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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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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Will routine blood tests be normal for Crohn's disease?

If you have Crohn's disease, conducting a routine blood test can be helpful for an auxiliary diagnosis. If the routine blood test for someone with Crohn's disease shows an increase in white blood cells, it may be indicative of a bacterial infection. Crohn's disease can lead to persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and inadequate absorption of nutrients. It may also result in anemia, low red blood cell count, and low hemoglobin levels. Diagnosis can be confirmed by considering the individual's clinical symptoms in conjunction with stool routine tests and colonoscopy examinations.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does Crohn's disease hurt?

Crohn's disease can cause abdominal pain, along with symptoms of diarrhea and intestinal obstruction. It often accompanies fever, anemia, and nutritional disorders. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and its specific causes are not particularly clear. It commonly affects the terminal ileum and the right half of the colon. The disease course is prone to recurrent attacks, so dietary management is important. The principle of eating small frequent meals should be followed, with a focus on light vegetables, while also ensuring nutritional enhancement. It is advisable to avoid spicy, cold, stimulating foods, and those that cause gas, such as leeks, garlic, and bean products. Treatment involves a combination of medication and surgery.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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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.