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Crohn's Disease
Alternate Names : Granulomatous Ileocolitis, Ileitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Regional Enteritis
DefinitionCrohn'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).
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Overview, Causes, & 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.
The disease may occur at any age, but adolescence and early adulthood are the periods of highest risk. Other risk factors include a family history of Crohn's disease and Jewish ancestry. About 7 out of every 100,000 people will develop Crohn's disease.
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• Definition
• Crohn's Disease Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Crohn's Disease Symptoms & Signs
• Crohn's Disease Diagnosis & Tests
• Crohn's Disease Treatment
• Crohn's Disease Prognosis
• Crohn's Disease Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Abscess
• Cancer
• Erythema Nodosum
• Intestinal Obstruction
• Ulcerative Colitis
Tests & Exams
• Albumin - Serum
• Barium Enema
• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopy
• Fecal Culture
• Fecal Fat
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Small Bowel Biopsy
• Stool Guaiac Test
• Upper GI and Small Bowel Series
Other Topics
• Abdominal Mass
• Abdominal Pain
• Abdominal Sounds
• Appetite - Decreased
• Bloody or Tarry Stools
• Chronic
• Clubbing of the Fingers or Toes
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fistula
• Gas/Flatus - Excessive
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding
• Gums - Swollen
• Joint Pain
• Protein in Diet
• Stools - Foul Smelling
• Tenesmus
• Ulcers
• Urinary Incontinence
• Vitamin B12
• Weight Loss - Unintentional
Review Date : 10/27/2002
Reviewed By : Jenifer K. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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