Differential Diagnosis between Intestinal Tuberculosis and Crohn's Disease

Written by Yang Dong
Colorectal Surgery Department
Updated on September 04, 2024
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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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Treatment of occasional fever in Crohn's disease

If Crohn's disease presents with fever, it is generally considered possible that it is caused by a bacterial infection. The first step should be to check a stool routine to see if there is a bacterial infection, and symptomatic treatment measures need to be taken. If the body temperature is not particularly high, some antibiotics can be taken to control the progression of the disease. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, an appropriate amount of antipyretics can be used to control the condition and have a fever-reducing effect. During this period, drink more warm water, avoid spicy and stimulating food, as well as raw and cold fruits, to prevent aggravating the condition.

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Can people with Crohn's disease eat peanuts?

Crohn's disease is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause. Its lesions can occur in any part of the digestive tract. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal masses, fistula formation, and weight loss. Systemic symptoms such as fever and malnutrition can also occur, and intestinal obstruction might require surgical treatment. Currently, there are no specific treatments for this disease, and it has signs of lifelong recurrence, making the treatment very challenging. It is crucial to pay attention to nutrition in the diet, consuming high-nutrition, low-residue foods, and appropriately supplementing with folic acid, vitamins, and other nutrients. The diet should primarily consist of rice and noodles, and it is advisable to consume lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and soy products. Peanuts can be eaten in small amounts, but it is not recommended to consume them excessively because they have a high fat content, which is not beneficial for managing Crohn's disease.

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Does Crohn's disease have a genetic component?

Crohn's disease has a certain genetic predisposition, but not all cases of Crohn's disease are inherited from one generation to the next. Current research indicates that its occurrence is related to environmental factors, immune factors, and genetic factors, with a higher incidence in males than in females. The prevalence of Crohn's disease is not particularly high in China. Symptoms are primarily abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, and nutritional disorders. Some cases may also involve complications such as iridocyclitis, clubbing arthritis, oral mucosal ulcers, and chronic hepatitis. It is important to rest adequately and adjust your diet, favoring frequent light meals, low in fat and high in calories.

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How long is the incubation period for Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is an idiopathic inflammatory and infectious disease of the intestines that can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but it is most commonly found at the end of the ileum or in the right colon. The main clinical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, accompanied by fever, or manifestations of nutritional dysfunction. The condition is often protracted and recurrent, and it is not easy to completely cure. The latency period varies depending on the patient's situation.

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Can a CT scan detect Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease generally cannot be diagnosed through a CT scan. Diagnosis of Crohn's disease relies on colonoscopy. If you experience abdominal pain and diarrhea, especially if there is mucous or bloody stool, it is recommended to undergo a colonoscopy to determine whether it is Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Once the disease is confirmed, it is crucial to diagnose and treat it early. The treatment of this disease can be challenging and is highly prone to recurrence. The medical community still finds this disease a difficult problem to address. In addition to Western medicine, it is also advisable to seek treatment from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Diagnosis and treatment strategies based on TCM principles can be formulated, and combining TCM with Western medicine may achieve better results than using Western medicine alone.