A gastroenterologist has named the symptoms of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the pathological process can affect any part of the digestive system from the oral cavity to the anus, but more often the ileum and colon are affected. GASTRO CLINIC gastroenterologist Irina Tishaeva told Izvestia on December 29 about the symptoms and diagnosis of the disease.

According to her, inflammation usually spreads to all layers of the intestinal wall and has its histologic features in the form of granulomas - the accumulation of certain cells - lymphocytes, macrophages. For the disease is typical of a segmental lesion, when inflamed areas of the intestine alternate with healthy areas.

"The exact cause of the disease has not yet been established. Usually it is a combination of several factors: heredity (in the presence of autoimmune diseases in relatives), disorders of the immune system and intestinal microflora, as well as environmental factors - smoking, nutrition," she explained.

The doctor specified that sometimes it can take several years from the first symptoms to the correct diagnosis. The symptoms of the disease are manifold and are related to both its activity and its complications.

"In the early stages of the disease, the patient may note nonspecific symptoms - abdominal pain, unformed stools, increased body temperature, and postpone a visit to the doctor, not giving due attention to changes in their well-being," said Tishaeva.

As inflammation progresses, symptoms increase, many patients lose weight, develop anemia and other metabolic disorders, she said.

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In addition, complications can occur in the form of fistulas - pathological passages - between different parts of the intestine, between the inflamed intestine and the bladder, the affected intestine and the vagina, as well as open outward - on the skin of the anterior abdominal wall and perineum. This can be accompanied by pathologic discharge - pus, feces - from the vagina, clarified the gastroenterologist.

"In the case of the development of intestinal constrictions - strictures - there are symptoms of violation of intestinal patency - lack of stool, gas retention, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting. Almost a third of patients have perianal lesions in the form of anal fissures, paraproctitis, which is accompanied by pain in the anus and pus discharge," the doctor added.

In addition to these symptoms, there may be extraintestinal manifestations of the disease with skin, eye and joint damage, the specialist warned.

Tishaeva explained that the diagnosis of the disease is based on a comprehensive examination: a doctor-gastroenterologist collects a detailed history of the disease, conducts an examination, including the perianal area, prescribes blood and fecal tests. The patient is obligatorily conducted endoscopic studies: gastroscopy - to exclude lesions of the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract - and colonoscopy with examination of the terminal ileum, which is necessary to assess the extent and severity of inflammation.

"To exclude complications of the disease, an abdominal ultrasound, CT or MRI with intestinal contrast is performed. It may also require consultation of doctors of related specialties - coloproctologist, rheumatologist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist and others," - said the expert.

However, she clarified that it is impossible to completely cure Crohn's disease. The disease runs undulating - with periods of exacerbation and improvement. The main goal of treatment is to achieve and maintain remission, a state when the disease is under control and there are no manifestations of inflammation.

"In case of exacerbation of the disease, therapy aimed at controlling inflammation is carried out. If complications develop, surgical treatment may be required. All patients with Crohn's disease are given lifelong contra-cidal therapy with immunosuppressors and genetically engineered biological drugs, which allow to achieve a persistent remission of the disease and improve the quality of life," - added the gastroenterologist.

Earlier, on December 22, therapist Anastasia Stolnaya of the medical company "SberZdorovye" told "Izvestia" that the causes of reduced immunity can include the presence of diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, as well as oncohematologic diseases. If you suspect the development of an immunodeficiency state, such as repeated bacterial infections during the year, pneumonias, abscesses, you should consult a doctor, the specialist emphasized.