Risk factors for Crohn's disease may include: Age. Crohn's disease can occur at any age, but you're likely to develop the condition when you're young. Most people who develop Crohn's disease are diagnosed before they're around 30 years old.
Symptoms may appear suddenly, but they can also develop gradually and can worsen over time. They will vary depending on which part of the digestive tract Crohn's disease is affecting and how severe the condition is. Experts do not know why Crohn's disease develops.
Crohn's disease affects people of all ages. The symptoms usually start in childhood or early adulthood.
Crohn's disease may happen at any age. It most often affects people ages 15 to 35. But Crohn's may also occur in young children. It affects both males and females equally.
It may go undiagnosed for years, because symptoms usually develop gradually and it doesn't always affect the same part of the intestine. Other diseases can have the same symptoms as Crohn's disease. But doctors can diagnose Crohn's by doing a test that looks at the inside of the intestine and doing a biopsy.
People Most at Risk of Developing Crohn's Disease
Studies have shown that the disease is most prevalent in adolescents and adults up to 30 years of age as well as in White people and Ashkenazi Jews. In recent years, the prevalence of Crohn's disease among Asians and Hispanics has also significantly increased.
Frequency. Crohn disease is most common in western Europe and North America, where it has a prevalence of 100 to 300 per 100,000 people.
Most commonly, Crohn's affects your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine. However, the disease can affect any part of your digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus. Learn more about your digestive system and how it works. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
But if you haven't yet identified the foods that trigger your flares of Crohn's, ulcerative colitis or IBD, these are common culprits: Fatty, greasy or fried foods. Hot or spicy foods. Raw, high-fiber fruits and vegetables.
The pain that Crohn's patients feel tends to be crampy. It often appears in the lower right abdomen but can happen anywhere along the digestive tract. “It depends on where that inflammatory process is happening,” says Nana Bernasko, DNP, gastroenterology expert with the American Gastroenterological Association.
Intestinal endoscopy. Intestinal endoscopies are the most accurate methods for diagnosing Crohn's disease and ruling out other possible conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, or cancer. Intestinal endoscopies include the following: Colonoscopy.
Gastroenterologists almost always recommend a colonoscopy to diagnose Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. This test provides live video images of the colon and rectum and enables the doctor to examine the intestinal lining for inflammation, ulcers, and other signs of IBD.
Untreated Crohn's disease could lead to obstructions because the ongoing inflammation could cause the intestine to thicken or it could cause narrowing of the intestine (which are called strictures).
Stress doesn't cause Crohn's disease, but it could make your symptoms worse.
Referral to a specialist
If they think you could have Crohn's disease, a GP may refer you to a doctor called a gastroenterologist for tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Summary. People with Crohn's disease experience flare-ups, during which symptoms like diarrhea, cramping, fever, fatigue, and joint pain are active. Flares can be triggered by factors like dietary changes, new medications, antibiotic use, stress, or infections. Sometimes, the cause of the flare-up is unknown.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, foods high in fiber and fat, dairy products, and carbonated beverages such as soda can trigger a flare-up. The best option is to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, along with lean meats, says Dr. Sultan.
But Crohn's disease doesn't always cause weight loss. Sometimes, it causes the scale to go up. One study found that 40 percent of people with Crohn's had a body mass index in the overweight or obese range. It's not clear exactly why some people gain weight with Crohn's, but there are a number of possible causes.