Does Crohn's disease have a genetic component?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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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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What to do if Crohn's disease causes a fever?

Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease include fever or nutritional disorders. When there is a fever, symptomatic fever-reducing treatment should be applied using antipyretic medications. If the body temperature does not exceed 38°C, physical cooling methods can also be used, such as wiping the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, forehead, armpits, and groin with alcohol or a warm towel to dissipate heat physically. It is important to drink plenty of water and consume more vegetables to maintain hydration. Attention should also be given to enhancing nutrition by providing a high-nutrient, low-fat diet, which could include lean meats, eggs, and fish. Strict rest is crucial during the disease flare-ups to avoid excessive fatigue. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of the early stage of Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory disease, primarily characterized by symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea. Initially, the symptoms are predominantly abdominal pain and diarrhea, but later stages may include weight loss and abdominal masses. It is challenging to treat and prone to relapse, with a tendency for lifelong recurrence. Colonoscopy can reveal longitudinal, deep ulcers in the intestines, and the disease can affect the entire digestive tract. It is crucial to pay attention to diet, emphasizing easy-to-digest foods. Fatty, greasy, raw, cold, fried, grilled, and sweet foods should be avoided. Consuming easily digested foods such as porridge and soup, or well-cooked noodles, or ensuring meat is thoroughly cooked can help reduce the burden on the digestive tract.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can people with Crohn's disease drink yogurt?

Patients with Crohn's disease can drink milk. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory lesion that occurs in the intestines, where the absorption and digestion functions are impaired. Drinking some yogurt appropriately can help the intestinal absorption function and assist in digestion. Due to the impaired absorption function of the intestines, symptoms such as fever and lowered immune function may occur. At this time, patients need to enhance their nutrition. The dietary principle should focus on eating smaller, more frequent meals that are high in nutrition and low in fat, such as lean meats, egg products, meat products, milk, and fish. It is also important to consume more vegetables to supplement vitamins, such as Chinese yam, carrots, and fresh green vegetables, and to ensure plenty of rest.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does Crohn's disease cause swelling of the feet?

Crohn's disease generally does not cause swelling of the feet, but if it causes nutritional disorders, there will be manifestations of swelling of the feet. This is due to hypoproteinemia, which leads to a decrease in the colloid osmotic pressure of the plasma, and the water and fluids in the blood vessels flow out into the tissue fluid, forming swelling in the feet. In addition to foot swelling, there may also be abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, and fever, and some may affect the liver, joints, or skin. For more noticeable foot swelling, it is appropriate to use diuretics. There is no specific treatment for Crohn's disease; it is mainly treated with medication and surgery to manage its complications and enhance nutritional support. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Is a small intestine ulcer the same as Crohn's disease?

Small intestinal ulcers and Crohn's disease are different. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause, commonly occurring in the terminal ileum and right half of the colon. Small intestinal ulcers may be caused by intestinal inflammation and damage to the mucosa, making the ulcers easier to heal, whereas Crohn's disease tends to recur frequently and is not easily cured. Crohn's disease can also affect the joints, skin, liver, and other parts, and may be complicated by acute perforation, bloody stools, intra-abdominal abscesses, and malabsorption syndrome. It is advisable to consult a gastroenterologist and pay attention to adjusting the diet structure, eating meals regularly, and maintaining nutritional balance.