Crohn’s disease is a type of autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)., Which means it is the immune system itself that attacks the gut. This leads to painful ulcers and swelling in parts of this organ, which can lead to pain, diarrhea, weight loss or fatigue, Rather, it also appears in other parts of the body.
This is a chronic pathology, that is, for life. It is normal to have periods of good health, known as remission, and times of worsening, spreading or reoccurring. nowadays There is no cure for Crohn’s disease. But medicines and sometimes surgery can improve the quality of life of those with it.
What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
The way the condition manifests can vary from person to person, as it depends on the location and severity of the inflammation. Even then, The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease are diarrhea and abdominal pain.L is usually located on the right side, let’s know from the clinic of the University of Navarra.
There may also be fever with this. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms are typically characteristic of the condition:
- Diarrhea
- fever
- fatigue
- abdominal pain and cramps
- presence of blood in stool
- canker sores, superficial sores that appear in the mouth or at the base of the gums
- loss of appetite and weight loss
- Pain or discharge near or around the anus due to swelling of a tube in the skin (fistula)
they may also appear problems outside the intestinal tract, Including:
- inflammation of the skin, eyes and joints
- inflammation of the liver or bile ducts
- calculus
- iron deficiency anemia)
- delayed growth or sexual development in children
factors such as stress and certain foods, like carbonated drinks spicy or fiber-rich foodsMay make symptoms worse for some people.
However, the most important thing is to eat a nutritious and balanced diet. Therefore, if suppressing a food does not improve symptoms, it should be reintroduced into the diet to avoid loss of important nutrients, they stress from Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
What other problems can Crohn’s disease cause?
In addition to the uncomfortable symptoms already mentioned, Crohn’s disease can cause certain complications or increase the risk of serious illness. This also includes:
- bowel obstructionOver time, parts of the intestine can become narrow and scarred, which in turn block the flow of digestive contents.
- fistulous: Treats an abnormal connection between two parts within the body, such as between the intestine and the skin, or between the intestine and another organ.
- boils: Accumulation of pus that can occur when fistulas form inside the abdomen, which can also lead to infection. If not treated in time, they can be fatal, cautions the Mayo Clinic.
- anal fissureSmall sores in the anus that may be itchy, painful, or bleed
- ulcers: open sores in the mouth, intestines, anus, or perineum
- malnutrition: Inflammation can reduce the absorption of nutrients. Diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping can also complicate proper ingestion.
- swelling in other areas of the body such as the joints, eyes, and skin
Crohn’s disease can also cause problems in other parts of the body. they lack iron (anemia), osteoporosis, arthritis, and liver or gallbladder disease.
simultaneously May induce a certain propensity to develop colorectal cancer, The risk is increased if it affects most of the large intestine for more than 8 or 10 years or if you have intestinal stenosis, describe Crohn’s and Colitis UK. In these cases, colonoscopy is recommended after 8 years of disease onset and every 1 or 2 years.
what causes disease
To date, it is not known what causes Crohn’s disease. It is thought that factors such as genetic predisposition or immunological changes (such as viruses or bacteria) may influence its appearance.
There seems to be a hereditary component, Since about 20% of people with it have a relative with some form of IBD. age is also a risk factor, Although it can appear at any time, it is more common to be diagnosed in youth, between the ages of 16 and 40.
diagnosis and treatment
It is estimated that one million people in Europe suffer from the condition. in spain, Between 6 and 9 new cases are identified for every 100,000 inhabitants each year.
The diagnosis of Crohn’s disease has been identified Through radiological findings, based on an endoscopy or histology (biopsy) Positive, as there is no specific test to identify it. Usually, in the presence of compatible symptoms, and after ruling out other conditions, your doctor will decide to do some tests that can confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure, but some treatments can be done with lifestyle changes. Reduce inflammation, relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
They can be used during outbreaks, as they explain from the clinic of the University of Navarra corticosteroids, 5-ASA, antibiotics or immunosuppressants, There are other newer treatments based on changes to the immune system and in some cases surgery may be used.
drink more fluids, eat smaller meals more often and keep a food diary Identifying the foods that are most problematic can help reduce symptoms.
