Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease is a disease that causes inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, but the most commonly affected section is the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum.

Crohn's disease is 1 of 2 main forms of diseases that are called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (The other is ulcerative colitis.) The inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. The inflammation caused by Crohn's disease often spreads deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue. Chronic inflammation can lead to the development of scar tissue in the intestine, which narrows the passage in the digestive tract and slows the movement of food and stool through the intestine. Crohn's disease can be both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications.

Both men and women can get Crohn’s disease, and it can run in families. People with Crohn’s disease may have a blood relative with the disease or another type of IBD. Crohn’s disease most commonly starts between the ages of 13 and 30.

There is no known cure for Crohn's disease, but therapies can greatly reduce its signs and symptoms and even bring about long-term remission. With treatment, many people with Crohn's disease are able to function well.

The exact cause of Crohn's disease remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now doctors know that these factors may aggravate but do not cause Crohn's disease. A number of factors, such as heredity and an immune system that is not functioning correctly, likely play a role in its development.

Immune system. It is possible that a virus or bacterium may trigger Crohn's disease. When your immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract, too.

Heredity. Crohn's disease is more common in people who have family members with the disease, so genes may play a role in making people more susceptible. However, most people with Crohn's disease do not have a family history of the disease.

Risk factors for Crohn's disease include:

• Age. Crohn's disease can occur at any age, but you are likely to develop the condition when you are young. Most people who develop Crohn's disease are diagnosed before 30 years old.
• Ethnicity. Although Crohn's disease can affect any ethnic group, Caucasians and people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish descent have the highest risk.
• Family history. People who have a close relative, such as a parent, sibling .or child, with the disease are more likely to develop Crohn’s.
• Cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is the most important controllable risk factor for developing Crohn's disease. Smoking also leads to more severe disease and a greater risk of having surgery.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs do not cause Crohn's disease, but they can lead to inflammation of the digestive tract that makes Crohn's disease worse. Examples of common NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox), and diclofenac sodium (Voltaren, Solaraze).
• Where you live. People who live in an urban area or in an industrialized country are more likely to develop Crohn's disease. This suggests that environmental factors, including a diet high in fat or refined foods, play a role in Crohn's disease. People living in northern climates also seem to be at greater risk.

See your doctor for ongoing diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, or unexplained weight loss. Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain, high fever, or persistent vomiting.