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Ency. home > Disease > C > Crohn's disease (regional enteritis)

Crohn's disease (regional enteritis)    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Inflammatory bowel disease; Regional enteritis; Ileitis; Granulomatous ileocolitis

Definition:

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly affects the ileum.

Causes and Risks

The cause is unknown, but genetic factors seem to play a role. Chronic ulcerative colitis occurs in the same families. Inflammation frequently occurs at the end of the small intestine where it joins the large intestine, but it may affect any area of the digestive tract. The intestinal wall becomes thick, and deep ulcers may form.

The disease may occur at any age, but adolescence and early adulthood are the prevalent age groups. Risk factors are family history of Crohn's disease or Jewish ancestry. The incidence is 7 out of 100,000 people.

Ency. home > Disease > C > Crohn's disease (regional enteritis)

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