What is Crohn’s
Also known as ileitis, Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the intestinal tract, from the mouth to tIle anus. However, it most commonly attacks the colon and the lower part of the small intestine, or the ileum. Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that may recur after lengthy periods of remission. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Typically, diseased portions of the intestine are interspersed with normal segments; fistulas (abnormal passageways between portions of intestines) are common. The diseased portions may become obstructed, an emergency situation, There may also be weight loss, fever, and intestinal bleeding persistent enough to cause anemia. Children with Crohn’s disease may suffer stunted growth and delayed sexual development.
There are many theories about the causes of Crohn’s disease, but none have been proved. Some scientists believe that the immune system is affected by a virus or a bacterium that triggers an inflammatory reaction in the intestinal wall. Crohn’s disease appears to run in families; about 20 percent of those who have the disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms can flare up in periods of unusual or prolonged stress, but stress doesn’t appear to cause the disease.
