What is the difference between Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 25, 2025
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The main difference between Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome is that Crohn's disease is an organic disease, also known as segmental enteritis, whereas irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder. The primary symptoms of Crohn's disease include mucous stools and pus-blood stools, and patients may also experience chills and fever. Complications may include the formation of fistulas, leading to peritonitis in patients. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder, mainly characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. The treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome primarily involves the use of medications to regulate the intestinal flora and to modulate the intestinal nerves.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can people with Crohn's disease eat wontons?

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory granulomatous disease of the digestive tract of unknown cause. It, along with ulcerative colitis, is classified as an inflammatory bowel disease. It can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, but is most commonly found at the end of the ileum and the adjacent colon. The lesions are generally ulcers, which are typically longitudinal, large, and deep, appearing in a segmental or skipping pattern. The disease can involve all layers of the digestive tract, causing thickening of the intestinal wall, narrowing of the intestinal lumen, and bowel perforation. Additionally, this disease has a certain rate of malignant transformation. The disease is difficult to cure and has signs of lifelong recurrence. Therefore, in terms of diet, it is crucial for individuals with Crohn's disease to focus on easily digestible foods and avoid spicy, stimulating, fatty, greasy, and difficult-to-digest foods, as well as smoking and drinking alcohol. Wontons are relatively easy to digest; they should be chewed slowly and thoroughly. It is okay to eat them occasionally, but do not consume too much at one time, about 80% full is appropriate.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Early symptoms of Crohn's disease

Early symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain and diarrhea, abdominal masses, and may also be accompanied by fever, anemia, and digestive nutritional disorders, and can affect joints, eyes, skin, and other organs. Some patients may have iritis, clubbed finger arthritis, oral ulcers, and chronic hepatitis. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause, commonly occurring in the ileum and right half of the colon, with a tendency to be prolonged and recurrent, and is not easy to cure completely. Currently, treatment mainly involves medication combined with surgery to prevent complications. It is important to rest adequately and maintain a reasonable diet. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Yang Dong
Colorectal Surgery Department
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Differential Diagnosis between Intestinal Tuberculosis and Crohn's Disease

Intestinal tuberculosis often exhibits symptoms of extraintestinal tuberculosis, whereas Crohn's disease generally does not show signs of extraintestinal tuberculosis. Recurrence of intestinal tuberculosis is not common, whereas Crohn's disease has a longer duration and alternates between remission and relapse. Fistulas, abdominal abscesses, and perianal lesions are relatively rare in intestinal tuberculosis, but Crohn's disease may involve fistulas, abdominal masses, and perianal lesions. Tuberculin skin tests may be positive in patients with intestinal tuberculosis, while in Crohn's disease patients, the test may show a weakly positive result. After antituberculosis treatment, symptoms in patients with intestinal tuberculosis can significantly improve, whereas there is no significant improvement in symptoms in Crohn's disease patients following antituberculosis treatment. Furthermore, histopathological examination in patients with intestinal tuberculosis may reveal Mycobacterium tuberculosis and caseous necrosis. In contrast, Crohn's disease patients show negative results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pathologic testing and do not exhibit caseous necrosis.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Is Crohn's disease contagious?

Crohn's disease is not contagious and its specific causes are not particularly clear. It is an inflammatory bowel disease and can be treated in the gastroenterology department. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, accompanied by fever and nutritional disorders, among others. It may also be complicated by acute perforation, rectal bleeding, intra-abdominal abscesses, and malabsorption syndrome. The course of the disease tends to be prolonged and recurrent, making it difficult to cure. The clarity and severity of the lesion, the length of the course of the disease, and the rate of recurrence after surgery are related. Because it is not contagious, it cannot be transmitted among the population.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What should be noted daily for Crohn's disease?

People with Crohn's disease should avoid strenuous exercise in daily life and instead engage in moderate physical activities within their capabilities. They should not overeat but eat small, frequent meals of easily digestible food. Avoid spicy and irritating foods such as strong tea, spirits, coffee, chili peppers, mustard, etc., and try to eliminate them from the diet. Additionally, avoid staying up late and eating overly coarse foods. It is beneficial to consume more fresh vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamins, such as apples, bananas, and watermelons.