What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?

Written by Chen Rong
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, primarily affecting the terminal ileum and adjacent colon, but can involve any digestive tract segment from mouth to anus, displaying either segmental or skip distribution. Clinically, it is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal mass, fistula formation, and intestinal obstruction. It may also present with fever and extraintestinal manifestations, including joint, skin, eye, and oral mucosa damage. This disease tends to recur throughout a person’s life, and severe cases can be prolonged and unhealing with poor prognosis. The onset age is mostly between 15-30 years, but initial attacks can occur at any age. The incidence rate is similar between genders. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, often seen in the lower right abdomen or around the navel, presenting intermittently as cramp-like pain accompanied by bowel sounds, typically worsening after eating, and relieved by defecation or passing gas. Diarrhea is another common symptom, initially intermittent but can become persistent in later stages of the disease, with stools generally being pasty and containing mucus and pus-blood. If the lower part of the colon or anorectal area is involved, there may be mucus-bloody stools and a sensation of incomplete evacuation after bowel movements. Abdominal masses are often located in the lower right abdomen and around the navel, and fistula formation is a characteristic clinical manifestation of Crohn's disease.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can people with Crohn's disease drink tea?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel condition. Patients can drink tea and should eat smaller meals more frequently. They should eat more green vegetables, such as carrots, yams, and potatoes, and eat less food high in fat, such as animal fats, fatty meats, and cheese. It is also advisable to eat less raw, cold, and spicy food and to avoid foods that are likely to cause gas, like bean products and onions. In terms of treatment, it is important to follow a regular and complete treatment course. Treatment may involve a combination of medication and surgery. Currently, there is no specific cure for Crohn's disease; treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic and supportive care, as the disease course is prone to prolonged recurrence.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can you smoke with Crohn's disease?

Patients with Crohn's disease are advised not to smoke, as smoking can cause many harms, including disturbances in intestinal blood circulation, which can exacerbate the symptoms of Crohn's disease. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and intestinal obstruction, as well as possible fever and nutritional disorders. The diet should consist of frequent small meals, low in fat and high in calories, and may include vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and yams, while avoiding raw, spicy foods and foods that cause gas. During active phases, strict rest is recommended along with calorie supplementation and high nutritional support to actively prevent complications. Crohn's disease tends to recur frequently and can have a protracted course.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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How serious is Crohn's disease exactly?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause intestinal absorption disorders, malnutrition, and decreased body resistance leading to fever. The inflammation of the intestines can trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea, or bowel obstruction, and ischemic necrosis of the intestinal wall can lead to perforation and bloody stools. It can also affect other organs such as joints, liver, and skin, causing damage. Currently, the cause of Crohn's disease is not well understood, and it tends to have a long course, with frequent relapses and is difficult to cure completely. The current treatment methods combine pharmacotherapy with surgical techniques to treat complications and minimize damage to organs.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does Crohn's disease hurt?

Crohn's disease can cause abdominal pain, along with symptoms of diarrhea and intestinal obstruction. It often accompanies fever, anemia, and nutritional disorders. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and its specific causes are not particularly clear. It commonly affects the terminal ileum and the right half of the colon. The disease course is prone to recurrent attacks, so dietary management is important. The principle of eating small frequent meals should be followed, with a focus on light vegetables, while also ensuring nutritional enhancement. It is advisable to avoid spicy, cold, stimulating foods, and those that cause gas, such as leeks, garlic, and bean products. Treatment involves a combination of medication and surgery.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can Crohn's disease patients take tonics?

Crohn's disease is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory disease that can occur throughout the digestive tract, presenting with mucosal ulcers in a longitudinal and phased distribution. Crohn's disease can flare up in any part of the digestive tract, and currently, there are no highly effective medications to treat it, and the disease can relapse throughout a person's life. There are many supplements available on the market today, and most of them are composed of traditional Chinese medicines, animal proteins, and other substances. Some specific foreign proteins can directly or indirectly activate immune cells, thus exacerbating the immune response. This can potentially worsen the symptoms of the disease, leading to more severe mucosal damage and an overall aggravation of the condition. Therefore, it is not advisable for individuals with Crohn's disease to consume these supplements indiscriminately. It is best to maintain a good diet and lifestyle habits instead.