Crohn's Disease, Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, usually affecting the ileum and colon (but can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract). Many injuries are caused by immune cells that attack one or more parts of the tissues of the digestive tract, but there is no certainty of autoimmune etiology. Symptoms and treatment depend on the patient, but it is common to have abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fever. There are currently no cures for this disease; however treatments provide symptom relief and improved quality of life.

Crohn's disease is a major inflammatory bowel disease. The other is ulcerative colitis, which differs in several details. Many believe that Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two extreme manifestations of the same underlying intestinal pathology.

Crohn's disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of one or more parts of the digestive tract, from mouth through the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, to the rectum and anus. In most cases of Crohn's disease, however, there is inflammation of the small intestine; large intestine may be involved, together or separately. There is no known cause for Crohn's disease. Several studies have attempted to relate environmental factors, such as food or infections that cause the disease.

However, it was noted that smokers are 2-4 times higher risk of having it, and that peculiarities of the intestinal flora, microorganisms that live in the intestines and help digestion and the immune system that naturally defense mechanisms of the body could be related. None of these factors alone could explain why the disease begins and develops. All of the information available to date suggests the influence of other environmental factors and genetic factors.

Note the influence of genetic factors in first degree relatives of an individual patient to make about 25 times more likely to also have the disease than a person without affected relatives.

As for symptoms, the most common ones are diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting accompanied by mild fever, feeling of abdominal distention worsened with meals, weight loss, malaise and fatigue. There may be disposal, along with the feces, blood, mucus or pus. Disease alternating periods without any symptoms with exacerbations of onset and duration unpredictable.

Crohn's disease there is no cure, the goal of treatment is to control symptoms and complications. Treatment is individualized and takes place according to the manifestations of the disease in each patient.

There are no dietary restrictions that are made for all cases. In some people, there is intolerance to certain foods, often, lactose and milk. In such cases, it is recommended to avoid the food can cause diarrhea or worsening of other symptoms. Individuals with illnesses in the large intestine may have benefit from high-fiber diet such as lots of vegetables and fruits, whereas in individuals with bowel obstruction may be given without dietary fiber.
Alternative Preference:
a.    Conduct frequent meals and small volume;
b.    Consuming foods rich in fatty acids and omega-3 rich foods potassium
c.    Calcium
d.    Vitamin A, D, E and K, iron, magnesium and soluble fiber.

What to Avoid:
a.    Excess fat
b.    Foods containing lactose
c.    Sucrose-rich
d.    Iinsoluble fibers