Crohn's disease
Key points
- Crohn's disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly occurs in the ileum (the area where the small and large intestine meet).
- Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks the body's own cells.
- A physical examination may reveal an abdominal mass or tenderness, skin rash, swollen joints or mouth ulcers.
- Your health care provider may prescribe medications such as 5-aminosalicylate to control the inflammatory process.
Alternative names
Inflammatory bowel disease; Regional enteritis; Ileitis; Granulomatous ileocolitis
Definition
Crohn's disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly occurs in the ileum (the area where the small and large intestine meet).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks the body's own cells. In Crohn's disease, these rogue immune cells attack the gastrointestinal system. The cause is unknown, but genetic factors seem to play a role.
Inflammation frequently occurs at the end of the small intestine that joins the large intestine, but the condition may affect any area of the digestive tract. As a result of the immune attack, the intestinal wall becomes thick, and deep ulcers may form. In addition to the bowel abnormalities, Crohn's disease can also affect other organs in the body, causing:
- Skin rash
- Fistulas (abnormal connections between bowel and adjacent organs or skin)
- Liver inflammation
- Joint disease (arthritis)
- Eye inflammation
- Kidney stones
- Clotting problems (deep vein thrombosis)
The disease may occur at any age, but adolescence and early adulthood are the periods of highest risk. The only known risk factors include a family history of Crohn's disease, Jewish ancestry, and smoking. About 7 out of every 100,000 people will develop Crohn's disease.
Symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Abdominal mass
- Abdominal sounds (borborygmus, a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine)
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Foul-smelling stools
- Tenesmus (pain with passing stool)
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:
- Bloody stools
- Joint pain
- Incontinence
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.