Inflammation in the gut is extremely painful. In the case of Crohn’s disease, this is a permanent condition that occurs again and again at irregular intervals. Find out all about the diagnosis, symptoms and various treatment options here.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory chronic bowel disease . The disease usually occurs in the last section of the small intestine or at the beginning of the large intestine. In severe cases, all sections from the rectum through the esophagus to the mouth can be affected.
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Symptoms and diagnosis in Crohn’s disease
Patients usually have certain symptoms over a longer period of time, which indicate an inflammatory intestinal mucosa . Occasionally, doctors feel hardenings in the lower right abdomen or detect pathological changes in the anus. A blood count is then taken to make sure whether these signs indicate Crohn’s disease. Anemia (low blood count) or a nutrient deficiency are often other symptoms.
In detail, those affected usually complain about:
- watery to mucous diarrhea (persistent for a few weeks)
- Weight loss due to excessive dehydration
- severe abdominal pain and severe abdominal cramps
- Fatigue due to anemia
- general malaise and physical weakness
- joint pain
- fever
- Inflammation of the eyes, skin, liver or joints
- Decrease in bone density or bone loss
Diagnosis
The disease is finally clearly established in gastroenterology, mostly by means of a colonoscopy . In this examination, a tissue sample from the intestine is examined in detail in the laboratory, fistulas and stenoses then point to it. These are constrictions in the intestine and ensure the differentiation of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, a very similar inflammatory bowel disease.
The diagnosis can also be made by ultrasound , based on a thickened gastrointestinal wall. Other detection measures are MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), computed tomography and special X-ray examinations.
Triggers and causes of chronic intestinal inflammation
Conventional medicine is still unsure which factors really lead to this disease. However, it is assumed that various influences interacting with each other are the trigger . This then leads to the autoimmune disease, and the body now works against itself.
More than 70 hereditary genes have now been made jointly responsible for this correspondence of the body. Furthermore, it is now certain that smoking can promote the onset of the disease. Environmental influences such as B. life in the city are discussed. There are also psychological factors that should not be ignored here.
Relief from medication and painkillers
Crohn’s disease has not yet been cured. Through appropriate therapeutic interventions, quality and freedom can be regained in your life. This is possible mainly through e.g. B. cortisone , as it reduces the severe inflammation during flare-ups.
The pain and cramps can also be counteracted with painkillers and anticonvulsants .
If the incidence of flare-ups is particularly high, e.g. B. if the next one occurs about a week later after a flare-up, medication should be taken permanently. This can delay or prevent later flare-ups. It is also important to compensate for the accompanying mineral and vitamin deficiency by taking tablets or injecting.
If symptoms are too severe, you should consider surgery . In Germany, on average, two out of three Crohn’s disease patients are operated on. The ulcers and fistulas that have developed in the course of the disease can then be eliminated along with the resulting symptoms. Surgery will save you pain and hassle. For the gastroenterologists, it is an ordinary routine procedure.
Diet in Crohn’s disease
Good nutrition is an important aspect of this disease in order to replenish the body with lost nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins. Especially in the case of relapses, the loss of water caused by diarrhea should be compensated for by an increased fluid intake .
In addition, you should not burden your body with foods that are difficult to digest. Here, preferably reach for easily digestible foods. Vegetable broths are an example of this . At best, you can find out for yourself or with the help of a dietitian what works best for you, because every body and every intestinal disease reacts differently. Also, always make sure that you chew your food thoroughly , as this makes digestion easier. It is also important that weak patients pay attention to an increased calorie intake .
Furthermore, a healthy intestinal flora can prevent or reduce inflammation due to the presence of positive intestinal bacteria, so-called lactic acid bacteria or probiotic bacteria. As a result, abscesses and fissures occur less frequently.
Do not forget that smoking is not a risk factor for the development of the disease, but also negatively affects its course. A waiver is therefore strongly recommended here!
Body positivity: dealing with chronic inflammatory bowel disease
The #TrotzCED campaign launched by Takeda Pharma has been in existence since 2016. patients suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases can exchange ideas and get information. In addition, the topic of intestinal diseases should be freed from taboos in public.
The latest project is aimed at the topic of ” body positivity ” in order to strengthen the body awareness and self-esteem of those affected. To this end, three young women tell their story and in doing so encourage the younger victims in particular. In it they tell how they deal with their illness, what the diagnosis was like and how their life has changed since then.
