| As anyone who has been diagnosed with Crohn's | | | | shown that statistically, there is an increased |
| disease will know, there is no known cause that is | | | | chance for family members if one member has |
| recognized as grounds for the disease. There is | | | | Crohn's disease. This hereditary tendency |
| no shortage of theories that purport to account | | | | demonstrates considerable variation in risk levels, |
| for how the disease is triggered, although none | | | | although most studies indicate that the highest |
| have been adequately proven. | | | | risk exists when a sibling has the disease. Where |
| Among the popular theories is the idea that | | | | twins are concerned, the risk is further increased |
| Crohn's disease is in fact a systemic reaction to | | | | for identical twins. |
| bacterium, or perhaps the immune systems | | | | Infection is not regarded as a major concern for |
| response to a virus within the digestive system. | | | | Crohn's disease but some people have developed |
| According to this theory, what we know to be | | | | the Crohn's after a bout of gastroenteritis. |
| Crohn's disease is in fact the body protecting itself | | | | Immunological factors draw the most attention |
| from a perceived threat in the digestive tract by | | | | from doctors with regard to investigating the |
| inflaming the intestine. There is certainly a degree | | | | cause of Crohn's disease. This is obviously due to |
| of evidence to support these claims. | | | | the fact that the reaction of the immune system |
| People who suffer from Crohn's disease [ have a | | | | is the central part of Crohn's. It is also the area |
| high incidence of abnormalities of the immune | | | | where many drugs attempt to control Crohn's |
| system. This does seem to support the | | | | through immune suppression. |
| aforementioned theory quite well, although | | | | Diet is a popular area for experimentation due to |
| doctors are unable to confirm weather this | | | | the fact that it is an inexpensive way for patients |
| abnormality is a cause for the disease or actually | | | | to address their symptoms. Diet related |
| a result of Crohn's disease itself. | | | | treatments have varying degrees of success but |
| Rather than sift through a range of theories | | | | there is a general consensus among people with |
| perhaps it is more useful to begin by taking a look | | | | Crohn's disease that certain foods such as wheat, |
| at what we actually know about the disease. | | | | yeast and milk should be avoided. |
| Firstly, there are a number of predisposing factors | | | | As far as psychological factors are concerned, |
| that have been observed to play a role in the | | | | emotional stress has been linked to Crohn's |
| development of Crohn's disease. These factors | | | | disease but there is no hard proof to support the |
| are: | | | | link. |
| -Genetics and Family History | | | | Measles and MMR vaccines have received some |
| -Infection | | | | publicity in recent times, but further studies of this |
| -Immunological Factors | | | | area have not yielded any consistent results. |
| -Diet | | | | Unfortunately, at present there is not enough |
| -Psychological Factors and | | | | evidence to clearly state weather or not children |
| -Measles and MMR vaccine | | | | should be vaccinated for measles. |
| Genetics has been investigated and studies have | | | | |