He's convinced that M. para is the causative agent in some forms of Crohn's but he predicts other patients suffer the disease due to genetic or environmental insults. Treatment with antibacterials, especially those aimed at tuberculosis-like organisms such as M. para, have resulted in patients going into remission. As many as one million Americans reportedly have the disease, which affects the lower part of the small intestine, the colon and other parts of the digestive tract, usually involving all layers of the intestinal wall. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, cramping pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, anemia and weight loss. In certain parts of the world, especially in Scotland, the disease has reached epidemic proportions.
Researchers suggest a connection between Crohn's disease and dairy products and dairy farming.
I've been convinced for several years that this is an infectious disease. These results are promising, but there are small numbers of patients. We need further confirmation before we can declare this mystery solved. Among the other presentations regarding M. para and Crohn's disease, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, found the suspected bacteria in three out of four patients with Crohn's complicated by granulomas, growths caused through immune system response. Hulten said the bacteria were detected using multiple laboratory tests.