In Crohn's disease, the intestines become inflamed and younger people are particularly affected.
Read about the triggers and how doctors treat the disease.
Crohn's disease is chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Both the outer mucous membrane and the deeper layers of the intestinal wall can be affected.
According to
internists in the network
, the disease usually occurs at the transition from the small intestine to the large intestine.
In principle, however, it can
affect
the
entire digestive tract *
- from the oral cavity to the anus.
Because Crohn's disease does not spread constantly, disconnected areas are often inflamed at the same time.
Anyone who suffers from the disease, they experienced
in batches
: severe pain interspersed with symptom-free phases.
Crohn's Disease: Many Possible Causes
Most often, bowel inflammation occurs at a young age.
The majority of people get it
between the ages of 15 and 35
.
In principle, however, it can also affect older people.
But what triggers Crohn's disease?
So far there is no clear answer to this.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, however, the NOD2 gene plays an important role.
Crohn's disease is particularly common in people who have it mutated.
The disease often occurs several times in families.
Other possible causes and risk factors are also:
an overreaction of the immune system, e.g. to an infection
a disturbed barrier function of the intestinal mucosa
smoking
In addition, stress can negatively affect the course of the disease.
Symptoms of Crohn's Disease
The first signs of chronic disease show up in the digestive system.
Diarrhea and vomiting occur.
Also typical are
cramp-like abdominal pain radiating from the right lower abdomen
.
This is often accompanied by weight loss, but also fever and a general feeling of illness.
Some of those affected also develop so-called "concomitant diseases" that occur outside of the digestive tract.
These include:
Inflammation of the joints and eyes
Skin changes
Disturbed liver and biliary function
osteoporosis
Children and adolescents sometimes suffer from stunted growth as a result of the disease.
Read more:
Gut Health: Ten Points That Can Help You Know If Your Bowel Is Sick.
Treat Crohn's Disease
According to the German Crohn's Disease / Ulcerative Colitis Association, Crohn's disease has
not yet been cured
.
However, there are various treatment options available
to alleviate the patient's discomfort
.
Choosing the right medication also depends on the severity of the condition.
While painkillers and diarrhea medication are often sufficient for mild symptoms, the administration of cortisone and anti-inflammatory drugs can be useful for severe symptoms.
In rare cases, an operation is also required - for example, if abscesses have to be removed or side effects such as fistulas or narrowing in the intestine occur.
Self-help with Crohn's disease: This is what those affected can do
Proper diet is crucial in Crohn's disease.
Light whole foods
, for example, can extend a symptom-free phase. Patients should absolutely avoid alcohol. Food that contains a lot of acid or has a flatulence effect is also not recommended. Fiber should be avoided entirely during an acute flare-up. It is also important to compensate for the loss of fluids caused by diarrhea and vomiting. Crohn's disease is a major
psychological burden
for many sufferers
. Self-help groups or special training courses can help here.
(lw) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
Further sources: https://www.internisten-im-netz.de/krankheiten/morbus-crohn/morbus-crohn
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