Crohn’s Disease: Symptoms, Risk Factors & Treatments

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive system, which evolves in spurts (or attacks) and remission phases—characterized mainly by attacks of abdominal pain and diarrhea, which can last several weeks or months. Fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition can occur even if no treatment is undertaken. In some cases, non-digestive symptoms that affect the skin, joints, and eyes associated with the disease. If Crohn’s disease, inflammation can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. But more often, it’s moved to the junction of the small intestine and colon (large intestine).

Crohn’s Disease Prevalence

In Canada, Crohn’s disease affects about 50 people per 100,000 of the population in industrialized countries, but there is significant variability depending on geographic region. The place in the world where there are the most reported cases is in Nova Scotia, a Canadian province, where the rate climbs to 319 per 100,000 people. Japan, Romania, and South Korea, the rate is less than 25 100.00029. The disease can occur at any age, including in childhood. It is usually diagnosed tasks people from 10 to 30 years.

Crohn’s Disease Causes

Crohn’s disease is due to persistent inflammation of the walls and the deep layers of the digestive tract. This inflammation may result in a thickening of the walls in some areas, cracks, and sores to others. The causes of inflammation are unknown and possibly multiple, involving genetic, autoimmune, and environmental.

Genetic factors: Although Crohn’s disease is not entirely a genetic disease, certain genes can increase the risk of developing it. In recent years, researchers have discovered several susceptibility genes, including the gene NOD2 / CARD, which multiplies by 4 or 5 the risk of suffering from the disease. This gene plays a role in the body’s defense system. However, other factors are necessary for the disease to occur. As in many other diseases, it seems that a combination of genetic susceptibility to environmental factors or lifestyle triggers the disease.

Autoimmune factors: include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease autoimmune disease characteristics. Researchers believe that the inflammation of the digestive tract is related to the excessive immune reaction of the organism against viruses or bacteria present in the intestine.

Crohn’s Disease: More Follows

Environmental factors: Note that the incidence of Crohn’s disease is higher in industrialized countries and tends to increase since 1950. This suggests that environmental factors, possibly related to the Western lifestyle, could have a significant influence on the appearance of the disease. However, no specific factors have yet been identified. Several tracks are, however, under investigation. Exposure to certain antibiotics, especially the tetracycline class, is a risk factor potential. Smokers are at higher risk of developing the disease. Too sedentary people are more affected than people who are more actives.

It is possible, but there is no absolute proof that the rich, too bad fat diet, meat, and sugar increases the risk. It was long thought that stress could trigger seizures. However, studies to date seem to refute this hypothesis. Researchers are looking, especially on the possible role of infection by a virus or bacteria (Salmonella, Campylobacter) in triggering the disease. Besides infection by “outside” microbe, an imbalance of the intestinal flora (that is to say bacteria naturally present in the digestive tract) could also be in the cause. Furthermore, some elements seem to have a protective effect, such as a diet rich in fiber and fruits.

Crohn’s Disease: Possible complications

Obstruction of the digestive tract: Chronic inflammation can lead to the thickening of the wall of the digestive tract, which can lead to a partial or total blockage of the digestive tract. This can lead to bloating, constipation, vomiting, or feces. Emergency hospitalization is necessary to avoid perforation of the intestine.
Ulcers in the gut wall
Sores around the anus (fistulas, deep cracks, or chronic abscess)
Bleeding of the digestive tract is rare but sometimes severe
People with Crohn’s disease in the colon have a slightly increased risk of being victims of colon cancer, especially after many years of illness, even if they are in treatment. We advise you to have an early and regular screening for colon cancer.

Crohn’s Disease: Other Possible Complications

Undernutrition patients tend to eat less because of the pain. Also, the ability to absorb food through the intestinal wall compromised; in the medical language, we speak of malabsorption.
Delayed growth and puberty in children and adolescents
Iron deficiency anemia because of bleeding in the digestive tract, which can occur at low noise and be invisible to the naked eye.
Other health problems, such as arthritis, skin disorders, inflammation of the eyes, mouth ulcers, kidney stones, or gallstones
Crohn’s disease, when in phase “active”, it increases the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women with cancer. It can make it difficult for fetal growth. It is, therefore, important that women who wish to become pregnant well control their disease using treatments and discuss with their doctor.

Crohn’s Disease: Can we prevent this disease?

As it is uncertain what causes the disease, no way to prevent it is known. A study published in 2010, conducted among more than 67,000 women in France, however, showed that a high intake of animal protein (meat and fish) associated with an increased risk of suffering from the disease. These data need to be confirmed for men and children.

Measures to prevent worsening and recurrence

Treatment, if it is suitable and followed, to reduce the frequency of attacks and prevent further damage.
Stop smoking. Smoking, even slight, increase the intensity of symptoms, a number of recurrences, and surgeries related to the disease.
Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs-prescription or prescription. That’s cons-indicated because they can trigger an attack or worsen symptoms. As a painkiller, acetaminophen favor. At recommended doses, acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is safe for the digestive system.

Crohn’s Disease: Note

Several studies have examined the utility of various dietary changes to prevent a recurrence. Some tested the effect of reduced supply in refined sugars and increased omega-3. Others have tested the exclusion of certain foods. These experiences, however, have revealed a special diet that would prolong periods of remission in the majority of patients. In some cases, however, it appears that certain foods aggravate symptoms, but these foods vary from person to person. It’s red meat, cereals (wheat or corn), dairy products, certain fruits or vegetables, etc. recommended that each person discover these foods, e.g., noting in a book meal composition and intensity of symptoms after each meal. Some doctors suggest excluding the “trigger” foods for 2 to 4 weeks to see if symptoms improve or not. Indeed, reactions to foods are not necessarily immediate.

Crohn’s Disease: Possible Medical Treatments

There is no treatment to cure Crohn’s disease. The goal of treatment is to correct nutritional deficiencies and control inflammation, which will effectively relieve pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms. During periods of remission, it is often necessary to follow a maintenance treatment to reduce the frequency of relapses and reduce the progression of lesions. In most cases, emphasized that current treatments can well control the disease.

As the disease progresses in spurts interspersed with periods of remission, it is sometimes difficult for the doctor to assess the effectiveness of treatments undertaken. To better judge the effectiveness of treatment recommended to keep a journal where there is daily:

The number of bowel movements
The state of stool (liquid or solid)
The frequency, duration, and intensity (on a scale of 1 to 10, for example) abdominal pain or stomach cramps
The quality of appetite
Foods that aggravate symptoms
The times of day when symptoms are most present
The weight (weekly).

Crohn’s Disease: Anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals

These treatments prescribed in the forefront calm inflammation in a crisis. The choice of the drug and its route of administration depends on the intensity of symptoms and their location in the digestive system.

Aminosalicylates (or salicylates), including sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®) and mesalazine or mesalamine (Rowasa®, Canasa®, Asacol® Pentasa, Apriso ™, Lialda®, Mezavant®) administered orally, rectally (suppositories) or by enema. Use both to calm the outbreaks and to maintain remission. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, and headaches.

If aminosalicylates intestinal are not enough to relieve the symptoms, the doctor suggests more powerful anti-inflammatory, such as oral corticosteroids, which have a general anti-inflammatory effect. They are the most commonly prescribed corticosteroids to treat Crohn’s disease, prednisone, and prednisolone. They are usually used for a few weeks until remission is achieved. The dose should be reduced gradually. In some cases where the disease localized and moderately active, budesonide, a corticosteroid which acts locally in the gastrointestinal tract, so with fewer side effects, provided.

Oral corticosteroid’s systemic effect, however, carries risks of more pronounced side effects, which limit their long-term use. These include weight gain, acne, increased hair growth, mood disorders, and insomnia. In the long-term, corticosteroids can also induce osteoporosis.

Crohn’s Disease: Immunomodulators and biologics

Immunomodulators (including immunosuppressants) act very selectively on certain players of the immune system to calm the inflammatory reactions. These drugs are usually used to maintain remission after treatment “attack” by aminosalicylates or corticosteroids. Contribute to the healing of fistulas. The 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol®) and azathioprine (Imuran®) immunomodulators are most often prescribed for people with Crohn’s disease. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®) may employ. These drugs cause side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and lower resistance to infections if the dose is not adjusted.

The anti-TNF alpha agents such as infliximab (Remicade) or adalimumab (Humira), are recent drugs that target tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a substance with a role in inflammation. These drugs are reserved for patients with moderate to severe symptoms and in whom other drugs are ineffective or cause too many side effects.

Crohn’s Disease: Other medicines

Antibiotics prescribed in cases of sudden worsening of symptoms caused by an intestinal infection. Antibiotics are also used to treat abscesses and wounds located in the anal area. In some instances, anti-diarrhea may help reduce diarrhea.
Psyllium or methylcellulose is possible in particular to regulate transit. However, antidiarrheal or laxative may also irritate the digestive tract and cause severe complications in people with inflammatory bowel disease. It is imperative to consult your doctor before taking an antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, or laxative whatsoever.
Iron supplements, taken orally, necessary in cases of anemia.
Analgesics relieve mild abdominal pain.