A lot of research has been done to identify the exact cause or causes of Crohn's disease. However, to date, scientists still are not sure why someone develops Crohn's disease. They do think that several factors are probably involved. Some of these include:
- Genetic problems
- Certain types of infections
- A problem with the immune system
- The environment.
While research scientists do not yet know exactly what causes Crohn's disease, it isn't thought to be caused by stress,
anxiety, or the foods you eat.
Symptoms of Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is an illness that often involves periods of remission and relapse, where symptoms get better and then return. There are several factors that seem to influence the
symptoms of Crohn's disease a person will develop. Some of these factors include:
The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease affecting the
colon are
diarrhea and pain. For Crohn's disease that affects the small intestine, symptoms often include fatigue, weight loss, and abdominal discomfort on the right side. Diarrhea is less common with cases of Crohn's disease that only affect the small intestine.
There are a number of other symptoms that can occur with Crohn's disease. Some of these will occur because of problems in the intestines; others will occur because Crohn's disease can also affect other areas of the body. For example,
arthritis,
osteoporosis (
see Crohn's and Osteoporosis),
kidney stones, and gallstones can all occur as a result of Crohn's disease. Depending on the type of Crohn's disease, a person may also be at increased risk for cancer (
see Crohn's Disease and Cancer).
(Click Crohn's Disease Symptoms for more information on symptoms of this condition, including serious symptoms that may occur with the disease.)
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