What is the difference between Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 25, 2025
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The main difference between Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome is that Crohn's disease is an organic disease, also known as segmental enteritis, whereas irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder. The primary symptoms of Crohn's disease include mucous stools and pus-blood stools, and patients may also experience chills and fever. Complications may include the formation of fistulas, leading to peritonitis in patients. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder, mainly characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. The treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome primarily involves the use of medications to regulate the intestinal flora and to modulate the intestinal nerves.

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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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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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Crohn's disease affected areas

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily affecting the right half of the colon and the terminal ileum. Typical clinical manifestations include abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, diarrhea, and some extraintestinal manifestations such as nutritional disorders or fever. Complications can include intra-abdominal abscesses, acute intestinal perforation, significant intestinal bleeding, malabsorption syndrome, and can also involve the liver, skin, joints, and other areas. The course of the disease is relatively long and prone to recurrent episodes. Treatment primarily targets complications, focusing on pharmacological and surgical interventions. It is important to enhance nutritional support by providing high-nutrition, low-fat foods.

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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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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.