Crohn'sdisease or Crohn's disease is one of inflammatory bowel disease chronic that causes inflammation of the lining of the wall digestive system, from the mouth to the anus. However,this conditionmore commonly found in the small intestine and large intestine (colon).
Crohn's disease can occur in men and women of any age. This condition can cause pain in the stomach, the body feels weak, and can even cause life-threatening complications for the sufferer. Symptoms of Crohn's disease are often considered "similar but not the same" as another inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis.
Symptom Crohn's Disease
Symptoms that appear in people with Crohn's disease vary, depending on the part of the digestive system affected, the extent of the inflammation, and the severity of the disease. Symptoms of the disease usually develop over time. Generally, the initial symptoms appear in childhood or in early adulthood.
Symptoms of this disease can disappear and appear. The period when the symptoms of Crohn's disease disappear for some time is known as a period of remission. After a period of remission has passed, the symptoms of Crohn's disease may recur, also known as periods flare-ups .
Because Crohn's disease is a chronic disease, both periods can occur repeatedly.
The following are common symptoms that arise from Crohn's disease:
- Stomach ache.
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- no lust
- Weight loss.
- Stool mixed with mucus and blood.
- Ulcer.
- Fever.
- Symptoms of Anemia.
- The appearance of other abnormal channels around the anus (anal fistula).
In addition to these symptoms, Crohn's disease can also cause inflammation in other parts of the body, such as the eyes, skin, joints, liver, and bile ducts.
In children, inflammation in the digestive system, especially those that occur repeatedly, can inhibit the absorption of nutrients from the food they eat. As a result, the growth and development of children can be disrupted.
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if there are changes to your system that could be a sign of Crohn's disease, such as:
- Stool mixed with blood.
- Diarrhea for more than seven days.
- Stomach pain that doesn't go away
In addition to some of the symptoms that need to be watched out for above, you are also recommended to check your child to the doctor if there are problems with their development and growth.
As a chronic disease that occurs in the long term and can recur, people with Crohn's disease need regular health check-ups to the doctor to monitor the progress of the disease and prevent complications.
Causes of Crohn's Disease
The exact cause of Crohn's disease is not yet known. However, a combination of genetic factors, disorders of the immune system, and environmental influences are thought to trigger this condition.
These three factors are thought to increase the risk of developing Crohn's disease in people with the following conditions:
- Have a family history of Crohn's disease.
- Less than 30 years old.
- Have a smoking habit.
- Eating too many high-fat or processed foods.
- Living in an urban area with a lifestyle that is too clean.
- Have a history of bacterial infection Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) or bacteria coli in the digestive system.
Diagnosis of Crohn's Disease
As a first step, the doctor will examine the pattern of symptoms experienced by the patient to determine the cause of these symptoms. The doctor will also examine various factors that can trigger Crohn's disease, such as diet, chronology of complaints, past medical history, and family medical history.
Physical examinations such as pulse, body temperature, blood pressure, and examination of the abdominal area will also be carried out by the doctor.
In addition to these tests, your doctor may perform several additional tests to diagnose Crohn's disease, including:
- Blood tests, to determine the level of inflammation that occurs in the body and find out if there is an infection or anemia.
- Stool examination, to determine changes in the patient's stool and whether the symptoms experienced are caused by other conditions, such as intestinal worms.
- CTE Scan (computerized tomography enterography/enteroclysis) or MRE (computerized tomography enterography/enteroclysis), to see in more detail the condition of the small intestine and surrounding tissue.
- Colonoscopy, to determine the severity and extent of inflammation in the large intestine.
- Biopsy or sampling of digestive tract tissue, to see changes in the cells of the digestive tract wall.
TreatmentCrohn's Disease
Crohn's disease treatment is done to relieve the symptoms experienced. In pediatric patients, treatment also aims to improve the child's growth and development.
The following are some of the treatment methods used:
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory drugs are often used as the first line of treatment for people with Crohn's disease. Some types of anti-inflammatory drugs are:
- Sulfasalazine
- Corticosteroids
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants work by suppressing the work of the immune system so that the inflammatory reaction in the digestive tract can be relieved. Here are some types and combinations of immunosuppressant drugs for people with Crohn's disease:
- Azathioprine.
- Methotraxate.
- Cyclosporine.
- Tacrolimus.
- Drugs that block TNF substances in the immune system, namely infliximab, adalimumab, or ustekinumab.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can treat infections that can occur in the area of inflammation or where a fistula is formed. Two types of antibiotics commonly used in patients with Crohn's disease are metronidazole and ciprofloxacin.
In addition, antibiotics are also thought to help reduce inflammation by reducing the population of bacteria in the gut that stimulates the immune system response.
Drugs supporter
To relieve symptoms and prevent complications from Crohn's disease, your doctor may also recommend the following medications:
- Psyllium to solidify stools or loperamide to stop diarrhea.
- Pain relievers, eg paracetamol.
- Supplements of iron and vitamin B12, to prevent anemia due to poor absorption of iron and vitamin B12.
- Vitamin D and calcium supplements, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Addition nnutrition
The addition of nutrients is generally done through the help of a tool in the form of a feeding tube that is inserted through the nose into the intestine. In addition, the addition of body nutrients can also be done through an infusion.
This action aims to meet the nutritional intake needed by the body, while reducing the work of the digestive tract so that inflammation can be reduced. The nutrients included will usually be tailored to the needs and conditions of each patient.
Operation
Surgery is the last treatment option for Crohn's disease. This procedure is carried out when various treatment efforts have been carried out and do not produce satisfactory results.
The operation is done by removing the damaged part of the digestive tract, then connecting the part that is still healthy. In addition, surgery can also be used to close the fistula or drain pus in the digestive tract that appears due to infection.
Even after the damaged part of the digestive tract has been removed, Crohn's disease can still come back. Recurrence of Crohn's disease generally occurs in the connective tissue created after removal. Therefore, after the operation, the doctor will still give drugs to minimize the possibility of relapse.
Until now, there is no treatment or drug that can completely cure Crohn's disease. However, proper treatment can help prevent complications and prolong the period of remission.
Complications Crohn's Disease
The following are some of the complications that can occur as a result of Crohn's disease:
- Anal fistula
- Anal fissure
- Injuries to the digestive tract
- Digestive tract blockage
- Malnutrition
- Osteoporosis
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Anemia a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate
- Colon cancer
Prevention of Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a type of disease that is difficult to prevent because the exact cause is unknown. The best prevention that can be done is to avoid factors that can increase the risk of developing this disease.
Prevention is done by implementing a healthy lifestyle, such as:
- Reduce high-fat and low-fat foods
- Quit smoking
- Manage stress well
In addition to preventing the occurrence of Crohn's disease, the above healthy lifestyle can also be done to relieve symptoms that arise and prevent recurrence (period flare-ups).