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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Celiac and Crohn’s Disease?

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Celiac disease and Crohn's disease are both chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the digestive system, but they have different underlying causes, triggers, and treatments. Here are the main differences between the two:

  1. Cause: Celiac disease is caused by an inflammatory response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. In contrast, the exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, but it is believed to be related to an autoimmune response and inherited genes.
  2. Diagnosis: To diagnose celiac disease, doctors typically perform an endoscopic biopsy, where a small tissue sample is taken from the small intestine and examined under a microscope. For Crohn's disease, a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy are usually required to examine the colon and small intestine.
  3. Treatment: The primary treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet, which can help eliminate symptoms and allow the intestines to heal. Treatment for Crohn's disease involves medications and, in some cases, surgery to remove damaged areas of the digestive tract.

Despite these differences, both diseases share some similarities, such as symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia, and fatigue. Due to their similarities, it can be challenging to differentiate between the two conditions without diagnostic testing. In some cases, a person can develop both Crohn's and celiac disease.

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  • What is the Difference Between Celiac and Crohn’s Disease?
  • Comparative Table: Celiac vs Crohn’s Disease

    • Comparative Table: Celiac vs Crohn’s Disease

    Here is a table comparing the differences between celiac disease and Crohn's disease:

    Celiac Disease Crohn's Disease
    Autoimmune disease caused by gluten consumption Inflammatory bowel disease with unknown cause
    Affects the small intestine Affects any part of the digestive tract
    Symptoms include diarrhea, indigestion, stomach pain and cramping, weight loss, fever, canker sores in mouth, joint pain, anemia, skin rashes, and short height or slow growth during childhood Symptoms include diarrhea, indigestion, stomach pain and cramping, weight loss, fever, canker sores in mouth, joint pain, anemia, skin rashes, and short height or slow growth during childhood
    Treatment involves a strict gluten-free diet Treatment involves medication, diet, and sometimes surgery
    No cure, but symptoms usually disappear with a gluten-free diet No cure, but treatments aim to reduce or eliminate symptoms and maintain remission
    Can be diagnosed through blood tests and biopsy of the small intestine Can be diagnosed through blood tests, endoscopy, and biopsy
    Prevalence of Crohn's disease is higher in celiac disease patients More common in people with a family history of IBD or a Jewish background

    While both celiac disease and Crohn's disease are chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the digestive system and share similar symptoms, their underlying causes, triggers, and treatments differ.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.