Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disorder of the digestive tract and can lead to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss and hinders the normal absorption process after digestion, leading to malnutrition. The most commonly affected areas in Crohn’s disease are the small intestine and the colon. In severe cases, the disease spreads to deeper layers in the intestine and makes the condition life-threatening.

Symptoms
Common symptoms are fatigue, fever, diarrhea, the presence of blood in the stool, appearance of sores in the mouth, weight loss, appetite loss, cramps in the abdominal region, and inflammation around the anus area. Crohn’s disease (CD) cannot be cured completely but the symptoms can be managed with the help of medications.

Causes
The exact cause behind the onset of this disease is not known, but one of the main causes of Crohn’s disease is a dysfunctional immune system. However, hereditary factors are also held responsible for Crohn`s disease. According to some reports, stress and dietary habits can also trigger CD.

• Immune system : In individuals with Crohn’s disease, an abnormal immune system causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. Immune cells in the digestive tract help in clearing the pathogens entering via the digestive tract, and inflammation is a natural part of this clearing mechanism. However, in certain individuals, this inflammation does not subside once the infection is cleared, leading to CD. Moreover, the abnormal immune system attacks the cells of the digestive tract.
• Genetic factors : It has been observed that the chances of developing CD increase in individuals who have a close family member with CD. This indicates a possible link between the genetic factors and the onset of Crohn’s disease.

Risk factors for CD
Certain risk factors for the development of CD are as follows:

• Age : It has been observed that most of the cases of CD develop around 30 years of age. However, a person can develop Crohn’s disease at any age.
• Smoking : Smoking cigarettes is one of the most important risk factors for CD. It can worsen the situation in an affected individual.
• Family history : The chances of CD increase if close family members have developed CD in the past. According to one estimate, approximately 20% of CD patients have a family history of CD.
• Ethnicity : It has been observed that Caucasians and individual of Eastern Europe decent have a higher risk of developing CD.
• Environmental triggers and diet : CD is more common in individuals living in urban areas. Dietary factors such as a high-fat diet and consumption of refined oils in excess also trigger the disease.
• Use of NSAIDs : Certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can trigger the inflammation in the bowel and make the CD symptoms worse. NSAIDs, however, do not cause CD directly.

Conclusion
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease and develops in the small intestine or colon area. The main cause of Crohn’s disease is an abnormal immune system, and the disease can be managed by changing certain dietary and lifestyle habits.