Crohn’s Facts
It's estimated that around 1.4 million people are affected by an IBD condition in the United States alone.
In the U.S. about 100-200 people per 100,000 are affected with ulcerative colitis.
And 30-100 people per 100,000 are affected by Crohn's Disease.
Crohn’s can affect all of the areas of the digestive track. The digestive track covers the following areas:
Mouth
Esophagus
Stomach
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
Rectum
Anus
What Causes Crohn’s:
Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what causes CD. All we know is that something in your body causes your immune system to overreact. Different stimuli may be the cause of CD in different people. For instance, it might be a kind of bacteria, something in your own intestines, or even your family history.
In fact, scientists now believe it is a combination of all these factors. If you have CD, you may have inherited a unique gene in your immune system. Then, something happened that triggered that gene, causing the overreaction, which then caused inflammation in your intestines.
Who Gets Crohn’s:
Crohn's can be found in both men and women. It may run in families, 20% of people diagnosed with the disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease.
It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 30, although people of all ages can suffer from Crohn's. People of Jewish heritage have a greater risk of developing the disease while people of African American heritage have less of a risk.
Symptoms:
Abdominal pain and diarrhea are the most common symptoms of crohn's disease. Other symptoms include rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, skin problems, inflammation in the eyes, and fever. The range and severity of symptoms can vary. A diagnosis of Crohn's may involve blood tests, stool tests, upper GI, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or biopsy.
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