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Query: UMLS:C0021390 (inflammatory bowel disease)
 23,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that there is an inverse relationship between allergic diseases and infections in early childhood, but there are also several well-conducted epidemiological studies that seemingly contradict this relationship. The maturation of the immature immune regulation after birth is largely driven by exposure to microbes. Germ-free animals manifest excessive immune responses when immunized and they do not develop normal immune regulation. The controversy regarding the role of infections for subsequently developing allergy is partly due to varying clinical definitions of 'allergy'. Thus, wheezing and asthma have often been included as outcomes. The hypothesis that commensal microbes are the normal stimulants for the maturation towards a balanced immune response is relevant for IgE-mediated disease manifestations, rather than recurrent bronchial obstruction per se. Epidemiological, clinical and animal studies taken together suggest that broad exposure to a wealth of commensal, non-pathogenic microorganisms early in life are associated with protection, not only against IgE-mediated allergies, but also conceivably against type-1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. This has little relationship with 'hygiene' in the usual meaning of the word. The term 'hygiene hypothesis' is unfortunate, as it is misleading. A better term would be 'microbial deprivation hypothesis'.
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PMID:The hygiene hypothesis: do we still believe in it? 1971 May 12

Crohn's disease (CD) is a granulomatous inflammatory disease that can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus. In most cases, it remits and relapses in the terminal ileum, requiring treatment via steroid boluses. In rare cases, however, CD can involve the pulmonary system presenting as dyspnea on exertion and dry cough. We present a case of a 38-year-old man who developed shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing for one month after a colectomy procedure due to recurrent toxic megacolon. He recovered and tolerated extubation successfully and was prescribed mesalamine as maintenance therapy for CD. His pulmonary symptoms after the colectomy, along with his imaging and pulmonary function tests, indicated pulmonary involvement in the lungs as a progression of the primary inflammatory bowel disease. After confirming this diagnosis, he was treated with oral high-dose steroids after successful diagnosis, and the patient's symptoms improved dramatically. This case highlights often overlooked CD bronchopulmonary involvement in the postoperative period.
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PMID:Pulmonary Involvement in Crohn's Disease: A Rare Case Report. 3006 3