Crohn’s Disease – Symptoms And Treatment

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the
digestive tract The disease is also called granulomatous
enteritis, colitis, regional enteritis, regional ileitis,
ileitis, or terminal ileitis and it causes ulcerations of the
small and large intestine The disease can affect the digestive
system anywhere from the mouth to the anus, but distinctively
affects the terminal ileum as well as demarcated areas of large
bowel The disease is named after the American physician,
Burrill Bernard Crohn (1884-1983), who described the disease in
1932
Crohn’s Disease Symptoms
Crohn’s disease symptoms may include:
* Chronic diarrhea disrupted digestion: It becomes difficult
for the patients in the acute phase of the disease to eat and/or
digest food
* Painful and debilitating inflammation
* Fistulas of the colon
* Hemorrhoids
* Lipid absorption problems
* Anemia: Persistent rectal bleeding may lead to anemia
* Bruising of the shins
* Fever, pain and psychological damage in many cases
* Crohn’s disease in children may cause delayed development and
stunted growth
Crohn’s Disease Treatment
Crohn’s disease treatment may include medication, surgery,
dietary advice and Helminthic therapy (current research)
Medication Treatment
Acute treatment: steroids are used in the initial stages
Long-term steroid therapy is discouraged because of their side
effects Corticosteroids like prednisone are traditionally used
medications The side effects of steroids may include insulin
resistance and frank diabetes, hypertension (high blood
pressure), glaucoma, osteoporosis, severe psychological issues
etc
Chronic treatment (Steroid-sparing): The treatment may include
Salicylates – 5-ASA derivates – 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds
such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®, Salazopyrin®), mesalamine
(Pentasa®, Asacol®), olsalazine, and balsalazide
Immunomodulating drugs such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine
and methotrexate are given mainly in moderate-to-severe cases
Infliximab (brand name Remicade®) is given in patients with
therapy-resistant or fistulating Crohn’s Adalimumab (brand name
Humira®) has been used in patients who show allergic reaction to
infliximab The drugs like thalidomide are under study trials
Surgery
In the case of widespread intractable Crohn’s colitis, the colon
and rectum (protocolectomy) are removed by the surgery
ileostomy Surgery is generally avoided, as this does not cure
the disease Crohns disease can recur at the site of the
anastomosis or ileostomy
Dietary Advice
Crohn’s patients should avoid the following foods and liquids:
* Dairy foods
* High fiber foods should be avoided during flare-ups
* Hot spicy foods
* Alcohol caffeine
* Foods containing saturated fats, found in meat and dairy
products However some fats such as in fish oil may actually be
helpful
* Products containing corn or gluten, those made from wheat,
oats, barley, or triticale
* Foods, such as soy, eggs, peanuts and tomatoes
* Gas-producing foods such as cabbage family vegetables
(broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts), dried
peas and lentils, onions and chives, peppers and carbonated
drinks
* Foods that may irritate the intestine (particularly the
cabbage family vegetables)
* Simple sugars
* Dried fruits or high-sugar fruits, such as grapes, watermelon,
or pineapple
* Sorbitol (an artificial sweetener)
Beneficial Foods:
* Fluids to keep the body hydrated and prevent constipation
* Fruits may be protective
* A high protein diet with lean meats
Advice:
* Eat small frequent meals
* Prebiotics such as psyllium may help in the healing process
* Probiotics may also be helpful in aiding recovery of the
intestines
Helminthic Therapy
Recent studies have come up with a promising Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis treatment Helminthic therapy is a new
treatment that has shown impressive results in clinical trials
It argues that the absence of intestinal worms (due primarily to
higher hygiene standards) from the human intestinal tract may
cause the immune system that is not evolutionary adapted to this
condition, to over-react causing inflammation and other negative
effects, and that reintroducing helminths through ingesting eggs
of a certain species (which is not dangerous to humans) can help
down regulate and normalize immune responses
Helminthic therapy like the fecal bacterio therapy induces a
characteristic TH2 white cell response in the diseased areas
which seems to be the key in achieving and maintaining
remission, and may prove to be of key significance in further
research

Tags | absorption, aminosalicylic, balsalazide, chronic, effects, medication, physician, regional, resistance, salazopyrin, terminal