Can Crohn's disease be inherited by the next generation?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 01, 2025
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The causes of Crohn's disease are not yet fully understood, but it is currently believed to be caused by the interaction of many factors, including environmental factors, genetic factors, infections, gut microbiota, and immune factors. The incidence of Crohn's disease in first-degree relatives of patients is significantly higher than in the general population. Therefore, it is considered that Crohn's disease is both a polygenic disease and a genetically heterogeneous disease. Individuals with genetic susceptibility may develop the disease under certain environmental influences. Thus, it appears that Crohn's disease has a certain genetic predisposition and can be inherited by the next generation. The typical symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Generally, the course of the disease progresses slowly, often presenting a chronic active phase alternating with remission, tends to be incurable, and has a lifelong tendency to recur. Currently, there is a lack of effective curative treatments for Crohn's disease. The primary approach is drug treatment to control the activity of the disease, maintain disease remission, prevent complications, and avoid intestinal damage.

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What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?

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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Can people with Crohn's disease drink yogurt?

Patients with Crohn's disease can drink milk. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory lesion that occurs in the intestines, where the absorption and digestion functions are impaired. Drinking some yogurt appropriately can help the intestinal absorption function and assist in digestion. Due to the impaired absorption function of the intestines, symptoms such as fever and lowered immune function may occur. At this time, patients need to enhance their nutrition. The dietary principle should focus on eating smaller, more frequent meals that are high in nutrition and low in fat, such as lean meats, egg products, meat products, milk, and fish. It is also important to consume more vegetables to supplement vitamins, such as Chinese yam, carrots, and fresh green vegetables, and to ensure plenty of rest.

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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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Can people with Crohn's disease eat fish?

Patients with Crohn's disease can eat fish, as it is delicate and delicious, and contains rich protein that provides nutrition. Patients with Crohn's disease should adhere to a diet that is light, nutritious, and easy to digest, consuming more green vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, and cabbage. It is also appropriate to increase nutrition, since Crohn's disease is a consumptive disease, and insufficient nutritional supplementation can lead to further weight loss. However, it is essential to avoid overly greasy and spicy foods and to pay attention to dietary hygiene.

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Can people with Crohn's disease eat lamb?

Patients with Crohn's disease can eat lamb, but it should be consumed in small quantities. Eating too much can increase the burden on the intestines, leading to constipation or intestinal obstruction. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, or intestinal obstruction. It may also lead to fever or general nutritional disorders. Dietary considerations should include eating small, frequent meals, adhering to a high-nutrition, low-fat diet, consuming plenty of vegetables, eating fruits in moderation, and avoiding spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods. During active periods, it is important to rest more and treatment can involve a combination of medication and surgery. However, the course of the disease is usually long, prone to relapses, and hard to completely cure.