Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that results in chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It typically affects the lower part of the small intestine (Crohn's ileitis) or the large intestine (Crohn's colitis, similar to ulcerative colitis), but it can affect any part of the digestive system from the mouth to the anus. The digestive tract in an average adult is 69 metres long which stretched out would go around a tennis court!
Ileocolic Crohn's disease is a form that may affect both the ileum and the large intestine; and Peri-anal Crohn's disease can affect the area around the anus.
Other forms of Crohn's disease can affect any other portion of the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain, (bloody) diarrhea, flatus, bloating, stomach pains, nausea and indigestion, and even systemic symptoms such as fever, weight loss and growth issues (for children).
People with Crohn's disease are at risk of malnutrition due to a decreased intake of essential nutrients and/or malabsorption of such nutrients from the gut.
Causes
Crohn's disease is widely believed to be linked to abnormalities of the immune system (an autoimmune disease).
There is a genetic link to susceptibility too, with parents and siblings being 10-20 times more at risk of developing the disease.
The disease may also be triggered by environmental factors such as a diet high in fatty or refined foods, smoking and oral contraceptives.
Traces back to viral infection have been made, which allow the lymphatic system to malfunction due to toxic build up in the bowel. Improper functioning of the stomach, small intestines or liver can also produce this toxic overload.
Abnormal gut fermentation, parasites, low production of hydrochloric acid and low pancreatic enzymes are all other co-factors of disease development.