The 20 Best Crohn's Disease Doctors Near Me in Chapel Hill, NC

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes the digestive tract to become inflamed and is characterized by severe diarrhea and abdominal pain. The areas of the digestive tract affected by Crohn’s disease are different depending on the person; however, it most commonly affects the small intestine and colon. Crohn’s disease is progressive and has several subtypes that are categorized by the area of the digestive tract affected. The incidence of Crohn’s disease in the U.S. and the world has been increasing; however, the reasons why are unknown. Crohn’s disease is considered to be an autoimmune disorder caused by the body’s immune system attacking normal cells and develops more frequently in people who are between the ages of 15 and 40 (but can appear earlier), who have a family history of inflammatory bowel disease, who are of Eastern European Jewish (Ashkenazi) descent, or those who smoke.