What is Crohn's disease?
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What is Crohn’s Disease? Crohn’s disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can affect any part of the digestive tract , from the mouth to the anus , but most commonly involves the end of the small intestine (ileum) and the beginning of the colon . Unlike ulcerative colitis (another form of IBD), Crohn’s disease affects all layers of the intestinal wall and can occur in patches , leaving normal tissue between inflamed areas. This is called a "skip lesion" pattern. Key Features of Crohn’s Disease Type : Chronic autoimmune condition Location : Can affect any part of the GI tract (commonly ileum and colon) Pattern : Patchy (skip lesions) Depth of Inflammation : Transmural (affects all layers of the bowel wall) Causes and Risk Factors The exact cause is unknown, but several factors contribute: Genetic predisposition (e.g., NOD2 gene mutations) Immune system dysfunct...