Crohn’s is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that belongs to a larger group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is associated with inflammation of the digestive tract, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which runs from the mouth to the anus, and includes the stomach and intestines. It more commonly affects the end of the small intestine and the large intestine.
What is Crohn’s disease?
What are the causes of Crohn’s disease?
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is not fully understood; but it’s thought to be a result of a combination of factors:
About 5% to 20% of patients have a close relative with either Crohn's or ulcerative colitis
A person's risk of having Crohn's is about 10X greater if they have a relative with it
If the relative with Crohn's is a brother or sister, a person’s risk of having it is 30X greater
While several genes were found to be associated with Crohn's, many people who carry these genes do not develop Crohn's
Immune responses in the GI tract can be due to exposure to foreign substances in the environment
Inflammation can also be triggered by microorganisms and intestinal bacteria
Crohn’s is more common in urban than in rural areas and in northern rather than southern climates
Certain foods can aggravate symptoms in some people, but there have been no studies to suggest that diet can either cause or treat Crohn's
Researchers believe substances in the intestines are mistaken for invading substances (antigens)
To combat these antigens, your immune system causes temporary inflammation, which is reduced as you regain health
With Crohn's, inflammation can persist long after your immune system should have finished its job
Crohn’s is a chronic and unpredictable disease.
- Crohn's disease symptoms and complications are unpredictable—you may experience almost no symptoms, then have a sudden flare-up. Or you could begin to experience symptoms every day
- While there’s no cure for Crohn's, you may reduce its symptoms through the use of medications. Biologic medications are used when certain other types of medications have not worked well enough
Diagnosing Crohn's: It’s not so easy.
Crohn's disease has always been difficult to diagnose, because symptoms vary from patient to patient, and because it can be similar to other conditions. Doctors evaluate the patient's history and physical exams, as well as 1 or more laboratory tests such as blood tests, stool tests, barium X-ray, colonoscopy, biopsy, computerized tomography, and video capsule endoscopy.
However, with more up-to-date methods used by gastroenterologists who specialize in Crohn's and other IBDs, it may be easier to get a definitive diagnosis.
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