7 Causes of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disorder that leads to the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, or the digestive tract. Also, known as ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, granulomatous enteritis, or terminal ileitis, this disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. However, it largely affects the ileum – the lower part of the small intestine.

The swelling normally outspreads deep into the lining of the affected organ, and it can cause pain as well as make the intestines empty, often leading to diarrhea. Considering the fact that the symptoms of Crohn’s-disease are like other intestinal complications such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, the disease can be difficult to diagnose.

Ulcerative colitis, for instance, results in inflammation and ulcers in the upper layer of the large intestine’s lining. Conversely, in Crohn’s disease, all layers of the intestine could be affected, and normal healthy bowel may be found between parts of the diseased bowel. While the disease can affect people of all age groups, it is more often found in people aged between 15 and 30 years.

Several factors, such as age and compromised immune system, have been found to play an integral in the development of Crohn’-disease. That said, let’s explore 7 of the common factors that promote the development of this disease.

1. Age

As mentioned in the introduction, Crohn’s disease can affect people of all ages, both men and women. However, most people newly diagnosed with the disease are aged between 15 and 30 years. It is also worth noting that the disease is sometimes newly diagnosed in individual’s age between 60 and 80 years.