Crohn’s disease

What is Crohn’s disease?

 It is an inflammatory disease which affects gastrointestinal tract (mouth-anus).  But mainly affects small and large intestine.

 Prevalence:  It usually affects males more than females.  Age ranges from 15-35 years.

What are the causes/factors of Crohn’s disease.

 1.  Heredity- It can run in a family.

 2.  Immune deficiency- People having low immunity levels can be prone to this disease condition.

 3.  Food habits – Consumption of more milk protein, animal protein, spicy, and fatty foods can contribute in the condition.

 4.  Bacterial infection- Some of the bacteria can contribute in Crohn’s disease (through infected food, contaminated water, and unwashed hands).

 5.  Smoking cigarette can be one of the major causes in the development of Crohn’s disease.

 6.  Drinking alcohol can be another commonest contributing factor in the development of disease.

 7.  Medications- Certain medications like NSAIDs can irritate the intestinal mucosa (inner lining of the intestine) thus can be one of the contributing factors in the development of this disease.

 8.  Mental stress can be a major reason behind Crohn’s disease.

What are the symptoms of Crohn’s disease

 1.  Patient complaints of pain in the abdomen which is a very common symptom.

 2.  There can be diarrhoea associated with or without blood in it.

 3.  There is loss of appetite.

 4.  Loss of weight- Due to loss of appetite and frequent diarrhoea patient tend to lose weight.

 5.  Weakness/fatigue.

 6.  There can be mild to severe fever.

Complications of Crohn’s disease

 1.     Malnutrition- Due to loss of appetite and loss of weight one can become malnourished.

2.     As there is inflammation in the intestine which can narrow the intestinal lumen and thus there can be obstruction in the intestine in the later stages of Crohn’s disease.

3.     Ulcers in the mouth till the anus. In severe cases these anal ulcers can get infected further which would be difficult to heal.

4.      Ca of colon- There can be a chance of cancer of colon in the chronic cases of Crohn’s disease.

Prevention of Crohn’s disease

 1.  Stopping or avoiding smoking cigarette and drinking alcohol.

 2.  Taking balanced diet which can raise the immunity levels.

 3.  Avoiding spicy, oily, milk protein, animal protein, and fatty junk foods.

 4.  Add more fibers or roughage to the diet like more of salads (beet root, cabbage, radish, cucumber, and carrots) and green-leafy vegetables.

 5.  Supplementary can be added to ones regime (like multivitamin tablets).

 6.     Drinking more of liquids in the form of plain water and fresh fruit juices.  Avoiding cold drinks and other beverages like more of coffee or tea.

7.     Proper and regular exercise daily is much recommended to lead a healthy life.

8.     Avoid mental stress.

 Diagnoses of Crohn’s disease

 1.  Clinical history can diagnose the condition along with Ultra sonography.

 2.  Colonoscopy, endoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy can be done to diagnose the condition.

 3.  Fecal occult blood test to diagnose hidden blood in the stool.

 4.  Biopsy can also be done to diagnose Crohn’s disease and to rule out other disease conditions.

 5.  A regular check up (USG, CT, and MRI) should be done every year to rule out any other underlying diseases like ulcers, tumours, cancers, etc.

 6. In severe cases surgery is also required where medications do not work.

Treatment of Crohn’s disease

 1.     Antibiotics can be used to heal the ulcers and bacterial infections of the intestine.

2.     Corticosteroids can give relief in the symptoms but this has got  many side-effects associated with it (like high blood pressure, diabetes, bone fractures due to osteoporosis, and kidneys, eyes can be affected etc.

3.     Immunosuppressants are also used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease but it has side-effects as well.

4.     Iron and calcium supplements- Iron can be given as there is a loss of blood through blood in stools.  And calcium can be given as a supplement since there can be a chance of bone fractures due to overuse of corticosteroid medications in Crohn’s disease.

Homeopathic treatment of Crohn’s disease

 Homeopathic treatment can decrease the abdominal pain and the intestinal inflammation without any side-effects.

 The treatment totally depends upon the chronicity and severity of the disease.

Homeopathic medicines can improve ones appetite and thus the person can gain the weight. Iron, vitamins, calcium and other deficiencies can be fulfilled by the homeopathic medicines (supplements like Biochemic remedies).

 In the initial stage, homeopathic medicines can control further progress of the disease.

 It helps in raising the immunity levels in immuno-deficient persons.