What is Crohn's Disease?

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory illness of the intestines that can effect the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, causing a wide range of symptoms.

Some of the common symptoms include diarrhea (which may have blood in it), vomiting, weight loss, feeling tired and lethargic, abdominal pain, skin problems and arthritis can develop.

Children that have Crohn's Disease can have stunned growth and delayed development.

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for illnesses that cause swelling in the intestines.

The symptoms of Crohn's Disease are similar to other intestinal illnesses such as Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it can often be difficult to diagnose.

The difference between say Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis is that in Crohn's Disease all of the layers of the intestine can be effected. 

There can be healthy sections of bowel between the effected pieces/diseased bowel. In Ulcerative Colitis it causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine.

Crohn's Disease effects women and men the same and seems to run in some families. Around 20% of the people that have Crohn's Disease have a family member with some sort of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, often a brother or sister, parent or child.

Crohn's Disease can happen at any age but is most common between the ages of 20-30 years old. Crohn's Disease may also be called Ileitis or Enteritis.