Treatment and symptoms of Crohn's disease.

The danger of Crohn's is that all parts of the digestive system are affected. Problems can begin both in the oral cavity and in the rectum. 50% of patient complaints relate to inflammation in the terminal ileal section of the stomach. All age groups are at risk. Most often, young men from 15 to 40 years old.

Due to the large location of the disease, it is very difficult to accurately determine the symptoms. The most common complaints include:

• fever;
• nausea, vomiting;
• abdominal pain;
• lack of appetite;
• weight loss (up to anorexia);
• chronic fatigue;
• fistulas.

It is important to know that Crohn's disease is confused with acute appendicitis, due to the similarity of symptoms. In any case, if your body reports a disorder in this way, you should immediately seek medical help.

It is even more difficult to determine the disease by extraintestinal manifestations. Depending on the affected area, Crohn's can be the source of:

• nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, cystitis, amyloidosis (kidneys);
• cholithiasis, cirrhosis, cholangitis (liver, bile ducts);
• spondylitis, monoarthritis (joints);
• conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis (eyes);
• stomatitis (mouth);
• erythema, pyoderma, angiitis (skin).

A gastroenterologist should diagnose the disease. After questioning and physically examining the patient, he should prescribe additional clinical studies and instrumental procedures. The following help to make the correct diagnosis:

• X-ray examination with contrast;
• Ultrasound and tomography;
• electrogastroenterography;
• endoscopy with biopsy;
• colonoscopy;
• blood and stool tests.

The most accurate method is ileocolonoscopy. The essence of the method is to examine the colon and ileum along the entire length, with the collection of biopsies (at least two).

Treatment of the disease depends entirely on the accuracy of the diagnosis and the nature of the course. At the initial stages, the patient is required to give up bad habits (especially smoking), balance their diet, and protect themselves from stressful situations.

In mild form therapy is carried out using "Aminosalicylic acid", "Metronidazole", "Mesazaline", "Ciprofloxacin". The effectiveness of each drug is assessed separately for several weeks. If the right choice is made, the drug intake is continued until remission is achieved.

In moderate course inflammation is treated with corticosteroids, antibacterial agents. In case of an abscess - percutaneous or open drainage. "Infliximab", "Prednisone" are used.

If the disease has reached a severe form and drug therapy does not help, then surgery is performed. Indications for its use are intestinal obstruction, neoplasms in the abdominal cavity, cicatricial strictures. The operation will not completely cure the patient. It is aimed at eliminating complications and stopping the negative consequences of inflammatory processes.

During the period of remission, strict adherence to the diet is required. All foods that irritate the gastric mucosa should be removed from the diet. It is worth paying attention to a larger amount of vitamins and protein. You should also avoid diarrhea and bloating caused by alcohol and coarse-fiber plant foods.