Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel disease is “any intestinal inflammatory disease, especially Crohn 's disease and ulcerative colitis, of unknown cause” (Inflammatory Bowel Disease, n.d.). Inflammatory Bowel Disease is broken down into two types Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis are not the same thing. Dr. Burrill B. Crohn’s first described Crohn’s disease in 1932, with his colleagues Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer. “A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes scarring and thickening of the intestinal walls and frequently leads to obstruction” (Crohn 's Disease, n.d.). “Chronic ulceration in the …show more content…
Researchers have stated that there are three potential factors that could be the causation for Crohn’s disease. They are an autoimmune reaction, genetics, and environmental factors.
Autoimmune reaction: Crohn’s disease is thought to have an autoimmune reaction. Both of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are considered to be autoimmune disease. In all gastrointestinal tracts there is beneficial bacterial flora, which aids with digestion. The immune system usually attacks and kills any foreign invaders or antigens. Antigens can be viruses, bacteria, or other foreign invaders. In normal individuals, the normal bacterial flora of the intestines is protected from the attacks from the immune system. Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease these beneficial bacterial flora are mistaken as a foreign invader. Cell then travel from the blood to the intestines and cause inflammation. “When the inflammation does not subside it leads to chronic inflammation, ulceration, thickening of the intestinal wall, and eventually causing patient symptoms” (“CCFA: What is Crohn’s …show more content…
Crohn’s disease may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease can affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall, also inflammation can skips areas of the mucosa leaving normal areas in between patches of diseased intestines. The inflammation usually starts in one or more areas of the mucosa that lines the inside of the intestines. Ulcers may form at the sites of the most inflammation. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon, and only involves the innermost lining of the colon. Over time the inflammation that occurs can damage and permanently change the intestinal lining of an