Disease of the month: Crohn's disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. It can affect the whole of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, although the most common sites are the terminal ileum (lower part of the small intestine), the large intestine (colon) and the anus. Around 100,000 people in the UK suffer from Crohn’s disease, usually first developing it between the ages of 16 and 30. Slightly more women than men are affected. Cause The exact cause of the disease is unknown, however, it is believed that there are a number of factors which m...