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
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How to gain weight with Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is an illness of unknown cause, characterized by lesions at various, unfixed positions within the gastrointestinal tract, manifesting symptoms such as abdominal bloating and pain. It is generally linked inevitably to diet, immune factors, or genetic factors. People with Crohn's disease should maintain a light diet, avoid overeating, and moderately consume foods like millet porridge. When cooking millet porridge, it can be beneficial to add ingredients such as dates, Chinese yam, and goji berries, which are good for spleen and stomach regulation and aid digestion while also enhancing nutrition. Additionally, consuming lean meat porridge or egg yolk porridge in moderation can be beneficial.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
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Does Crohn's disease have no symptoms?

Crohn's disease typically presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, complications of nutritional disorders, iridocyclitis, oral ulcers, anemia, and liver diseases. A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on these specific clinical manifestations. X-ray enterography can reveal intestinal lesions. It is important to maintain a reasonable daily routine. During active phases, bed rest should be observed, and a diet high in energy and calories but low in fat should be provided. Treatment involves a combination of medication and surgery. Crohn's disease tends to recur and has a protracted course. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
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Can people with Crohn's disease eat honey?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and patients can eat honey. Honey contains rich nutrients, which can enhance the body's immunity. The main dietary principle for patients is to eat small and frequent meals, consume more nutritional products, and focus on high-nutrition and low-fat foods, such as lean meats and fish, egg products, and avoid spicy, greasy, or irritating foods. Eat more vegetables, such as carrots and Chinese yam. During active phases, strict bed rest is required, and if complications like intestinal obstruction occur, surgery can be an option for treatment.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Is Crohn's disease contagious?

Crohn's disease is not contagious and its specific causes are not particularly clear. It is an inflammatory bowel disease and can be treated in the gastroenterology department. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, accompanied by fever and nutritional disorders, among others. It may also be complicated by acute perforation, rectal bleeding, intra-abdominal abscesses, and malabsorption syndrome. The course of the disease tends to be prolonged and recurrent, making it difficult to cure. The clarity and severity of the lesion, the length of the course of the disease, and the rate of recurrence after surgery are related. Because it is not contagious, it cannot be transmitted among the population.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
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Crohn's disease most commonly affects the area

Crohn's disease commonly occurs in the terminal ileum and the right half of the colon. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease with unknown causes and can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinically, it mainly presents with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and intestinal obstruction. However, it may also lead to complications like intestinal perforation and bloody stools, and can affect organs like the liver, joints, and skin. The condition tends to relapse frequently and is difficult to cure completely. Current treatments combine medication and surgery. During active phases of the disease, it is important to enhance nutrition, rest in bed, consume high-nutrient, low-fat foods, and utilize supportive therapies. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)