Does Crohn's disease cause swelling of the feet?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on October 28, 2024
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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 Chen Rong
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, primarily affecting the terminal ileum and adjacent colon, but can involve any digestive tract segment from mouth to anus, displaying either segmental or skip distribution. Clinically, it is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal mass, fistula formation, and intestinal obstruction. It may also present with fever and extraintestinal manifestations, including joint, skin, eye, and oral mucosa damage. This disease tends to recur throughout a person’s life, and severe cases can be prolonged and unhealing with poor prognosis. The onset age is mostly between 15-30 years, but initial attacks can occur at any age. The incidence rate is similar between genders. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, often seen in the lower right abdomen or around the navel, presenting intermittently as cramp-like pain accompanied by bowel sounds, typically worsening after eating, and relieved by defecation or passing gas. Diarrhea is another common symptom, initially intermittent but can become persistent in later stages of the disease, with stools generally being pasty and containing mucus and pus-blood. If the lower part of the colon or anorectal area is involved, there may be mucus-bloody stools and a sensation of incomplete evacuation after bowel movements. Abdominal masses are often located in the lower right abdomen and around the navel, and fistula formation is a characteristic clinical manifestation of Crohn's disease.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Crohn's disease fasting diet

Patients with Crohn's disease have inflammatory lesions in their intestines, which decreases their digestive and absorptive functions. Special attention should be paid to their diet. Consuming cold, spicy, and irritating foods, such as peppers, mustard, alcohol, strong tea, and coffee, should be reduced. Foods that cause gas, like leeks and bean products, should also be minimized, as well as carbonated drinks like cola or coffee. It is advisable to eat more vegetables, such as carrots and yams. Nutritional intake should focus on high-nutrient, low-fat foods like lean meats, eggs, and fish. During the treatment period, ample rest is essential.

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

Crohn's disease may present with symptoms such as abdominal pain or diarrhea, and intestinal obstruction. Eggplant can be consumed, but in moderation, as it is not particularly easy to digest. Patients with Crohn's disease have reduced intestinal function, and consuming too much eggplant can increase the burden on the intestines. Generally, during active phases, high-nutrition, low-fat foods should be provided, along with adequate hydration and electrolyte balance. Treatment mainly includes medications and surgeries that provide symptomatic support. Crohn's disease tends to recur frequently and can have a prolonged course. Additionally, it is advisable to consume more vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and yams, while avoiding raw, spicy, and irritating foods.

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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 Yang Dong
Colorectal Surgery Department
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Differential Diagnosis between Intestinal Tuberculosis and Crohn's Disease

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.