Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn’s disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment (antigens). One possible cause for inflammation may be the body’s reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Some scientists think that a protein produced by the immune system, called anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may be a possible cause for the inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease usually is found in the last part of the small intestine (ileum) and the first part of the large intestine (colon), but it can develop anywhere in the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. During the course of the disease, sections of the digestive system become swollen and have deep sores called ulcers. Crohn’s disease affects men and women equally, and roughly 20% of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), usually a sibling. Crohn's disease tends to present initially in the teens and twenties, with another peak incidence in the fifties to seventies, although the disease can occur at any age.

Interestingly, people of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing the disease. Also, smokers are three times more likely to develop Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease affects between 400,000 and 600,000 people in North America today.

*Comprehensive Health Education Services, LLC does not prescribe medications, nor does it provide medical advice for any individuals seeking treatment options.  Please consult your physician to determine the best options for your care.