What is Crohn’s Disease?
- 02 May 2024
- Maltepe Hospital
- Gastroenterology
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Content Table
- What is Crohn’s Disease?
- What Are the Signs of Crohn’s Disease?
- What Causes Crohn’s Disease?
- How is Crohn’s Disease Diagnosed?
- How is Crohn’s Disease Treatment Performed?
- What Conditions Occur When Crohn’s Disease Advances?
- What Are Crohn’s Disease Prohibited Foods?
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is basically an inflammatory bowel disease. It can significantly negatively affect the digestive system. This disease, which can lead to serious problems, can develop into every part of the digestive system. However, it is commonly observed at the end point of the small intestine or the large intestine. In some cases, it develops in the form of infections that occur at the intersection of the small intestine and large intestine.
This is why Crohn’s disease is also known as thickened bowel. Thickening treatment of the large intestine is a process that involves controlling the complications caused by the disease with different techniques. Crohn’s disease is not completely curable and accompanies the entire life of the person. Therefore, it is evaluated within the category of permanent diseases. The main goal in the treatment process is to improve the person’s quality of life. Crohn’s disease diet is an important part of the treatment process.
What Are the Signs of Crohn’s Disease?
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease vary mostly from person to person and the point of development of the disease. However, abdominal pain, severe nausea, severe diarrhea and stomach pain are common complications of Crohn’s disease. In general, symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
- Strong intestinal blockages
- A condition of constipation or diarrhea that does not pass
- Feeling of fatigue
- Fever and severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting accompanied by nausea and nausea
- Cracks that occur around the anus
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Blood and inflammations commonly observed in feces
In addition, Crohn’s disease can cause a tendency to feel full even after the toilet. At the same time, the fact that a person often goes to the toilet or feels the need to go to the toilet is among the complications of Crohn’s disease.
Especially in the early period, the symptoms of this disease may be severe enough to adversely affect the quality of life. Shortness of breath, inflammation occurring on the skin surface, ulcer problem observed in the digestive system extending along the mouth and breech, and pain around the anus are among the early signs.
What Causes Crohn’s Disease?
The exact causes of Crohn’s disease are unknown. However, recent studies have revealed that genetic factors are an important factor in the transmission of this disease. According to studies, parents with Crohn’s disease were found to have a 15 times greater risk of developing this disease.
Another important factor among Crohn’s disease causes is environmental factors. In particular, harmful habits such as smoking have a triggering effect. In addition, the problems experienced in the immune system are also factors that are effective in the development of this disease. However, it is possible to say that Crohn’s disease is not among the infectious diseases.
That is, it is unlikely that person-to-person contact or any kind of relationship will transmit this disease. In addition, different studies have found that organisms such as some viruses or bacteria play a role in the development of this disease. But these results are not enough to say that the microorganisms involved cause Crohn’s disease.
How is Crohn’s Disease Diagnosed?
The process of diagnosing Crohn’s disease is often done with a specialist doctor’s examination. Specialist physicians in gastroenterology departments, which are medical units dealing with diseases of the digestive system, usually make a diagnosis of the disease. However, in the process of diagnosing Crohn’s bowel disease, the patient’s history and the complications they experience are very decisive.
In particular, sudden and rapid weight loss, persistent and severe abdominal pain, complications such as diarrhea are symptoms that strengthen Crohn’s suspicion. From the person behind the examination performed by the specialist physician in the direction of the mentioned symptoms;
- Blood and stool tests, and,
- Endoscopy or colonoscopy,
- MR
- Computed tomography
- Biopsy
It is also possible that tests such as. However, it is also possible that during the diagnostic process, the tests in question will be more than one.
How is Crohn’s Disease Treatment Performed?
Crohn’s disease is not a curable disease. However, it is possible to use more than one treatment method in different periods or depending on the functioning of the disease in order to improve the quality of life of the person. The treatment technique widely used in the treatment of Crohn’s disease is medicated treatment methods.
The course of treatment with steroid drugs is planned in order to reduce inflammation occurring in the digestive system. In addition to steroid medications, it may be necessary to use certain medications to suppress the immune system. In addition to these Crohn’s disease drugs are usable:
- B12 supplements,
- Anti-diarrheals, in order to reduce the complication of diarrhea,
- Vitamin D supplements
- Calcium supplements
- Painkillers for the purpose of alleviating pain that develops due to illness
In some cases, it is also possible to use biological drugs in the treatment process when the drug treatment methods in question have no effect.
One of the most widely used techniques in the treatment of Crohn’s disease is the regulation of the nutritional system. However, the treatment methods applied to establish the nutrition order are mostly personal. However, usually the regulation of fiber intake is an extremely determining factor.
In cases where significant improvement cannot be achieved with the treatment methods in question, it is also possible to control Crohn’s disease with surgical treatment methods. Especially in severe inflammation that occurs suddenly on the digestive system, surgical intervention can be considered as the only option. Also:
- Intestinal obstruction,
- Detecting evidence of cancer risk,
- Severe bleeding,
- Complicated fistulas
In such cases, surgical treatment may need to be preferred quickly. In addition, if the desired success is not achieved in medicated treatments, it is possible to use surgical applications with the recommendation of a specialist physician as a final stage application.
What Conditions Occur When Crohn’s Disease Advances?
Crohn’s disease is not an insidious health problem. Therefore, the stages of the disease and the complications it brings can be clearly observed. These conditions facilitate the diagnostic and diagnostic process. Starting the treatment process with an accurate timing is effective in relieving the quality of life drop problems that may develop due to Crohn’s.
The most important of the negativities commonly observed in cases where Crohn’s disease progresses is the decrease in the quality of life of the person. In some cases, Crohn’s disease, which cannot be controlled, can also cause death. Crohn’s disease can also negatively affect a person’s sex life, as can bowel problems caused by other infections. Especially complications that develop due to the disease can have an impact on sexual life by creating serious problems on the psychology of the person.
What Are Crohn’s Disease Prohibited Foods?
Crohn’s disease can be controlled significantly with an accurate nutritional system. Even by avoiding certain foods, it is possible to prevent the complications that develop due to this disease and to increase the quality of life of the person. At this point, the general health status of the person, the level of progression of the disease, and the general state of the immune system are the determining factors.
Often, what foods should be consumed and their eating habits differ from person to person in line with the recommendations of the specialist doctor. But in general, Crohn’s disease prohibited foods can be listed as follows:
- Food sources with high sugar content
- Foods included in the frying category or made by frying method
- Drinks with acid content
- Extremely cold or hot drinks
- Fatty or hard foods
If these foods and food sources are avoided, the effects of Crohn’s disease are likely to be significantly reduced. You can make an appointment with our specialist physicians in the list of our doctors to address the health problems you are experiencing with bowel problems, including Crohn’s disease.