What Is Crohn's Disease?
Crohn's disease is a chronic, or ongoing, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In Crohn's, the immune system attacks healthy cells in the GI tract, causing inflammation. Crohn's disease is most often found in a portion of the small intestine called the ileum and in the colon. But Crohn's can happen anywhere in your GI tract from the mouth to the anus.1
The symptoms of Crohn's disease differ from person to person but often include frequent, loose bowel movements, abdominal cramping, fever, and at times, rectal bleeding.1 It can also lead to damage to your gastrointestinal tract that may require surgery.1
Approximately 600,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. It typically first affects people in their teens and twenties.1
What Causes Crohn's?
No one knows exactly what causes Crohn's disease. Research continues, though, and a number of factors have been singled out, including a person's genes, the immune system, and substances in the environment such as bacteria or a virus. It is likely that Crohn's is caused by a combination of these factors.1
Will Crohn's Ever Go Away?
Crohn's disease is a chronic condition, which means you have it for life.1 However, sometimes your disease may be in remission, with no symptoms at all.1 Currently, there is no cure for Crohn's disease, although advances are being made all the time. Many people need treatment to control symptoms, which may improve their quality of life.
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