Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is a chronic condition that may recur at various times over a lifetime. It usually involves the small intestine, most often the lower part called the ileum. However, in some cases, both the small and large intestine are affected. Sometimes, inflammation may also affect the entire digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, appendix, or anus.
Crohn's disease affects males and females equally. It appears to run in some families, with about 20 percent of people with Crohn's disease having a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease. What causes Crohn's disease?
There are many theories regarding what causes Crohn's disease. One theory suggests that some agent, perhaps a virus or a bacterium, affects the body's immune system and triggers an inflammatory reaction in the intestinal wall. Although there is a lot of evidence that patients with this disease have abnormalities of the immune system, it is not known whether the immune problems are a cause or a result of the disease.
Physicians believe that there is little proof that Crohn's disease is caused by emotional distress or by an unhappy childhood.
Treatment for Crohn's disease:
Specific treatment for Crohn's disease will be determined by your physician based on:
* your age, overall health, and medical history * extent of the disease * your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies * expectations for the course of the disease * your opinion or preference
