Inflammatory bowel disease is difficult to diagnose because there are no obvious symptoms, or they may not be specific, even if the intestines have been affected for many years.

Inflammatory bowel disease includes two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Although the diseases have some features in common, they have some important differences: Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation of the colon, which causes the lining of the intestines to become red and inflamed and painful ulcers appear. The most vulnerable area is the rectum, causing frequent diarrhea. Mucus and blood often appear in stools. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the final part of the small intestine – the jejunum and part of the large intestine. These lesions are not localized in one place, and can spread to affect other locations in the digestive tract. Crohn’s inflammation penetrates deep into the layers of the intestinal wall while ulcerative colitis only affects the lining of the intestine.

The culprits that cause enteritis include many factors such as: environment, diet, and genetics. Smoking cigarettes can increase your chances of developing Crohn’s disease. Some people with enteritis may have signs of inflammation elsewhere such as in the joints, eyes, skin and liver, and abscesses and hemorrhoids may appear in the anal area. Children with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease may experience delayed growth and puberty due to lack of nutrient absorption.

Distinguish between irritable bowel syndrome and enteritis through symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease have quite similar symptoms such as: abdominal pain, vomiting, change in bowel movements… and are easily confused in clinical practice as well as in treatment.

IBS is also known by other names such as: spastic colitis, functional digestive disorders, nervous diarrhea… Digestive disorders caused by IBS are not caused by physical damage. Therefore, it is often due to psychological reasons, diet, medication… Symptoms of IBS such as: abdominal pain (usually pain in the lower half of the abdomen), bloating, diarrhea or constipation or mixed… But IBS never has black stools and bloody stools.

To distinguish between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, clinical attention is paid to the history related to current digestive disorders, symptoms due to physical damage such as fever, bloody stools, and stools. black. The most important is paraclinical testing to have evidence of physical damage to the digestive tract such as: endoscopy, endoscopic biopsy, stool test, CT. In some cases, doctors use antibiotic therapy to differentiate between these two diseases.

Diet to prevent enteritis

Diet plays an important role in preventing intestinal diseases, including enteritis. Certain foods and drinks can aggravate the signs and symptoms of enteritis, especially in the acute setting, so these foods should be eliminated:

Eat small meals and drink plenty of water: If you feel better, eat 5-6 small meals a day instead of 2 or 3 large meals. Try to drink plenty of water every day. Limit alcohol and drinks containing caffeine which irritate the intestines and can make diarrhea worse, while carbonated drinks frequently produce gas.

Limit dairy products: diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating in inflammatory bowel disease may improve when dairy products are limited or eliminated.

Prioritize low-fat food choices: If you have Crohn’s disease, your small intestine cannot digest or absorb fat normally. Instead, fat passes through the intestines, causing more severe diarrhea. Foods that are particularly troublesome include butter, margarine, cream sauces and fried foods.

Avoid some incompatible foods:  Eliminate foods that make enteritis symptoms worse, which are: beans, cabbage and broccoli, raw juices and fruits, especially fruits citrus, spicy foods, popcorn, alcohol and foods and drinks containing caffeine such as chocolate and soda.

According to Suckhoedoisong