestinal bleeding with blood, stool, and urine tests, and patients will also need imaging studies to find the source of the bleeding. Nasogastric lavage, endoscopy, colonoscopy, angiography, and balloon-assisted enteroscopy are useful in locating bleeding from certain sites. While some gastrointestinal bleeding may stop on its own, patients who have lost a significant amount of blood might require blood transfusions. Patients who have had this type of bleeding should not take acetylsalicylic acid, and they may also need to stop taking blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Swollen Lymph Nodes

Swollen lymph nodes are frequently observed during the vasculitic stage of Churg-Strauss syndrome. These can occur in the face, neck, and other areas of the body. Depending on the degree of swelling, the lymph nodes might also be painful to the touch, and pain may increase with certain movements. Swollen lymph nodes vary in size, and they typically range from the size of a pea to the size of a cherry. Along with the swelling of the lymph nodes, patients at this stage could experience swollen, painful joints, and skin rashes or sores may be present. To assess lymph nodes, a doctor will begin by feeling the lymph nodes along the jaw, neck, collarbone, and armpits. They may also need to feel the lymph nodes in the groin. The doctor will note which of the patient's lymph nodes are painful, and the degree of swelling in each node. Blood tests, ultrasounds, x-rays, or MRI scans might be necessary to rule out certain conditions, and the patient may need to have a lymph node biopsy. In some cases, the physician might recommend removal of one or more lymph nodes.