Is Crohn's Disease contagious?

Is it contagious?

Comments for Is Crohn's Disease contagious?

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Is Crohn's Contagious? NEW
by: Annette Young


Hello,

Thanks for your question. I can categorically confirm that Crohn's disease is not contagious. There are various reasons why someone might be diagnosed with the condition but it is usually genetic. If one or both parents have the disease there is a big increase in the likelihood of any children also eventually having the disease. Stress is a big trigger so it is possible that any existing disease can be triggered by consistent anxieties and stress but there are varying causes.

To be honest, the exact cause is unknown but it is linked to the individual's immune system and the response. It has been said that the immune system can turn in on itself. Usually, in a healthy person, the immune system is vital and protects but with Crohn's, it seems that the immune system cannot tell the difference between normal tissue or foreign substances. Overactive immune responses can lead to inflammation.

Inflammation can actually occur anywhere along the digestive tract which is why it makes sense to eat easy to digest foods - pureed foods, soups, stews. Cut out dairy foods for a while too.

Healthy areas of tissue can remain in between the areas that are affected. Ongoing inflammation can cause the walls of the intestines to become thick, swollen. It is certainly painful and uncomfortable.

Environmental factors can play a part but certainly genetics do. The body can also simply overreact to normal bacteria that resides within the intestines. While the disease often strikes those within the 15-35 age range, it can actually strike at any time but is more likely to occur for those who have a history of the disease in the family, or if any Jewish ancestry or if the individual smokes.

The best thing to do is to keep track on foods that are eaten to try to establish any trigger foods and to eliminate them.

I hope this helps to reassure you.

Best wishes,

Annette




Unknown Factors of Crohn's Disease NEW
by: Anonymous

Medical facts regarding that which a disease us capable of is only as factual as it's researched findings. Diseases are only "NOT" something because research has not proven that it "IS".

Most of the comments here seem to be "no". Base on my research, my interaction with other Crohn's patients (including my husband), and GI doctors and nurses, my answer was "no" as well. HOWEVER, I have been with my husband for seven years total, and before I met him, I had no symptoms related to my digestive system AT ALL. In fact, I had a clean bill of health altogether. After about the second year, I started having intestinal issues --cramping, alternating from constipation to diarrhea, painful bowel movements, nausea, and sensitivity to foods. I went to the GI, had a colonoscopy (which came back with no physical abnormalities), and was told that I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and that I am lactose intolerant. SINCE WHEN?!?! Okay, I took the Lactaid and other prescribed medication as directed. As time progressed, so did my condition. My symptoms grew worse. I went back to the GI, had another colonoscopy (a little over a year later), and was told that I have lymphocytic colitis and there were now polyps found on my colon and in the anus. I was given more medication. I am now having even more severe symptoms (which brought me to this site), and I am petrified of what a new colonoscopy might reveal. I am beginning to believe that I am evidence that Crohn's Disease (which is also an auto-immune disease like HIV, AIDS, and Herpes --which are all transmittable) is, contrary to what research has yet to discover, transmittable.
Glad it's not NEW
by: Anonymous

Hi my boyfriend has Crohn's and he isn't very informative about the disease and so i wondered if it could be caught. I honestly don't care one way or the other but with taking care of 2 kids I'm glad it's not that would make it difficult to care for them in the same way I have been so thanks for the answers!!!
dont believe everything you see online NEW
by: Trista

I have crohns disease and no it is not contagious... I been suffering wth it for 10 years. Don't believe everything you read on the inerne.
is chrohns disease contagious
by: mary

i got a tatoo from a lady name shelia on massillon rd in akron ohio i heard her talking to people after i got my tatoo done she had this disease i dont think anyone in my family has ever had it an i wonder did she give it to me some how
yes, Crohn's is contagious
by: Gladys Stein

Crohn's is a mycobacterium infection. There is shedding of these organisms from the intestinal lining. This is a strain of para-tuberculosis. The drug therapy used to treat Crohn's is also tuberculoisis treatment. Johne's disease (cattle/sheep/goats/deer) in animals and is able to be transmitted to humans through organisms shedding in the fecal matter.

In humans, there are three independent case reports on treatment of PCR-confirmed MAP infections in individual Crohn’s patients. In the first report an adolescent male was treated with clarithromycin (500 mg/day) and rifabutin (300 mg/day) for 32 months resulting in long term remission of his Crohn’s disease symptoms. In the second report a 21-year-old Canadian male was treated with clarithromycin and rifabutin (dosages not given) for 12 months with marked improvement both clinically and endoscopically. In the third report, a 63 year old male patient with long-standing Crohn’s disease experienced clinical remission of his symptoms after a six month course of treatment with clarithromycin (1,000 mg daily), rifabutin (300-450 mg daily), and levofloxacin (500 mg daily). The patient relapsed, however, after cessation of the antibiotics.

Several therapeutic trials involving Crohn’s disease patients using antimycobacterial drugs yielded conflicting and controversial results. However these cannot truly be considered in vivo anti-MAP trials for two reasons: 1) the MAP status of patients was not determined in any of these trials, and/or 2) most studies used antimicrobials to which MAP is resistant, e.g. trials using anti-tuberculous drugs. Hence, data from most clinical trials using antimicrobials to treat Crohn’s patients are not interpretable regarding MAP susceptibility to drugs in vivo.
For a review of potential MAP involvement in human disease please visit the page of this website called "Zoonotic potential".
chromes
by: Anonymous

i know someone with chroms and was wondering if skin problems come alone with the disease,dont know much about it but this person always has cracked skin in places that take forever to heal?
so
by: shawtyfine101

who cares if it is contagios i don't
useless
by: Anonymous

theese comments are no help :(
thank you
by: Anonymous

my friends mother has it and were glad to find this out she thought her mom was dieing and crying and crying. i am one who cares and loves for all my friend no matter what i am always there from them but for this i wasnt sure thank you so much!
No it is not
by: MrJimmy

they believe the condition has some genetic factors to it.
idk
by: Anonymous

i hope its not contagious cuz i slept with someone who has it!
NOT Contagious
by: Traci

Hi All."Crohn's " is genetic or inheirted.My youngest son was 15,now 19. He a resection last July,doing good now.thanks to Humira.Traci
not contagious
by: Cindy

No Crohn's is not contagious, however they do think it is genetic.
Not contagious
by: Anonymous

No, Crohn's Disease is not contagious. It can be passed on genetically, but will not necessarily be. Definitely not something you can catch through the air or bodily fluids though.
Um.... NO
by: Shawna

That would be a BIG NO on that one.

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