Crohn's in the family
My mother suffers from Crohn's disease. She has to watch her diet and has problems when going to the toilet. Sometimes she gets diarrhoea when she eats and other days she's fine. Can this disease be passed on through genes? She claims her mum suffered from it too. I have also started to getting diarrhoea. I'm 21 years old.
The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. It is more common in Westernised countries, with around 60 sufferers per 100,000 population. Some experts think it is an abnormal allergic reaction - possibly to components in the diet or to an, as yet, unidentified bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Sometimes, the tendency towards Crohn's disease may be hereditary but in most cases it isn't. The most likely cause of your symptoms is food poisoning or a viral illness. However, if symptoms continue or recur it is important to see your GP in view of your family history.
It may help your mum to know that, in one study, the foods most commonly implicated in triggering a flare-up of Crohn's symptoms were corn, wheat, milk, yeast, egg, potato, rye, tea, coffee, apples, mushrooms, oats and chocolate.
Several studies have found that fish oils are beneficial. In one study, enteric-coated fish oil capsules supplying 1.8 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 0.9 g of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) daily were taken for one year. Only 28 per cent of the 39 patients taking fish oils relapsed to active disease compared to 69 per cent of 39 patients receiving placebo. Aloe Vera gel, probiotic supplements containing healthy digestive bacteria (for example, Lactobacilli) and herbal supplements with a natural anti-microbial action, such as grapefruit seed extract, goldenseal or garlic are often helpful. People with Crohn's disease tend to be smokers, and it can help to improve symptoms if you stop smoking.
Join the discussions on the Your health message board:
It may help your mum to know that, in one study, the foods most commonly implicated in triggering a flare-up of Crohn's symptoms were corn, wheat, milk, yeast, egg, potato, rye, tea, coffee, apples, mushrooms, oats and chocolate.
Several studies have found that fish oils are beneficial. In one study, enteric-coated fish oil capsules supplying 1.8 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 0.9 g of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) daily were taken for one year. Only 28 per cent of the 39 patients taking fish oils relapsed to active disease compared to 69 per cent of 39 patients receiving placebo. Aloe Vera gel, probiotic supplements containing healthy digestive bacteria (for example, Lactobacilli) and herbal supplements with a natural anti-microbial action, such as grapefruit seed extract, goldenseal or garlic are often helpful. People with Crohn's disease tend to be smokers, and it can help to improve symptoms if you stop smoking.
Join the discussions on the Your health message board:
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