{"id":4804,"date":"2023-02-17T09:52:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T08:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sapimed.com\/news\/malattie-infiammatorie-croniche-intestinali-la-malattia-di-crohn\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T10:57:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:57:45","slug":"inflammatory-bowel-diseases-crohns-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sapimed.com\/en\/trivia\/inflammatory-bowel-diseases-crohns-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES: CROHN’S DISEASE"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are inflammatory bowel diseases?<\/h2>\n

 
\nInflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)<\/strong> are conditions characterized by being secondary to disorders of the immune system, which develop a direct inflammatory reaction against the intestine. IBD has a chronic\/recurrent course and presents with periods of exacerbation alternating with remission phases. They are defined as “chronic” because they do not heal permanently, even after medical treatment or surgery. IBD includes two main diseases: Crohn’s disease<\/strong> and Ulcerative Colitis<\/strong>, along with other forms called “Indeterminate Colitis” as they cannot be classified with certainty. IBD is estimated to affect about 250,000 people in Italy and tends to occur predominantly in young people (15\/30 years) and the elderly (65 years), but there are also rare cases in children and adolescents.
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Crohn’s disease: characteristics of the condition<\/h3>\n

Crohn’s disease<\/strong> primarily affects the last part of the small intestine and the colon, but it can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract (from the mouth to the anus). The disease presents as a chronic or recurrent immunological reaction<\/strong> of the intestine against certain antigens. It is mainly characterized by the presence of intestinal ulcers with a segmental distribution that can lead to complications such as stenosis <\/strong>(narrowing and intestinal blockages), abscesses <\/strong>(infected pus collections), and\/or fistulas <\/strong>(perforations that can connect parts of the intestine with other organs or the external environment). If not adequately treated over time, it can degenerate and lead to the development of serious complications usually requiring surgical intervention.
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Symptoms and causes of Crohn’s disease<\/h3>\n

Crohn’s disease manifests with diverse symptoms that vary depending on the affected gastrointestinal tract. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain<\/strong>, chronic diarrhea<\/strong>, persistent low-grade fever<\/strong>, and weight loss<\/strong>. Additionally, associated disorders such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, mouth ulcers (canker sores), erythema, joint pain, episcleritis, and others can occur.<\/p>\n

But what are the causes that lead to the development of this condition? The causes of Crohn’s disease (as well as all Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) are still largely unknown. Current knowledge suggests that chronic inflammation develops as an abnormal immune reaction in the intestine against antigens to which the individual is exposed. Multiple factors are involved in its development:<\/p>\n