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What is the major different of treatment for colitis and Crohn’s disease?

Answers

masso 13 March 2023

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes swelling of the tissues (inflammation) in your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.

Inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people, most commonly the small intestine. This inflammation often spreads into the deeper layers of the bowel.

https://www.drugs.com/cg/crohn-disease.html

Colitis is inflammation in your colon, which is the main part of your large intestine. Your colon is the last leg of the journey your food takes through your digestive system. Inflammation in your colon can affect the way this journey ends, causing pain, diarrhea and sometimes blood in your poop. Inflammation is your body’s response to infection or injury. It causes swelling and tenderness in your tissues.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

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masso 13 March 2023

The types of colitis are categorized by what causes them.

1. Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of two conditions classified as inflammatory bowel disease. The other is Crohn’s disease.

UC is a lifelong disease that causes inflammation and bleeding ulcers within the inner lining of your large intestine. It generally begins in the rectum and spreads to the colon.

UC is the most commonly diagnosed type of colitis. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to bacteria and other substances in the digestive tract, but experts don’t know why this happens.

Common types of UC include:

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proctosigmoiditis, which affects the rectum and lower portion of the colon
left-sided ulcerative colitis, which affects the left side of the colon beginning at the rectum
pancolitis, which affects the entire large intestine
2. Pseudomembranous colitis
Pseudomembranous colitis (PC) occurs from overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile (C. diff). This kind of bacteria normally lives in the intestine, but it doesn’t cause problems because it’s balanced by the presence of “good” bacteria.

Certain medications, especially antibiotics, may destroy healthy bacteria. This allows C. diff to take over, releasing toxins that cause inflammation.

3. Ischemic colitis
Ischemic colitis (IC) occurs when blood flow to the colon is suddenly cut off or restricted. Blood clots can be a reason for sudden blockage. Atherosclerosis, or buildup of fatty deposits in the blood vessels that supply the colon, is usually the reason for returning IC.

This type of colitis is often the result of underlying conditions. These may include:

vasculitis, an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels
diabetes
colon cancer
dehydration
blood loss
heart failure
obstruction or blockage
trauma or injury
Although it’s rare, IC may occur as a side effect of taking certain medications Trusted Source such as fibrates and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). More research is needed to fully understand all medications that could be a contributing factor.

4. Microscopic colitis
Microscopic colitis is a medical condition that a doctor can only identify by looking at a tissue sample of the colon under a microscope. A doctor will look for signs of inflammation, such as lymphocytes, which are a kind of white blood cell.

Doctors sometimes classify microscopic colitis into two categories: lymphocytic and collagenous colitis.

Lymphocytic colitis is when a doctor identifies a significant number of lymphocytes. However, the colon tissues and lining are not abnormally thickened.

Collagenous colitis occurs when the colon’s lining becomes thicker than usual due to a buildup of collagen under the outermost layer of tissue.

Doctors do not know exactly what causes microscopic colitis. However, they do know some people are more at risk for the condition. People at a higher risk include:

current smokers
those assigned female at birth
those with a history of an autoimmune disorder
people older than age 50
people taking certain medications Trusted Source, such as some types of:
proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin
The most common symptoms of microscopic colitis are:

chronic watery diarrhea
abdominal bloating
abdominal pain
5. Allergic colitis in infants
Allergic colitis is a condition that can occur in infants, usually within the first months after birth. The condition can cause symptoms in infants including:

reflux
excessive spitting up
fussiness
possible flecks of blood in a baby’s stool
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes allergic colitis. One of the most popular theories is that infants with allergic colitis have an allergic or hypersensitive reaction to certain components in breast milk. A 2020 review of studies indicated that a protein allergy, either through breast milk, cow’s milk, or formula, could contribute.

Eosinophilic colitis is a type of allergic colitis that can also show up in infants with these symptoms. Its causes are similarly unknown Trusted Source, but it’s likely also related to a protein allergy.

Doctors will often recommend an elimination diet for the birthing parent, which involves slowly cutting out certain foods known to contribute to allergic colitis. Examples include cow’s milk, eggs, and wheat. If the baby stops having symptoms of allergic colitis, these foods were likely causing the problem.

In severe cases, monoclonal antibodies, such as those used to help treat Trusted Source inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may also be another treatment option.

Additional causes
Other causes of colitis include infection from parasites, viruses, and food poisoning from bacteria. You may also develop the condition if your large intestine has been treated with radiation.

Source: Healthline

masso 13 March 2023

Treatment
There is currently no cure for Crohn's disease, and there is no single treatment that works for everyone. One goal of medical treatment is to reduce the inflammation that triggers your signs and symptoms. Another goal is to improve long-term prognosis by limiting complications. In the best cases, this may lead not only to symptom relief but also to long-term remission.

Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first step in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. They include:

Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids such as prednisone and budesonide (Entocort EC) can help reduce inflammation in your body, but they don't work for everyone with Crohn's disease.

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Corticosteroids may be used for short-term (3 to 4 months) symptom improvement and to induce remission. Corticosteroids may also be used in combination with an immune system suppressor to induce the benefit from other medications. They are then eventually tapered off.

Oral 5-aminosalicylates. These drugs are generally not beneficial in Crohn's disease. They include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), which contains sulfa, and mesalamine (Delzicol, Pentasa, others). Oral 5-aminosalicylates were widely used in the past but now are generally considered of very limited benefit.

Source: Mayo Clinic

How is colitis treated?
Treatment for colitis depends on the type and the cause. It may include:

Medications. Your provider may prescribe antibiotics to treat infections, corticosteroids to treat inflammation, immune modifiers to repress your autoimmune response, and aminosalicylates to treat IBD.
Diet. If you have temporary, acute colitis, you may benefit from a low-fiber, easy-to-digest diet. If you have chronic colitis, you may need a personalized diet plan. You may need to avoid foods that trigger your colitis flare-ups and to incorporate other foods or supplements to make sure you get adequate nutrition.
Surgery. People with certain types of colitis, including necrotizing enterocolitis, ischemic colitis and IBD, may require surgery to treat complications. Surgery doesn't always cure these conditions, but it may be necessary to stop bleeding, repair a perforation or remove a blockage.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

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