Recent scientific work has shown that fungi may be among the causes of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. It causes pain as well as frequent digestive difficulties.
The causes of Crohn’s disease are still not completely clear. Genetic factors may contribute, and gut bacteria may be involved. But this scientific breakthrough indicates that fungi also have a role in the way this disease develops.
Candida Fungus Could Be the Problem
Scientists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researched people with Crohn’s disease and their close relatives. Research on the stool samples showed some differences. People with Crohn’s disease have altered interactions between gut bacteria and a particular type of gut fungus.
This fungus is Candida tropicalis. When it grows uncontrollably, this fungus causes a number of health issues. But in this case, it’s dangerous because of the way it reacts to two particular bacteria: E. coli and S. marcescens.
So what happens exactly? The fungus and the bacteria form a bio-film together. This builds up in different parts of the digestive tract and causes infections.
Hence, Crohn’s disease could come from the presence of this bio-film.
A Final Word
All in all, this discovery is groundbreaking. But it is not the final solution to the problem.
After all, there can be other causes of Crohn’s disease. For example, people who have this disease usually have lower levels of the beneficial gut bacteria that help with digestion.
However, now medical scientists know that Crohn’s disease is linked with gut fungi as well as bacteria. Hence, they can look into the use of antifungal medication as a potential treatment option.
