Although Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are very different diseases. They still have things in common. We call these diseases inflammatory bowel diseases and they affect the gastrointestinal track. What makes them similar are some of the symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramping, cramping but sometimes rectal bleeding.
They have some very different characteristics that help us distinguish them from each other. Basically, when it comes to location. It is important to understand that ulcerative colitis affects the colon, which is the large intestine, and Crohn’s disease affects the entire gastrointestinal tract. Basically, when it comes to location.
Crohn’s disease also affects the entire thickness of the stomach wall. Ulcerative colitis, however, affects only the inner two layers of the stomach wall in the colon. These pathological differences result in differences in symptoms and results of diagnostic tests.
On endoscopic examination, we can see how these two conditions harm the patient’s health in different ways. Ulcerative colitis is definitely more likely to have bloody diarrhea. Includes erosions and ulcers. Crohn’s disease causes thickening of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by strictures. A stricture, it is basically a narrowing of the stomach at a certain point.
Another endoscopic feature of Crohn’s disease is the presence of fistulas such as enterovesical fistulas. This is an unusual opening that connects the bowel and bladder. This opening between the bowel and the bladder that shouldn’t normally be there can cause recurrent urinary tract infections.
All of the things you just read are complications of these two conditions. But, there are serious life-threatening complications like cancer.
Crohn’s Disease because it affects the entire gastrointestinal tract that can cause cancer of the small intestine whereas ulcerative colitis causes colon cancer. Only crohn’s disease affects this part over here that is the small intestine and it can indeed cause cancer in that part of the gastrointestinal tract.
But, This part of the gastrointestinal tract is responsible for the absorption of nutrients from the food and therefore crohn’s disease can result in malnutrition and while we might assume that crohn’s disease is way more dangerous because of these additional risks and complications. We have to remember that ulcerative colitis is also a lethal condition. Ulcerative colitis with all the erosions ulcers and inflammation in the colon can cause a weakened gastrointestinal wall and that can result in perforation of it. This can allow bacteria to enter abdomen causing peritonitis and a wide spread sepsis. Around one third of patients, Experiencing sepsis eventually dies from that condition.
That is why, Recognizing changes in symptoms that might indicate these life-threatening complications or a possible poor management of these conditions can not only improve patients life quality but also save the patient’s life. Ulcerative colitis can be cured by completely removing the colon and the surgery can be performed if required criteria has been met and indications are present. On the other hand, Crohn’s disease cannot be cured surgically but it can be quite successfully managed. It is often a struggle with recognizing and treating complications and also choosing the appropriate therapy as well as being ready for recurrent episodes of this condition.
Leave a Reply