General information about the symptoms of Crohn's disease

Signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease

The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are diarrhea and abdominal pain, often in the lower right area.
Other symptoms that can cause this disease are rectal bleeding, weight loss and fever.
Bleeding may be serious and persistent, which can cause anemia . Children with Crohn's disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the mucosa) in the small intestine and large, therefore, it can affect the digestive system from the mouth to the anus. Crohn's disease received its name in honor of the doctor who described it in 1932. This disease is also known by other names, such as granulomatous enteritis or colitis , regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis.
Crohn's disease is closely related to another chronic inflammatory disease known as ulcerative colitis affects only the colon. Experts often refer to these two diseases together as inflammatory bowel disease. Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have no medical cure. Once the disease begins, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse).
Crohn's disease tends to be more common in relatives of patients with the same disease. If a person has a relative with the disease, their risk of developing the disease is estimated to be at least 10 times higher than the rest of population. If the relative with Crohn's disease were a brother, the risk of developing the disease would be 30 times higher. Among the relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis is exactly the same.

Causes of Crohn's disease

The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Some scientists suspect that this disease could be due to infection by certain bacteria, such as strains of mycobacteria. However, to date there has been no convincing evidence that the disease can be caused by infection itself. Crohn's disease is not contagious. Although diet may affect the symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease, it is unlikely that diet is responsible for the disease.
Activation of the immune system in the gut seems to be important in inflammatory bowel disease. The immune system is composed of immune cells and proteins that produce these immune cells. Normally, these cells and proteins defend the body against harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi and other foreign invaders. Activation of the immune system causes inflammation in tissues where the activation occurs. (Inflammation is an important defense mechanism used by the immune system.)
Normally, the immune system is activated only when the body is exposed to harmful invaders. However, the immune system of individuals suffering from this inflammatory bowel disease, is abnormally and chronically active but there is no known invader. Continuous abnormal activation of the immune system resulting in chronic inflammation and ulceration. Susceptibility to abnormal activation of the immune system is genetically inherited. Therefore, the first-degree relatives (brothers, sisters, parents and children) of people who have developed inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to develop these diseases. Recently, we have identified a gene called NOD2 to be associated with Crohn's disease. This gene is important in determining the body's response to certain bacterial products. Individuals with mutations in this gene are more likely to develop Crohn's disease.

Treatment of Crohn's disease

The symptoms and severity of Crohn's disease vary among patients. Patients with mild symptoms or no symptoms may not need treatment. Likewise, patients whose disease is in remission (when symptoms are absent) may not need treatment.

Medicines for Crohn's disease

There is no medicine that can cure Crohn's disease. Patients with Crohn's disease usually experience periods of relapse (worsening of inflammation), followed by periods of remission (less swelling) that can last for months or even years. During relapses, symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding worse. During remissions, symptoms improve. Referrals usually occur due to treatment with medication or surgery, but occasionally occur spontaneously without any treatment.
Since there is no cure for Crohn's disease, treatment goals are:

• Induce referrals.
• Keep referrals.
• Minimize side effects of treatment.
• Improve Life Quality.

Drug treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are similar although they are not always identical.
Medications for the treatment of Crohn's disease include:

• Anti-inflammatory agents, such as compounds of 5-ASA and corticosteroids.
• Topical antibiotics.
• Immunomodulators.

List of symptoms of Crohn's disease

The list of the main symptoms of Crohn's disease, obtained from various sources, including:

• Digestive problems:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Cramps
  • Bloating
  • Abdominal tenderness
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Rectal bleeding
  • stomach ulcers
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Anemia
• The first symptoms of this disease are usually milder:
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Eye pain
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Eruptions - rashes
  ers 2016